Electric-only lakes: where Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland ban combustion engines
On many lakes in Bavaria, Salzburg, Carinthia and Tyrol only electric boats are allowed, and some ban those too. The list with official sources.
In Bavaria, the authorities only grant permits for private combustion-engine boats on Lake Starnberg and the Ammersee, and even there only via waiting lists. On the other state-owned lakes, an electric motor is the most you can hope for. Austria is similar: many lakes in Salzburg, Carinthia, Upper Austria, Styria and Tyrol ban combustion engines. Some lakes ban electric boats as well.
Which Bavarian lakes allow electric boats?
Bavaria only permits private combustion boats on Lake Starnberg (quota of 280) and the Ammersee (150). On all other state-owned lakes, an electric motor is the most you can get (Bavarian administrative regulation). You still need a permit for an electric boat, though.
| Lake | Electric boat | Combustion engine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Starnberg | allowed, no waiting list; visitors currently get no permit because of the quagga mussel (also Pilsensee, Wörthsee) | 280 licences, waiting time at least 14 years | District Office Starnberg |
| Ammersee | allowed | only via waiting list (150) | Bavarian Palace Department |
| Chiemsee | with permit and registration mark | generally not (exceptions for businesses, island residents) | District Office Traunstein |
| Waginger See and Tachinger See | with permit and registration mark | only narrow exceptions | District Office Traunstein, Bavarian Palace Department |
| Staffelsee | via waiting list | not permitted | Bavarian Palace Department |
| Tegernsee, Schliersee, Spitzingsee | only by exception from 50 % disability, up to 1 kW; visitors up to 1 kW for three weeks a year at most | no, or narrow exceptions | Bavarian Palace Department, District Office Miesbach |
| Königssee | private electric boats not permitted | narrow exceptions, none on the Obersee | Bavarian Palace Department |
| Alpsee (Hohenschwangau), Großer Alpsee, Hintersee, Kochelsee, Leitgeringer See, Schwansee, Soinsee | no motor at all, not even electric | no | Bavarian Palace Department |
On all lakes managed by the Bavarian Palace Department, e-surfboards, eFoils and e-kayaks are banned without exception, and motorboats may be no longer than 9 m (Bavarian Palace Department).
What applies on Lake Constance and in Brandenburg?
- Lake Constance: Electric boats up to 2 kW may enter the 300 m shore zone. All other motorboats may only moor, cast off or lie still there (BSO).
- Brandenburg: On standing, non-navigable waters, small electric boats up to 1 kW and 1,500 kg need no permit (BbgGemV). The Untersee with the Klempowsee, the Rottstielfließ with the Tornowsee and part of the Motzener See are closed to combustion engines. On state waters, combustion boats may not run between 10 pm and 5 am (LSchiffV).
Which lakes in Austria are electric-only?
| State | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Salzburg | Private motorboating is generally not possible, only at times on the Wolfgangsee. Fuschlsee, Wallersee, Obertrumer See, Grabensee, Hintersee and Zeller See: combustion engines banned, electric boats allowed. Mattsee: electric only up to 4.4 kW | State of Salzburg, RIS other lakes, RIS Zeller See, RIS Mattsee |
| Upper Austria | Mondsee: combustion engines banned all year. Attersee and Traunsee: combustion ban from 1 July to 31 August, hybrids count as combustion. Hallstätter See: electric up to 1,000 W. 17 smaller lakes (including Almsee, Gosau lakes, Irrsee): electric up to 500 W | RIS |
| Carinthia | Weißensee and Faaker See: private boating electric only. Wörthersee: combustion boats capped at 335, electric boats from 4.4 kW at 500. Millstätter See: only 3 private combustion boats. Afritzer See and Feldsee: electric up to 2.5 kW. Keutschacher See, Klopeiner See and others: motors of any kind banned | RIS |
| Styria | Combustion engines banned on Altausseer See, Grundlsee, Toplitzsee, Leopoldsteiner See and others | RIS |
| Tyrol | 32 lakes (including Plansee, Haldensee, Walchsee, Pillersee): combustion banned, electric up to 500 W; Achensee up to 2,200 W | RIS |
And in Switzerland?
Switzerland leaves it to the cantons. Federal law allows them to ban or restrict boating, or to cap the number of boats (Inland Navigation Act).
- Schwyz: On the Lauerzersee and the Sihlsee, only motors up to 6 kW are allowed. On Lake Lucerne, only moorings for combustion boats are capped (1,340). Electric boats may travel along the inner shore zone there (Canton of Schwyz).
- Lucerne: On the Hallwilersee, combustion boats are capped at 120 boats with a mooring and may not run at night. Neither rule applies to electric boats. On the Sempachersee, combustion boats are capped at 400. Motorised foil boats and eFoils are not allowed on either lake (SRL Lucerne).
- Zurich: On the Greifensee, Pfäffikersee and Türlersee, motorboats of any drive need a permit from the nature conservation office. The other small lakes are only open with a special permit (Canton of Zurich).
Where else is it “electric only”?
- Lake District (England): Buttermere, Crummock Water, Grasmere and Wastwater allow no motorboats at all, not even electric ones. On Bassenthwaite, electric motors need an annual permit (Lake District National Park).
- Amsterdam: Since 1 April 2025, only zero-emission and human-powered pleasure craft may use the city centre (up to and including the Singelgracht). Combustion boats with a vignette have transition periods until 2028 or 2030 (Gemeenteblad).
- Giethoorn: All hire boats have been electric since 1 January 2023 (Gemeente Steenwijkerland).
- Utrecht: On the Kromme Rijn, only electric boating has been allowed since 1 January 2025 (Gemeente Utrecht).
Sources and image rights
- Images
- Benni Fish / Pexels (conditions)
- Checked
- 23 October 2026 by Andreas Lakeberg
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