Procedure descriptions

Request environmental information

Every person has the right to request free access to environmental information from bodies required to provide such information.

The term ‘environmental information’ is very broadly defined. It includes, for example, information relating to soil, water, air, the landscape, biodiversity, genetically modified organisms, energy, radiation or noise.
This list is not exhaustive.

Access may be granted to you by:

  • Provision of information
  • Granting of access to files
  • in other ways

Responsible department

You can request environmental information from any body required by law to provide such information and which holds it

Details

Prerequisite

none

Procedure

To obtain information, you must submit a request to a body obliged to provide information. This request does not need to be in any particular form. It may also be submitted electronically.

In your request, you must specify exactly what information you wish to receive and in what form. You have the option of inspecting files on site or requesting that the information be sent to you. You do not need to give a reason for your request.

Deadlines

none

Required documents

none

Costs

  • For verbal and simple written enquiries: none
  • Fees apply for the provision of environmental information if the processing time exceeds three hours.

Processing time

The body responsible for providing information must decide within one month whether or not you can be granted access to the information requested.
An exception may be made in the case of extensive and complex requests for information. In such cases, the time limit may be extended to two months.

Miscellaneous

You are only entitled to access information which the body responsible for providing information actually holds.

The body responsible for providing information is not required to produce the environmental information you have requested. If the body responsible for providing information knows which authority holds the information, it must automatically forward your request. You will then be notified that your request has been forwarded.

Detailed information

  • Portal Umwelt-BW
  • Teilhabe am Umweltschutz - Beteiligung an Entscheidungsverfahren
  • Beteiligung der Öffentlichkeit - öffentliche Bekanntmachungen
  • Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung - Bundesumweltministerium

Legal basis

Umweltverwaltungsgesetz (UVwG) (Umweltinformationen)

  • § 22 ff.

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Umweltministerium Baden-Württemberg, 14.10.2026