Gravel gardens
Gravelling of gardens not permitted
At its meeting in November 2022, Chemnitz City Council decided that the gravelling of gardens would no longer be permitted in future.
This is regulated in the bylaws on the design of the ground conditions and surfaces of undeveloped areas on developed properties. For example, covering open ground areas with gravel or stone rubble and impermeable coverings of any kind are not permitted unless they are technically necessary - e.g. eaves strips. This applies to the entire undeveloped plot area.
For the purposes of these bylaws, a gravel garden is an open space that is completely covered over a large area with coarse stone material, often broken stones. They form the main and obvious design element. Plants do not occur here, or only to a very small extent. There is often no direct connection with the soil due to impermeable separating materials. Japanese rock gardens, which are used for meditative relaxation, and classic rock and gravel gardens, which form natural habitats for plants and animals that love barren and nutrient-poor soils, are excluded.
The aim of these bylaws is to ensure adequate greening and water permeability of the plots. This is intended to counteract health hazards caused by an unhealthy urban climate. The bylaws also serve to secure the long-term climate protection goals of the city of Chemnitz and to improve water retention in the event of flooding. The same requirements are to be defined for all properties.
The bylaws apply to both the new construction and redesign of properties - regardless of whether they do not require authorisation or whether a building application must be submitted.
must be submitted.
Existing gravel gardens that are not prohibited by the stipulations of a development plan do not have to be dismantled. The City of Chemnitz is counting on these property owners to realise that an ecologically designed garden is much more valuable for them.