New parking law: Obligation to provide proof of parking space from tomorrow!

New parking law: Obligation to provide proof of parking space from tomorrow!

The new parking space regulations will come into force in Brennberg from October 16, 2025. This regulation introduces an obligation to provide proof of parking spaces for motor vehicles. The statutes have already been published, but the associated PDF documents about the statutes could not be read or opened because they are empty. For further information, the announcement can be viewed here.

The parking space statute is a local building regulation that is based on the state building regulations (LBO) and applies to construction projects that require approval, such as new buildings, conversions or changes of use. In Germany, many federal states can authorize municipalities to issue their own parking space regulations, with the exception of Berlin and Bavaria. The new statutes regulate, among other things, the number, size and design of parking spaces for cars and parking spaces for bicycles.

Goals of the parking space regulations

A central goal of this statute is to relieve the burden on public streets from stationary traffic. This is to be achieved by providing parking spaces on private land. The regulations are closely related to parking space management, which regulates parking space management in public spaces. With regard to the legal framework, the EU sets guidelines for the LBOs, including the requirements for parking spaces for cars and parking spaces for bicycles.

For example, Directive 2024/1275, which is required not only in Brennberg but also elsewhere in Germany, requires at least two bicycle parking facilities per residential unit. These provisions must be legally implemented in Germany by 2027 at the latest. The LBO also regulates the construction of parking spaces, their number and necessary adjustments in the event of changes and replacement payments in connection with parking spaces.

Potential for climate protection

The parking space regulations also offer opportunities for climate protection. Reducing car parking space requirements and promoting alternative means of transport is intended to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Parking space regulations can be particularly effective as part of a “Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan” (SUMP) or traffic development plan (VEP).

In order to further advance climate protection, the responsible agency is developing additional strategic instruments. These include, for example, sample formulations and practical examples that are collected in a toolbox on the climate protection website. Control instruments for urban development contracts and binding land-use planning have already been published, which are also intended to contribute to improving urban infrastructure and reducing car parking space requirements.

For detailed information on the statutes, those interested can read the official documents of the city of Munich here. Further current reports and developments on the subject of climate protection and parking space regulations can be found on the klimaschutz.de platform, which provides comprehensive information on this topic: Klimaschutz.de.