July 9, 2026, 4:28 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Pure relaxation, plenty of sunshine, and lots of greenery: That’s what most people dream of when they think about getting a garden. But what exactly is the difference between an allotment garden and a recreational garden? myHOMEBOOK explains.
How do allotment gardens and recreational gardens differ?
The differences between an allotment garden and a recreational garden are already evident in the attributes contained in their respective names. In fact, there are specific differences regarding size, usage, and other characteristics between the two. This is the crucial difference between them. While the main regulations for allotment gardens are governed by the Federal Allotment Garden Act, there is no legal authority for recreational gardens. Instead, each recreational garden has its own rules, rights, and obligations.
By the way: According to the Federal Association of Allotment Garden Associations, there are approximately 867,092 allotment gardens across Germany.
What is an allotment garden?
The term “allotment garden” (also known as a Schrebergarten) refers to a leased plot of land, usually part of a larger garden complex. This complex is often managed by an association. According to the Federal Allotment Garden Act, which has regulated all rights and obligations in such complexes since April 1, 1983, the leased garden plot must not exceed 400 square meters.
Being an allotment gardener requires joining an association
If you want to get an allotment garden, you must also become a member of the relevant association and pay the lease fees. The shed on the plot is usually sold by the previous owners. This means that if you want to lease an allotment garden with a shed, you only lease the land and must buy the shed from the previous owners. But what other conditions distinguish an allotment garden from a recreational garden?
- One-third of the allotment garden must be used to grow fruits and vegetables
- The shed can only be up to 24 square meters in size and cannot be used as a permanent residence (a covered terrace is included in the size specification)
- Fruits grown on the property cannot be sold and are for personal use only
- The lease agreement and association membership must be terminated separately (in writing)
An allotment garden is subject to several regulations
Life within an allotment garden community often seems stricter due to regulations, but that’s not entirely the case, as Sandra von Rekowski from the Federal Association of Allotment Garden Associations of Germany clarifies. The sum of the regulations from the Federal Allotment Garden Act may seem extensive to outsiders at first glance, but they serve their purpose. Thanks to these regulations, there are still hundreds of thousands of allotment gardens in Germany today where fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other horticultural products are grown.
By the way: A major advantage of allotment gardens is that the annual lease is significantly lower than that of a recreational garden.
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What is a recreational garden?
There are significantly fewer regulations for a recreational garden. The leased plot can be larger than 400 square meters, and the primary purpose of the garden is relaxation. It is not subject to the Federal Allotment Garden Act. Additionally, there are no regulations regarding residency. It is quite possible to place a weekend house (depending on building permit approval) on the leased plot. Other points that distinguish a recreational garden from an allotment garden include:
- Lease costs are significantly higher here, as they are not capped by legislation
- No association membership is required
- Termination by the owner is possible quarterly, as the recreational garden is subject to the regulations of the German Civil Code’s tenancy and lease law
- There are few to no planting regulations, so it is not necessary to grow fruits or vegetables on the property
- Few to no requirements for “equipment” (such as pools, sandboxes, or children’s play equipment)
How can interested parties find an allotment garden?
Ms. von Rekowski advises that interested parties should first gather information about nearby associations through the state associations organized in the Federal Association. If you want to rent an allotment garden, you need to be patient and may have to be placed on waiting lists. The demand for allotment and recreational gardens is particularly high in large cities.