Home / Lakes with engine bans

Lakes with engine bans: where combustion, electric or no motor is allowed

Planning a boating holiday on an Alpine or German lake? Many lakes in Germany and Austria have engine bans, and where they apply, each lake has its own rule. On some, a combustion engine is allowed with restrictions; on others, only an electric motor up to a set power may run; and on some, no motor is allowed at all. This list covers 79 lakes, each with the rule and the regulation it comes from.

We only list what we found in an official source that we opened ourselves. If a lake is missing, we could not find one. Legal status as of October 19, 2026. The regulations are in German; the rules below are our summary in English.

Lakes: 79
Combustion allowed: 19
Permit required: 3
Electric only: 46
No motor: 11

The lakes on the map

Each marker is a lake; its shape shows the rule. Click a marker to jump to the lake in the list below. Zoom with the buttons, by double clicking, or with Ctrl and the mouse wheel.

All lakes and their rules

Ammersee

Bavaria, Germany

Permit required. Every boat with a motor, electric included, needs a permit from the district authority.
- For boats with combustion engines the lake has a cap of 150 permits, each limited to five years with no renewal. People with a disability rating of 100 are given limited priority on the waiting list.
Legal source: BaySchiffV § 3; SchBek Nr. 3.1.

Official text: BaySchiffV § 3 · SchBek Nr. 3.1 · Merkblatt Landratsamt Starnberg
Chiemsee

Bavaria, Germany

Permit required. Every boat with a motor, electric included, needs a permit from the district authority.
- According to the Bavarian government, 2,439 electric boats and 506 motor boats were registered in 2022.
Legal source: BaySchiffV § 3.

Official text: BaySchiffV § 3 · Merkblatt Landratsamt Starnberg · Landtag Drs. 18/24042
Königssee

Bavaria, Germany

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.
- Inside the national park, boats of any kind are banned, so no rowing boat, kayak or board either.
Legal source: § 9 Abs. 4 Nr. 1 Nationalparkverordnung Berchtesgaden.

Official text: Nationalparkverordnung § 9
Schliersee

Bavaria, Germany

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.
- The district office only grants a permit for an electric boat if the applicant has a severe disability, with a disability rating of at least 50.
Legal source: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach Nr. 2 und 3.

Official text: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach
Seehamer See

Bavaria, Germany

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.
- The district office only grants a permit for an electric boat if the applicant has a severe disability, with a disability rating of at least 50.
Legal source: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach Nr. 2 und 3.

Official text: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach
Spitzingsee

Bavaria, Germany

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.
- The district office only grants a permit for an electric boat if the applicant has a severe disability, with a disability rating of at least 50.
Legal source: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach Nr. 2 und 3.

Official text: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach
Starnberger See

Bavaria, Germany

Permit required. Every boat with a motor, electric included, needs a permit from the district authority.
- For boats with combustion engines the lake has a cap of 280 permits, each limited to five years with no renewal. People with a disability rating of 100 are given limited priority on the waiting list.
Legal source: BaySchiffV § 3; SchBek Nr. 3.1.

Official text: BaySchiffV § 3 · SchBek Nr. 3.1 · Merkblatt Landratsamt Starnberg
Tegernsee

Bavaria, Germany

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.
- The district office only grants a permit for an electric boat if the applicant has a severe disability, with a disability rating of at least 50.
Legal source: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach Nr. 2 und 3.

Official text: Merkblatt Landratsamt Miesbach
Lake Constance

Lake Constance (DE, AT, CH)

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- Every boat with a motor must be registered with the district office.
- A newly registered engine must meet the exhaust limits of the Lake Constance shipping regulations.
- Above 4.4 kW you need the Lake Constance skipper licence, for electric motors as well.
Legal source: BSO Art. 12.01, Anlage C.

Official text: BSO Art. 12.01 · Landratsamt Bodenseekreis
Dümmer

Lower Saxony, Germany

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 7.35 kW.
- This means battery powered electric motors.
- Sailing boats with a combustion engine may sail, but must not use the engine.
Legal source: § 3 Abs. 1 und 2 DStMVO.

Official text: DStMVO § 3
Steinhuder Meer

Lower Saxony, Germany

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 7.35 kW.
- This means battery powered electric motors.
- Sailing boats with a combustion engine may sail, but must not use the engine.
Legal source: § 3 Abs. 1 und 2 DStMVO.

Official text: DStMVO § 3
Klempowsee

Brandenburg, Germany

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 47 Abs. 4 LSchiffV.

Official text: LSchiffV § 47
Mellensee

Brandenburg, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- Combustion engines are banned from 22:00 to 5:00.
- They must also stay off every day from 12:00 to 15:00.
Legal source: § 47 Abs. 2 und 3 LSchiffV.

Official text: LSchiffV § 47
Scharmützelsee

Brandenburg, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Schwielowsee

Brandenburg, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Senftenberger See

Brandenburg, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- Combustion engines are banned from 22:00 to 5:00.
- Along certain stretches of shore, motor boats must keep at least 100 m away from the bank.
Legal source: § 47 Abs. 2 und 5 LSchiffV.

Official text: LSchiffV § 47
Tornowsee

Brandenburg, Germany

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 47 Abs. 4 LSchiffV.

Official text: LSchiffV § 47
Großer Müggelsee

Berlin, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Großer Wannsee

Berlin, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Tegeler See

Berlin, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Fleesensee

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Kölpinsee

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Müritz

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Plauer See

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Schweriner See

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- The lake is part of a federal waterway. Anyone may navigate there within German shipping law, and the federal inland waterway regulations apply.
- No German licence is needed up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) with a combustion engine or up to 7.5 kW continuous power with an electric motor.
Legal source: WaStrG Anlage 1 und § 5; SpFV § 5.

Official text: WaStrG Anlage 1 · WaStrG § 5 · SpFV § 5
Almsee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Attersee

Upper Austria, Austria

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- From 1.7. to 31.8. every combustion engine is banned, the so called summer ban.
- A hybrid counts as a combustion engine if it can switch itself on.
- Combustion engines are banned from 21:00 to 7:00.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: §§ 2 und 3 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Gleinkersee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Hallstätter See

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 1 kW.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 2 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Heratinger See

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Holzöstersee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Irrsee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Laudachsee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Mondsee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 2 Z 5 und 8 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Nussensee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Offensee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Schwarzensee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Traunsee

Upper Austria, Austria

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- From 1.7. to 31.8. every combustion engine is banned, the so called summer ban.
- A hybrid counts as a combustion engine if it can switch itself on.
- Combustion engines are banned from 21:00 to 7:00.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: §§ 2 und 3 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Vorderer Gosausee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Vorderer Langbathsee

Upper Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 6 Abs. 1 Oö. Seen-VV 2005.

Official text: Oö. Seen-VV 2005
Fuschlsee

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung bestimmte Seen; SchFG Anlage 1 Z 5.

Official text: Salzburger Seen-Verordnung · SchFG Anlage 1
Goldegger See

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung bestimmte Seen; SchFG Anlage 1 Z 5.

Official text: Salzburger Seen-Verordnung · SchFG Anlage 1
Grabensee

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung bestimmte Seen; SchFG Anlage 1 Z 5.

Official text: Salzburger Seen-Verordnung · SchFG Anlage 1
Mattsee

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 4.4 kW.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung Niedertrumer See (Mattsee).

Official text: Mattsee-Verordnung
Obertrumer See

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung bestimmte Seen; SchFG Anlage 1 Z 5.

Official text: Salzburger Seen-Verordnung · SchFG Anlage 1
Wallersee

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung bestimmte Seen; SchFG Anlage 1 Z 5.

Official text: Salzburger Seen-Verordnung · SchFG Anlage 1
Wolfgangsee

Salzburg, Austria

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- These rules apply to the part of the lake in the state of Salzburg.
- Combustion outboards are banned outright; combustion inboards are allowed only at certain times.
- From 1.7. to 31.8. every combustion engine is banned, the so called summer ban.
- Combustion engines are banned from 21:00 to 7:00.
- In May, June and September they are also banned on Sundays and public holidays.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Abs. 1 Verordnung Wolfgangsee (Salzburger Teil).

Official text: Wolfgangsee-Verordnung
Zeller See

Salzburg, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- An electric drive powered by a combustion generator on board is banned too.
Legal source: § 2 Verordnung Zeller See.

Official text: Zeller-See-Verordnung
Afritzer See

Carinthia, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 2.5 kW.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 9 Abs. 3 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Faaker See

Carinthia, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 7 Abs. 3 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Feldsee (Brennsee)

Carinthia, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 2.5 kW.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 9 Abs. 3 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Keutschacher See

Carinthia, Austria

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 und Anlage Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Klopeiner See

Carinthia, Austria

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 und Anlage Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Längsee

Carinthia, Austria

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 und Anlage Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Millstätter See

Carinthia, Austria

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- Private boats with combustion engines need a four stroke inboard, with a cap of 3 boats on the lake; jet skis are not included.
- Private electric boats of 4.4 kW or more: no more than 40 on the lake.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 5 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Ossiacher See

Carinthia, Austria

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- Private boats with combustion engines need a four stroke inboard, with a cap of 28 boats on the lake; jet skis are not included.
- Private electric boats of 4.4 kW or more: no more than 30 on the lake.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 4 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Pressegger See

Carinthia, Austria

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 und Anlage Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Turnersee

Carinthia, Austria

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 und Anlage Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Weißensee

Carinthia, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; private electric boats only below 4.4 kW.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 6 Abs. 3 und 5 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Wörthersee

Carinthia, Austria

Combustion allowed. Boats with combustion engines are allowed, with conditions.
- Private boats with combustion engines need a four stroke inboard, with a cap of 335 boats on the lake; jet skis are not included.
- Private electric boats of 4.4 kW or more: no more than 500 on the lake.
- Hire boats with a motor must be electric and no more than 500 watts.
Legal source: § 3 Kärntner Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Kärntner Seen-Verordnung
Achensee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 2.2 kW.

Legal source: § 1 Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Haldensee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Heiterwanger See

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Hintersteiner See

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Pillersee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Plansee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Reintaler See

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Thiersee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Vilsalpsee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Walchsee

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Wildsee (Seefeld)

Tyrol, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed up to 500 watts.

Legal source: § 1 und Anlage Tiroler Seen-Verordnung.

Official text: Tiroler Seen-Verordnung
Altausseer See

Styria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 Steiermärkische Verordnung LGBl. Nr. 117/1999.

Official text: LGBl. Stmk. 117/1999
Grundlsee

Styria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 Steiermärkische Verordnung LGBl. Nr. 117/1999.

Official text: LGBl. Stmk. 117/1999
Leopoldsteiner See

Styria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 Steiermärkische Verordnung LGBl. Nr. 117/1999.

Official text: LGBl. Stmk. 117/1999
Toplitzsee

Styria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 Steiermärkische Verordnung LGBl. Nr. 117/1999.

Official text: LGBl. Stmk. 117/1999
Erlaufsee

Lower Austria, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 Erlaufsee-Verordnung; § 1 Abs. 1 LGBl. Nr. 117/1999.

Official text: Erlaufsee-Verordnung · LGBl. Stmk. 117/1999
Lunzer See

Lower Austria, Austria

No motor. Motor boats are banned, electric ones included.

Legal source: § 1 Abs. 1 Lunzersee-Verordnung.

Official text: Lunzersee-Verordnung
Neufelder See

Burgenland, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- Even carrying a combustion engine on board is banned, whether it runs or not.
Legal source: § 1 Verordnung LGBl. Nr. 49/2007.

Official text: LGBl. Bgld. 49/2007
Lake Neusiedl

Burgenland, Austria

Electric only. Combustion engines are banned; electric motors are allowed.
- Even carrying a combustion engine on board is banned, whether it runs or not.
Legal source: § 1 Verordnung LGBl. Nr. 49/2007.

Official text: LGBl. Bgld. 49/2007

Rules beyond the individual lake

Germany: On federal waterways you need no licence for a boat with up to 11.03 kW (15 hp) combustion power or up to 7.5 kW continuous electric power (section 5 of the German recreational boat licence regulation, SpFV). On Bavarian waters that are not federal waterways, however, every motor boat needs a permit, electric ones included (section 3 of the Bavarian shipping regulation).

Austria: Below 4.4 kW you need no certificate of competence, whether the motor is electric or petrol (section 119 of the Austrian Shipping Act). A battery powered boat below 4.4 kW also needs no registration (section 101). Which motors a lake allows is then set by the regional regulation in the list.

Lake Constance: The Lake Constance shipping regulations apply on all shores. Above 4.4 kW you need the Lake Constance skipper licence, and the rule makes no exception for electric motors.

Police, rescue services, fire brigades, commercial fishing and scheduled passenger boats almost always have their own exemptions; we do not list them. Protected zones, swimming areas and speed limits often apply on top, marked on the water with signs or buoys.

Electric boats: range and insurance

How far an electric boat goes on one charge and when a licence becomes necessary is worked out by the electric boat calculator. More on cover for electric boats is on the page electric boat insurance.

Sources

Every rule comes from the linked official text, retrieved on October 19, 2026. Regulations change, and the current wording always applies.