Tenant Rights for Drones over Private Property in Germany

As a tenant in Germany, drone flights over your balcony or garden can raise questions about privacy protection and property boundaries. This text explains in clear language what rights you have as a tenant, how to collect evidence, which official forms to use and when you may need to involve the local court. I describe practical steps — from photos and timestamps to a formal notice to your landlord — and name relevant laws such as the BGB and responsible authorities. The goal is to give you as a tenant a usable checklist so you can protect privacy claims and act with legal certainty if needed, without requiring prior legal knowledge. Read on.

What can tenants do?

If a drone repeatedly flies over your private area, structured steps are important: secure evidence, inform the landlord, set deadlines and consider legal action.

• Take photos and videos with visible timestamps as evidence.
• Inform the landlord in writing and document when and how you notified them.
• Set a reasonable deadline for cessation and record start and end of the deadline.
• If the disturbance continues, consider whether a lawsuit at the local court is necessary.

Relevant legal bases include tenancy law in the BGB and civil procedure rules in the ZPO; specific drone regulations are available from the responsible transport authority.^[1][2][3]

FAQ

Can a drone fly over my rented balcony?

There is no blanket ban; what matters are privacy protection, property boundaries and aviation rules. If photos or recordings violate your privacy, civil claims may exist.^[1][3]

What evidence helps in a dispute?

Clear photos/videos with timestamps, witness statements, a written complaint to the landlord and a log of all incidents are the most important pieces of evidence.

Which court handles eviction or injunction claims?

Tenancy disputes usually start at the local Amtsgericht; higher instances are the Landgericht and, if applicable, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).

How-To

1. Take photos and timestamps, document visibility conditions and camera orientation.
2. Notify the landlord in writing and set a deadline for cessation.
3. Use official forms or sample letters to present claims formally.
4. If no solution is reached, file a lawsuit at the local court or seek legal advice.

Key Takeaways

• Collect photos and videos with timestamps as your primary evidence.
• Set a clear, documented deadline for the landlord to stop the intrusion.
• The local Amtsgericht is the first instance for tenancy claims.

Help and Support

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — gesetze-im-internet.de
• Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — gesetze-im-internet.de
• Information on drones and legal requirements — BMVI

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — gesetze-im-internet.de
2. [2] Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — gesetze-im-internet.de
3. [3] Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMVI) — Drone information