Even if the items are in perfect condition, once they are left on a public pavement they fall under the definition of illegal dumping, and this carries a warning or a fine.
Why a Box on the Pavement Is Rubbish, Not a Gift
A city pavement is public space, and occupying it without permission is not allowed, even with good intentions. German courts and municipal public order services have spent years dealing with disputes over “Zu verschenken” boxes: if the contents are not taken within a day or two, they legally become a pile of rubbish, regardless of how usable the items are.
The size of the fine depends on the contents of the box, and the difference in the final bill can be considerable:
- ordinary household items (crockery, books, clothes, toys): from €25 to €75;
- items with sharp edges or fragile items: up to €300;
- large items and household appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, wardrobes): from €100 to €5,000.
The exact amounts of the fines are set by the municipalities themselves, so the final fine depends on the region and the local catalogue of administrative offences: in some places the matter ends with a warning, while in others the bill runs to hundreds of euros.
No Restrictions on Your Own Property
Your own courtyard or the space in front of your gate is a different matter: items for giveaway can be put out there quite freely, and no permission is required. The only sensible rule concerns the condition of the items themselves: it is best to put only clean and intact things in the box, things that can genuinely be used. In rain or snow, it is better to keep the box under a canopy: damp items quickly turn into the very rubbish that the authorities are so inclined to consider them.
How to Get Rid of Items Legally
Munich has several tried and tested channels for this:
- public swap shelves;
- social department stores (Sozialkaufhäuser), which not only accept second-hand items but also sell them for a small sum;
- online platforms for giving away and exchanging items.
A list of specific addresses is compiled in the brochure “Günstiger leben in München“, published by the social department of the city hall. The print run sold out long ago, so the brochure is now available only in electronic form on the city hall’s website.
Why This Matters
In practice, public order officers rarely issue fines for a modest box of books by the entrance of a building. Many cities turn a blind eye as long as the items do not lie there for long. But formally, an offence remains an offence, and the larger or potentially more dangerous the item, the higher the risk of receiving an actual fine.
The difference between the pavement and one’s own courtyard is fundamental in this respect: in a courtyard, the same items pose no legal risk whatsoever. This is precisely why many residents of Bavarian cities put such items out on the steps of their building entrances, since this is part of the property.
