Lost property in the municipal area; lost property and lost property reports

  • Brief description

    If you find a lost item and take it, you must report it to the lost and found office if the item cannot be returned directly to the owner. If you have lost an item of value, you can report the loss to the lost and found office.

  • Description

    Lost property report - information for finders

    Anyone who finds a valuable item worth more than 10 euros is obliged to report the find immediately.

    The lost and found office of the municipality where the item was found or any police station is responsible for accepting reports of lost and found.

    When accepting the lost property report, the circumstances relevant for determining the person entitled to receive it must be established ex officio and recorded in writing, in particular

    • Day of display,
    • Time and place of discovery,
    • Type of lost property,
    • Name and address of the finder,
    • whether the item is being kept by the finder or has been handed in to the lost and found office,
    • whether the finder waives his rights arising from the find (Sections 971 to 975 of the German Civil Code).

    The finder is entitled to a finder's fee. In accordance with Section 971 of the German Civil Code, this amounts to 5% of the material value for items up to 500 euros, and an additional 3% of the added value.

    The finder generally acquires ownership of the item six months after reporting the find to the competent authority, unless the finder has previously become aware of a person entitled to receive the item or this person has registered their right with the competent authority. The finder will be notified after the deadline that the lost property can be collected (possibly for a storage/processing fee). However, the finder must expect a claim for enrichment from the former owner for a further three years. Official documents may not be transferred.

    Please note: All items found on the (S-Bahn) train or at the station must be handed in to Deutsche Bahn.

    Lost property request - Information for losers

    If a lost property can be assigned to the owner, the owner will be notified in writing (e.g. in the case of identity documents, bank cards).

    The lost and found office provides information about lost property in regular announcements (e.g. notice boards, municipal gazettes) or on the municipal website. A list of lost property is published here at regular intervals.

    In some municipalities, the loss can also be requested or reported. In order to be able to identify your lost item beyond doubt, it should be described as precisely as possible in the lost property request and the circumstances of the loss (date, location) should be stated.

    Lost property handed in to the local authority's lost and found office is available for collection for six months. If the loser does not come forward, the finder usually acquires ownership of the lost property. If the finder has waived the right of ownership after the retention period has expired, the lost property will be auctioned off or donated to charity.

    Note: All items lost on the (S-Bahn) train or at the station will be kept by Deutsche Bahn.

  • Legal basis


Responsible departments