Since 2010, soil filling outside of built-up areas over an area of more than 500 square meters (m²) has been subject to approval under construction and nature conservation law. In principle, backfilling may only be carried out to improve the soil or facilitate cultivation.
In Zone III water protection areas and in landscape protection areas, all backfilling is subject to approval, regardless of the size or height of the backfill area. This includes fillings < 500 m² in area.
In principle, backfilling is not permitted in water protection areas in zones I and II, in floodplains and within watercourse margins (up to a width of ten meters from the top of the embankment). And, of course, backfilling is also not permitted in nature conservation areas, in areas of natural monuments and in specially protected biotopes.
If you are planning to fill up, please ask the lower nature conservation authority in good time whether approval is required.
