Garages are not storage rooms – even if they have long since become more than just a place to park a car in many households. They are converted into workshops, hobby rooms or junk rooms – boxes, old furniture, winter tires, sports equipment or entire stocks of household goods regularly end up there. But many people don’t know this: This is legally problematic. This is because garages are not intended as general storage rooms according to the building regulations of the federal states. Those who violate this risk warnings, fines or even termination of their tenancy agreement.
Find out more in this blog article:
what you can really store in your garage
Why there are clear rules for garages
what alternatives are available to really take the strain off your home – without legal risks.
Why are there rules for garage use?
Garages are designed for a specific purpose – they are intended to be used to park motor vehicles safely and protected from the weather. This is primarily for urban planning and safety reasons: Cities want to prevent vehicles from being parked permanently in public spaces. At the same time, the aim is to prevent the risk of fire or accidents if flammable materials or junk accumulate in poorly ventilated spaces.
The building regulations of the federal states are fairly uniform in this respect. The Vienna Building Code (§ 117), for example, stipulates that garages may only be used for their intended purpose – i.e. to store vehicles and the accessories directly associated with them. Anyone who changes this purpose – for example by storing furniture or household appliances – is acting unlawfully.
What is allowed in the garage?
- Summer or winter tires
- Jack, tow rope, tools
- Operating materials such as antifreeze, engine oil (in normal household quantities)
- Roof boxes or bike racks
- Bicycle, scooter or a second vehicle if there is space
- Everything that serves the operation or maintenance of the vehicle is permitted. This includes, for example
- Prerequisite: The garage must remain usable as a parking space.
What must not be stored in the garage?
- What is not permitted are all items that are not directly related to the vehicle:
- Furniture and moving boxes
- Clothing, books or household goods
- Files, electrical appliances, crockery
- Firewood, gas cylinders or paints
- Fitness equipment or sports equipment
- Refrigerators or washing machines
- Decoration, garden tools or building site materials
Anyone who uses their garage as a storage room is in breach of the building regulations – even if the door remains closed. If this becomes known, there are consequences.
What are the risks of misappropriation?
Using a garage as a storage room is not a trivial offense. Depending on the case and region:
- Warnings from the landlord or the community of owners
- Loss of the parking space or even termination of the rental agreement
- Fines imposed by the building police or the building authority – in extreme cases up to several tens of thousands of euros
- Insurance problems in the event of fire or damage – the insurance company may refuse to pay benefits
It is worth taking a closer look at the declaration of division or the rental agreement, especially in the case of condominiums or rented underground parking spaces.
Self-storage as a safe & legal alternative
If you can’t create space in the garage – what then? The solution is self-storage. In our temperature-controlled storage rooms, you can store exactly the things that you don’t have room for in your home but need to be stored safely and securely.
Whether moving boxes, sports equipment, garden furniture or seasonal decorations – at STORE ROOM you get clean, secure and flexibly usable storage compartments from 1 m².
Advantages over a garage:
- No legal risks
- Tempered, dry room – ideal for delicate items
- 24/7 digital access via app
- Flexible running times & size adjustment
- Security standard with camera surveillance & access control
You can change your storage size or cancel your rental at any time – with no long-term commitment or hidden costs.
Self-storage as a clever and secure storage solution
Even if it’s tempting, your garage is not a substitute for a cellar.
What may seem practical at first glance – simply storing furniture, moving boxes or sports equipment in the garage – can quickly become a risk. After all, anyone who stores household goods or personal items there without a direct connection to their vehicle is in breach of current building regulations and risks serious consequences: from warnings and fines to the loss of the rental contract or insurance benefits in the event of damage.
The clever solution: a self-storage compartment at STORE ROOM. You can store your belongings there dry, securely and legally – whether seasonal decorations, files, sports equipment or household items. At the same time, you create order within your own four walls without compromising on space or security.
Our modern locations in Vienna, Graz, St. Pölten and the surrounding area offer you centrally located storage facilities of various sizes – accessible around the clock, flexible booking options and state-of-the-art technology. Perfect for everything you don’t need every day, but want to store safely.
So your garage remains a parking space – and your home a feel-good place.
