Lawn Mowing and Quiet Hours in Austria: Rules by State and Municipality

Austria has no single nationwide rule stating when you may mow the lawn. The relevant times are generally determined by the municipality (Gemeinde), so the rules can differ from one village or town to the next. This guide explains who can set the rules, what applies in Vienna, and where to check the regulations for your area.

Who decides when lawn mowing is allowed?

Lawn mowing and other noisy activities fall within the scope of local security policing (örtliche Sicherheitspolizei). This means that municipalities may regulate them.

A municipality may issue a local police ordinance (ortspolizeiliche Verordnung), but it is not required to do so. Where such an ordinance exists, breaching its rules may be classified as an administrative offence (Verwaltungsübertretung).

In many municipalities, lawn mowing and quiet hours (Ruhezeiten) are regulated by an ordinance. Elsewhere, residents may only receive a recommendation. Recommendations have no legal effect.

Can you mow at any time if there is no local ordinance?

No. Even in a municipality without an ordinance, you may not simply mow at any time of day or night.

There are two main reasons:

• State laws: a state security law (Landessicherheitsgesetz) or state police penal law (Landes-Polizeistrafgesetz) often contains provisions prohibiting disruptive noise, for example.
• Private law: private-law rules may also allow neighbours or property owners to take action against excessive noise under certain conditions.

In short, the absence of a municipal ordinance does not give you unrestricted freedom. It means only that there may be no separately specified timetable.

What are the rules in Vienna?

Vienna has uniform times for certain equipment. The use of machines and devices powered by an internal combustion engine, such as petrol lawn mowers, is prohibited during the following periods:

• Saturday: from 12:00 to 24:00
• Sunday and public holidays: all day

The prohibition applies to:

• publicly accessible gardens, including the landscaped areas of the Prater,
• areas used as allotment gardens (kleingärtnerisch genutzte Flächen),
• green spaces in buildable areas, except areas used for agriculture and forestry or horticultural purposes,
• green spaces alongside transport areas.

Can you use an electric lawn mower on Sundays in Vienna?

The Vienna ordinance does not apply to electric machines. Their use on Sundays and public holidays therefore does not breach this particular ordinance.

However, the Vienna State Security Act (Wiener Landes-Sicherheitsgesetz) treats the creation of improperly disruptive noise as an administrative offence. This applies to any type of noise, including noise from an electric lawn mower.

Where can you check your municipality’s rules?

The “Leben in der Gemeinde” (“Life in the municipality”) section allows you to browse information by state. First select the state, then choose from the municipalities and cities that have submitted information. Click on the name of the municipality to view the relevant details.

• Vienna (Wien): uniform rules for petrol-powered machines
• Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg: a municipality-by-municipality list arranged alphabetically
• Burgenland and Styria: the state appears in the selectable list

There is an important limitation: municipalities submitted their information on request, and it is not updated continuously. The pages for Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg were last updated on 1 January 2023. If your municipality is not listed, this does not mean that no rules exist.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a nationwide ban on mowing the lawn on Sundays?

No. Austria has no uniform nationwide rule. Municipalities may regulate the matter, while state laws generally prohibit disruptive noise.

Do you have to follow a municipal recommendation?

Recommendations have no legal effect. State laws concerning disruptive noise and the private-law options available to neighbours apply independently of such recommendations.

Can you use a petrol lawn mower on Saturday morning in Vienna?

The Vienna ordinance prohibits petrol-powered machines from 12:00 to 24:00 on Saturdays. The state rule concerning disruptive noise remains applicable independently.

What happens if you breach the rules?

Where the municipality has regulated the matter by ordinance, a breach may be an administrative offence. In Vienna, creating improperly disruptive noise is also an offence.

Practical steps before mowing

1. Check the “Leben in der Gemeinde” section for your state and municipality.
2. Look for an ortspolizeiliche Verordnung and distinguish it from a non-binding recommendation.
3. If no local timetable is available, avoid creating disruptive noise and consider the applicable state law.
4. In Vienna, check whether your equipment has an internal combustion engine and observe the Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday restrictions.
5. Remember that neighbours may also have private-law options in cases of excessive noise.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at

This information is based on sources available online and is not legal advice. Use it at your own risk and consult a lawyer or other relevant professional if you need specific advice.