Berlin, April 5, 2026 – The Berlin House of Representatives has approved a new law designed to provide greater protection for the city’s allotment gardens. The legislation, passed with the votes of the CDU, SPD, Greens, and the Left Party, aims to secure the future of more than 50,000 allotment gardens located on state-owned land.
Allotment Gardens in Berlin: Demolition Only in Exceptional Cases
The new law stipulates that allotment garden sites can only be cleared in specific, exceptional circumstances, such as for the construction of affordable housing, schools, daycare centers, or hospitals. In most cases, the approval of the House of Representatives will be required for such measures.
Crucially for affected gardeners, the law mandates that alternative plots of comparable size and proximity must be offered in such instances. This provision is considered a cornerstone of the new legislation, ensuring that the reduction of allotment garden areas is actively counteracted.
Opening to the Public
Another significant change introduced by the law concerns public access. Paths within allotment garden complexes are now required to be publicly accessible year-round, for activities such as walks. This aims to allow individuals without their own gardens to also benefit from these green spaces.
The law applies to approximately 56,000 allotment gardens on state-owned land, covering a total area of 2,283 hectares. However, around 14,000 allotment gardens on other types of land, such as those owned by Deutsche Bahn, are not covered by this legislation.
As of the end of 2024, Berlin had a total of 870 allotment garden complexes with 70,700 plots, spanning 2,891 hectares-roughly three percent of the city’s total area.
Broad Support, Yet Some Criticism
Environmental Senator Ute Bonde (CDU) hailed the law as a crucial step, stating, “We are protecting what means recreation, community, and a piece of nature to people in this city.” She emphasized the importance of allotment gardens for biodiversity and the urban climate, adding, “In times of climate change, these areas are not a luxury; they are a necessity.”
Other parliamentary groups also expressed positive sentiments. CDU politician Danny Freymark referred to a long journey to achieve this, while SPD representative Linda Vierecke highlighted that a third of Berlin’s allotment gardens had been lost since 1990. Currently, around 15,000 individuals are on waiting lists for an allotment garden.
However, the law also faced criticism. Green Party politician Julian Schwarze and Left Party representative Michael Efler criticized that only state-owned areas are protected. They also described the exception clauses as “open to interpretation” or a “wide door.” The AfD labeled the law a “placebo,” with representative Alexander Bertram stating it offered “insufficient protection for our allotment gardens and urban nature.”
Allotment Garden Association Calls it a “Milestone”
The Berlin State Association of Garden Friends welcomed the decision, with Vice President Thorsten Fritz calling it “a milestone in the history of Berlin’s allotment garden system.” He noted that approximately 80 percent of allotment garden areas would now be permanently secured.
Fritz particularly stressed the importance of the obligation to provide replacement areas, calling it the “heart” of the law. “This actively counteracts a decline in allotment garden areas, and urban greenery remains available to Berliners,” he added.
Despite the overall positive reception, some criticisms remain, including the lack of a solution for allotment gardens on private land and concerns about an exception for smaller areas under 0.5 hectares. Nevertheless, the association generally supports the law, stating, “Berlin’s allotment gardeners deserve this law.”
