Is barbecuing on the balcony allowed in Switzerland?
Barbecuing on the balcony is permitted in principle. However, there are restrictions, and you must be considerate of your neighbours. Find out here what that means.
22.05.2026
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1. Is barbecuing on the balcony allowed in Switzerland?
In principle, you are allowed to barbecue on your balcony. This is because you are generally free to use your balcony as you wish. Your landlord may therefore not prohibit you from barbecuing on the balcony altogether. That would constitute too great an interference in the private lives of tenants or condominium owners.
However: You do need to be considerate of your neighbours. This duty of consideration is enshrined in the law (Art. 257f para. 2 OR). This includes avoiding excessive odour emissions (Art. 684 para. 2 ZGB). You must also adhere to the nighttime quiet period.
Comparis property expert Harry Büsser explains in the video what you should be aware of when barbecuing on the balcony must bear in mind.
2. Can the house rules prohibit a charcoal barbecue on the balcony?
The property manager may restrict barbecuing on the balcony. For example, they can prohibit a charcoal grill on the balcony. This is because a charcoal grill can cause excessive odour emissions and disturb other people. On the other hand, an electric grill or a gas grill on the balcony is usually no problem.
Important : When using a gas grill, make sure that fire safety is guaranteed.
Such restrictions must be stated in the house rules stand. And: the tenancy agreement must refer to the house rules. The prohibition may also be directly in the tenancy agreement stand. In order for the restriction to be valid, the prohibition must according to the Tenants’ Association fulfil the following points:
The prohibition must be based on objectivity be based on objectivity.
The prohibition must be proportionate .
The prohibition must not interfere too much in the private lives of the tenants.
Good to know: The reference to the house rules must be included in the tenancy agreement from the outset. If your landlord wants to add it later, you must expressly agree.
When using charcoal grills usually arises the most smoke. The unpleasant smell can drift over to your neighbours’ flats.
These tips will help you minimise smoke when barbecuing on a charcoal grill:
Use firelighters sparingly sparingly.
Use grill trays and aluminium foil. This way, you prevent the oil from dripping into the embers.
Use low-smoke barbecues.
If possible, position the barbecue also, if possible, so that the smoke does not drift in the direction of your neighbours.
3. Until what time are you allowed to barbecue on the balcony in Switzerland?
In many places in Switzerland, the nighttime quiet period usually between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Conversations and music are only allowed at room volume. So, in theory, you can barbecue all night as long as you are suitably quiet during the quiet periods and are considerate of the neighbours.
Many places also stipulate quiet periods on Sundays and public holidays This means that on these days, conversations are only allowed at room volume all day.
Important: The times when you must be quiet may vary depending on where you live – some municipalities also have a quiet period at lunchtime. You can find the exact quiet times in the police ordinance of your city or commune. Also take a look at the house rules: some of them regulate additional quiet periods.
4. What happens if I am not considerate of neighbours when barbecuing?
If you are not considerate of your neighbours, the property manager or landlord may warn you. If you still don’t change your behaviour after a written warning, your landlord may terminate the tenancy agreement extraordinarily. Extraordinary termination is possible with 30 days’ notice to the end of a month (Art. 257f para. 3 OR).
In order for the extraordinary termination to be valid, the breaches of duty must be serious. This means that the continuation of the tenancy agreement is unreasonable for the residents or the landlord.
The landlord must terminate your rental agreement in writing using an officially approved form (Art. 266l OR). This form also states how you can appeal against the termination.
Good to know: Do you feel that the termination is not justified? If so, you can contest it with the conciliation authority within 30 days (Art. 271 and Art. 273 OR).
5. Who pays if my barbecue has caused a fire?
If you cause excessive damage to the rental apartment, you are generally liable as a tenant. This is even the case if you did not intentionally cause the fire. This means that if you cause a fire, you must pay for the damage.
The situation is different if you have personal liability insurance have. In most cases the liability policy covers fire damage caused by a barbecue. However, if the fire is caused by gross negligence, insurance companies without additional cover may reduce benefits (Art. 14 VVG).
How much the insurance company pays out at most depends on the sum insured and the deductible .
Please note: Personal liability insurance does not pay for damage incurred to your home contents during the fire. Only a possible home contents insurance.
6. FAQs on barbecuing on the balcony
In principle, a barbecue and barbecuing on the balcony are permitted in principle. However, the landlord or administration may partially restrict barbecuing activities in the house rules or the rental agreement.
For example, some landlords exclude charcoal barbecues, because they cause a lot of smoke. This can bother the neighbours.
In Switzerland, there are no court rulings on barbecuing on the balcony. There are only court rulings that deal with various disputes in tenancy law.
Barbecuing becomes a nuisance if neighbours feel disturbed by excessive emissions These include, among other things, excessive smoke, strong odours and loud noises.
Objectivity counts more than subjectivity: the yardstick is an person with average sensitivity. So, if a particularly sensitive neighbour feels disturbed, this is not yet considered excessive.
You can and may use an electric barbecue on your balcony. An exception exists if use is prohibited in your house rules and the rental agreement refers to the house rules. However, the landlord or administration may not completely prohibit barbecuing.
A gas barbecue is allowed on the balcony. Exception: Use is prohibited in your house rules and the rental agreement refers to the house rules. However, the landlord or administration may not completely prohibit barbecuing.
Important: When using the gas barbecue, make sure to keep it at least one metre away from flammable objects.
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This article was first published on 21.04.2020
