Table of contents
- Naked in the garden
- Balcony: freedom of movement allowed?
- Protection helps
- Naked Gardening
- Possible penalties
Gardens and balconies are often used next to the beach to enjoy sunbathing naked. You can find out here to what extent you are allowed to stay naked on your own property.
Naked in the garden
If you like to lie freely in the sun to get a perfect and, above all, streak-free tan, you don't have to worry. In Germany, it is fundamentally permitted to be unclothed in your own green oasis. It does not constitute an administrative offense in itself, since the property does not belong to the public. Even if you're often out in the garden naked, that's not really a problem. This is especially the case if the property has at least one of the following characteristics:
- fenced in opaque
- Location away from streets and sidewalks
For example, if the gardens are not directly on a road and have a sufficiently high hedge, you don't really have to worry. If it is instead a front yard separated from the sidewalk only by a waist-high wall, sunbathing will most likely become a misdemeanor (nuisance to the public) represent. The more open the gardens are, the more likely freedom of movement will be seen as a problem. Furthermore, certain scenarios that could also be counted as administrative offenses must be considered:
- Neighboring balcony with an uninterrupted view of the property
- permanently open garden gates with a view of sunbathers
- sunbathing naked in apartment building gardens
Balcony: freedom of movement allowed?
Balconies are also ideal for a streak-free full-body tan. Nevertheless, when sunbathing naked on balconies, other factors must be taken into account so that an administrative offense does not occur. Balconies have the disadvantage that they are equipped with significantly lower walls or grilles. This gives neighbors, passers-by and even motorists an easy look at sunbathing freely.
Street-facing balconies in particular are unsuitable, as many people could feel disturbed. For this reason, only balconies facing the inner courtyard should be used for sunbathing naked, as the chance of a complaint is significantly lower. Still, the location of the balcony is not a free pass. If the bare skin violates the house rules or disturbs the peace of the house, you must sunbathe with adequate clothing.
Protection helps
Problems caused by the free movement can be avoided effectively if, after the fact, a privacy screen is installed. In the end, it doesn't matter what kind of privacy screen it is, as long as it's high enough and opaque. In most cases, a height of two meters is perfectly adequate for this purpose. Are suitable:
- hedges
- Wood, metal or opaque glass elements
- walls
If a privacy screen is to be installed on the balcony or roof terrace of a rented apartment, this should be discussed with the landlord or property manager beforehand. Especially with balconies, certain points may have to be observed if a permanently installed privacy screen is desired. The most common are the following:
- must not exceed railing height
- must match the house style
- must be windproof
Tip:
Plants are particularly suitable as privacy screens for larger balconies. If there is no space for large plants such as bamboo, climbing plants on trellises are a good idea.
Naked Gardening
Since 2005 there has been the "World Naked Gardening Day", which (since 2006 annually) always takes place on the first Saturday in May. This day should lead to a more conscious handling of one's own body and gardening. It is non-political, should lead to a natural body feeling and at the same time also indicate non-sexualized nudity.
Possible penalties
Warnings may be issued if neighbors or pedestrians complain about the freedom of movement. Even fines are possible, especially if people feel permanently disturbed in public. The amount of the fine depends heavily on the individual case and the region. If the peace of the house in apartment buildings is permanently disturbed by bare skin in the community garden or balconies, the tenancy may even be terminated.
A notice:
Keep in mind that it is always the individual case that determines whether living out nudism in the garden is a regulatory offence.
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