Key takeaways
- In multi-occupancy buildings and underground garages, there has been a legal entitlement to approval of a wallbox at your own parking space since 2020.
- According to the ADAC ruling overview, the blanket argument of fire risk is generally not sufficient to prevent a wallbox in the underground garage.
- The 2026 federal funding provides up to €2,000 per parking space, but the application must be submitted before commissioning.
- Who pays for the wallbox is not uniformly regulated by law; the rulings of the Munich Regional Court and the Lübeck Local Court show two opposing scenarios.
- Underground garages are technically not a special case, but they are crucial for planning, load management and funding applications.
Why the Underground Garage is Special
Underground garages are the most common location in Germany where flat owners and tenants want to install a wallbox. At the same time, fire protection requirements, limited power connections, load management and neighbours' co-determination rights all come together. Anyone retrofitting in a residential complex with an underground garage should therefore plan not only the device itself, but always the entire environment, otherwise conflicts in the owners' meeting and problems with the funding application are likely.
Who Decides, WEG, Landlord or Myself?
Since 2020, flat owners have had a legal entitlement to have the owners' association approve the installation of a wallbox at their own parking space, according to the ADAC in its multi-occupancy building guide. The other owners may only co-determine the manner of execution, not the whether.
How far this right extends is shown by a ruling of the Munich Regional Court (Case No. 31 S 12015/21, documented in the ADAC ruling overview): A couple of tenants in a complex with 200 rental units and 200 underground parking spaces wanted to install their own wallbox for around €1,600 to €1,700. The landlord referred to a municipal utility that charged a one-off payment of €1,499, a monthly usage fee of €45 and a monthly electricity charge graduated by vehicle type. The court ruled in favour of the tenants: an additional wallbox was technically feasible and reasonable, and there was no general right to equal treatment of all tenants.
Two Worlds: Owner vs. Tenant
As a flat owner, you go via the WEG and a resolution of the owners' meeting. As a tenant, you need your landlord's consent. Both paths must be considered separately from a legal perspective, as the ADAC ruling overview shows.
Who Pays for the Wallbox in the Underground Garage?
The question of cost is one of the most common causes of dispute. ADAC lawyers have compiled several rulings that define the framework:
| Scenario | Court / Case Number | Key Statement |
|---|---|---|
| Couple of tenants vs. landlord, 200 flats, 200 underground parking spaces | Munich Regional Court, 23.6.2022, Case No. 31 S 12015/21 | An individual wallbox is reasonable; the landlord may not refer to the municipal utility's offer. |
| Several owners of a WEG, up to 10 wallbox connections | Lübeck Local Court (documented by ADAC) | The costs of the privileged structural alteration are to be borne by the applying owners in proportion to their co-ownership shares. A mere resolution by the WEG permitting the installation is not sufficient for a deviating cost allocation. |
Fire Protection in the Underground Garage
Specific fire protection regulations for wallboxes in underground garages are not documented in our sources. What is clear, however, according to the ADAC ruling overview, is this: the blanket argument of fire risk is generally not sufficient as a reason for refusal. Which specific requirements apply at the respective location, such as installation site, cable routing, labelling or clearances, depends on the specific underground garage and must be clarified with a qualified electrician and, where applicable, the complex's fire safety officer.
Plan Safely Rather Than Retrofit Later
Always have the location, cable routing and protection planned by a master electrician or a certified specialist company. The ADAC points out that wallbox projects in multi-occupancy buildings often fail due to a lack of planning.
Insurance: Who is Liable in the Event of Fire and Damage?
Specific statements on insurance conditions for wallboxes in underground garages are not documented in our sources. In practice, three policies play a role: the building insurance of the WEG, the contents or building insurance of the owner or tenant and, for rented parking spaces, the liability insurance of the operator. We recommend checking both your own policy and the WEG policy before commissioning and registering the wallbox if necessary.
Which Wallboxes are Suitable for the Underground Garage
Whether a wallbox technically fits in an underground garage depends less on the device itself than on the electrical infrastructure. The ADAC multi-occupancy building guide refers to an installation check that examines the building's mains room, meter system, cellar access routes and installation locations on site. Which specific models come into question is determined by the available connection capacity, load management concept and funding eligibility, not by the device brand.
Do I Need a Ventilation System for the Wallbox in the Underground Garage?
Specific requirements for ventilation systems for wallboxes in underground garages are not documented in our sources. What is generally decisive is whether the existing garage ventilation can dissipate the additional heat input from several vehicles charging simultaneously. This question is examined as part of the installation check and coordinated with the responsible master electrician.
2026 Funding: Up to €2,000 per Parking Space
Since 15 April 2026, the new federal programme of the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) for the funding of private charging infrastructure in and on multi-occupancy buildings has been running. The total volume is 500 million euros according to the ADAC; applications can be submitted from 15.4.2026.
| Measure | Funding per parking space |
|---|---|
| Pre-wire parking space (without wallbox) | up to €1,300 |
| Install wallbox | up to €1,500 |
| Bidirectional charging point | up to €2,000 |
Funding Requirements at a Glance
Eligible for funding are WEGs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as private owners of rented residential property and housing companies. At least 20% of existing parking spaces are pre-wired, at least 6 parking spaces electrified. Supply is provided with green electricity or from own PV. Building application was submitted before 24.03.2021. Parking spaces are flat-related. Submit application before commissioning.
According to the ADAC, a cost estimate and an overall concept are mandatory for the application. The ADAC offers an installation check for this: €549 for 6–10 parking spaces to be electrified, €749 for more than 10 parking spaces. Included are a building check, charging infrastructure concept and cost estimate in accordance with the funding programme.
Retrofitting in Practice: Three Steps to the Wallbox
The ADAC describes retrofitting in residential complexes in three steps: book installation check, on-site appointment with master electrician, then overall concept for the funding application. The order is important: the funding application must be submitted before commissioning.
- Book installation check, the master electrician will contact you to arrange the on-site appointment.
- On-site appointment, the expert examines the building's mains room, meter system, cellar access routes and installation locations. All areas must be freely accessible.
- Overall concept & funding application, based on the check, a cost estimate is produced in line with the funding guidelines; followed by application and commissioning.
Mind the Order
According to the ADAC, without a well-thought-out overall concept, there is a risk of high costs, delays and conflicts in the owners' meeting. Anyone who commissions first and then submits the application risks losing the funding.
Frequently asked questions
- Which fire protection regulations apply to wallboxes in the underground garage?
- Specific fire protection regulations are not documented in our sources. According to the ADAC ruling overview, the blanket argument of fire risk is generally not sufficient as a reason for refusal. Clarify the location, cable routing and protection with a qualified electrician.
- Which insurance covers a wallbox in the underground garage?
- Our sources do not contain any specific information on insurance conditions. Before commissioning, check the WEG's building insurance as well as your own contents or building insurance. For rented parking spaces, the operator's liability insurance is relevant.
- How much does a wallbox in the underground garage cost?
- In a case documented by the ADAC, the installation costs amounted to €1,600 to €1,700. The total costs depend on the connection situation, load management and funding eligibility.
- Which wallboxes are suitable for underground garages?
- Suitability depends on connection capacity, load management concept and funding eligibility, not primarily on the device itself. The ADAC installation check examines the building's mains room, meter system and installation locations on site.
- Do I need a ventilation system for the wallbox in the underground garage?
- No specific requirements are to be found in our sources. What is decisive is whether the existing garage ventilation can dissipate the additional heat input from several charging points, this is assessed in the installation check.
- Can I simply install a wallbox in the underground garage as an owner?
- Yes, since 2020, flat owners have had a legal entitlement to approval. The WEG may only co-determine the manner of execution, not the whether.
- Who pays for the wallbox, owner, WEG or tenant?
- According to the Lübeck Local Court, the applying owners bear the costs in proportion to their co-ownership shares. For tenants, it depends on the individual case; in the Munich Regional Court ruling (Case No. 31 S 12015/21), the tenant was allowed to install at their own expense.
- How high is the 2026 funding?
- Up to €1,300 (pre-wiring only), up to €1,500 (with wallbox) or up to €2,000 (bidirectional) per parking space. Applications from 15.4.2026, total volume €500 million.
- How much does the installation check cost?
- €549 for 6–10 parking spaces, €749 for more than 10 parking spaces, according to the ADAC.
