Heat pumps in Bavaria

Heat pumps in Bavaria at a glance

Bavaria offers 2026 no separate grant programme for heat pumps. An exception is the LfU-Geothermie-Programm for ground-coupled heat pumps. Details are provided below under “Landesförderung Bayern”.

All eight major Bavarian cities with more than 100.000 inhabitants have adopted their heat plans on time. Details are provided below under “Status der kommunalen Wärmeplanung”.

See also: Nationwide basis. KfW 458, GEG and the technical minimum requirements apply in Bavaria without restriction.

Bavarian state funding

As of July 2026 Bavaria has no statewide grant programme for heat pumps.

The 10.000-Häuser-Programm ended in April 2022. The LfU-Geothermie-Programm only supports ground-coupled heat pumps.

For private individuals, federal funding through KfW 458 is the main route. Individual cities and municipal utilities offer additional local programmes, for example in Munich or Nuremberg. Details are provided in the relevant city document.

Water law: geothermal energy and groundwater

Ground-source probes and groundwater heat pumps require a permit under water law in Bavaria under the Bayerischen Wassergesetz (BayWG). The responsible authority is the lower water authority at the district office or independent city.

From a drilling depth of 100 metres, a notification under § 127 BBergG must also be made to the responsible mining authority, but no permit is required (Bergamt Südbayern or Bergamt Nordbayern, depending on location). The mining authority can impose further requirements within one month. If it does not respond, you may drill. A mining-law permit requirement only begins at a depth of 400 metres.

The notification is made through BayernPortal. Check the location in the Energie-Atlas Bayern. Special rules apply in water protection areas, often including a drilling ban.

Building regulations: noise protection and minimum distance

The Bayerische Bauordnung (BayBO), Art. 6 Abs. 1 sentence 3 no. 4, exempts heat pumps up to 2 metres high from the setback-area requirement. There is no length limit, unlike for garages or solar installations under Art. 6 Abs. 7.

The Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wohnen, Bau und Verkehr also clarifies: because it cannot be entered, a standard air-source heat pump is not a structure under Art. 2 Abs. 2 BayBO. Art. 6 therefore does not apply at all.

This means there is no fixed minimum distance in Bavaria. What matters is that you comply with the noise limits at the property boundary. In purely residential areas, 35 dB(A) applies at night.

Key authorities in the state

Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wirtschaft, Landesentwicklung und Energie (StMWi)

The StMWi is responsible for energy policy and the heating transition. It operates the Energie-Atlas Bayern.

stmwi.bayern.de

Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt (LfU)

The LfU provides hydrogeological data for geothermal drilling. It also operates the geothermal funding programme.

lfu.bayern.de

Bayerisches Landesamt für Maß und Gewicht (LMG)

The LMG implements the Wärmeplanungsgesetz in Bavaria. It pays Konnexitätsmittel to local authorities and provides them with legal advice.

lmg.bayern.de

Lower water authorities

The lower water authorities are based in the 71 districts and 25 independent cities. They are the first point of contact for ground probes and groundwater wells.

Verbraucherzentrale Bayern

Verbraucherzentrale Bayern provides energy advice at more than 80 locations.

Telephone, Munich advice centre: 089 55 27 94-0

verbraucherzentrale-bayern.de

Status of municipal heat planning

Bavaria has eight major cities with more than 100.000 inhabitants: Munich, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Würzburg, Regensburg, Ingolstadt, Fürth and Erlangen. All eight have adopted their heat plan on time.

Details for Munich, Nuremberg and Augsburg are provided in the relevant city document. Around 640 further Bavarian municipalities are active in heat planning, with a deadline of 30 June 2028.

Note: In local authorities with a completed heat plan, the 65 per cent requirement may apply earlier than the federal deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still Bavarian state funding for heat pumps?

No general grant programme. The 10.000-Häuser-Programm ended 2022. An exception is the LfU-Geothermie-Programm, offering up to 4.500 EUR for ground-coupled heat pumps. Otherwise, private individuals use federal funding through KfW 458 or the tax bonus under § 35c EStG. Some cities and municipal utilities offer additional programmes.

When does my ground probe need approval from the mining authority?

From a drilling depth of 100 metres, notification to the responsible mining authority is required, but not approval. A genuine approval requirement only arises from a depth of 400 metres. Drilling for detached houses usually remains below 150 metres.

Can my neighbour install an air-source heat pump directly at the property boundary?

Yes, this is permitted under the Bayerische Bauordnung. Heat pumps up to 2 metres high do not trigger setback areas. The TA Lärm noise limits at the property boundary are important.

Does my city already have a heat plan?

All eight major Bavarian cities have adopted their heat plan. You can find the status for Munich, Nuremberg or Augsburg in the relevant city document. Smaller municipalities have until 30 June 2028.

Where do I register a ground-probe drilling project?

The notification is made online through BayernPortal. The lower water authority at the district office checks the documents. From a depth of 100 metres, you also need to notify the mining authority.

Note on currency of information

Municipal heat plans and state programmes change continuously. Check the current status on the pages of the Energie-Atlas Bayern.