Styrian Agricultural Land Transaction Act

Styrian Agricultural Land Transaction Act

Green Agricultural Land Transactions in the Federal State of Styria

The acquisition of ownership of agricultural and forestry land in the federal state of Styria is generally subject to approval. The following are exempt from this approval requirement:

• Legal acquisitions between spouses, registered partners and cohabitants
• Legal acquisitions between relatives
• Exceptions to the provisions of §§ 13 and 15 of the Land Partitioning Act
• Legal transactions for the purpose of public administration and public transport
• Legal transactions concerning land with an area of less than 3,000m²
• Legal transactions that are the subject of land reform measures

Acquisitions of ownership are generally to be approved if the public interest in maintaining agricultural or forestry land is satisfied and if:

• the creation, preservation and strengthening of an efficient farming community or
• the preservation or creation of economic real estate is met.

Likewise, the legal acquirer must declare that the property will be properly managed.

Grey Agricultural Land Transactions in the Federal State of Styria

The acquisition of ownership of a building plot in so-called restricted municipalities in the federal state of Styria is generally subject to a declaration requirement. This requires a written declaration in triplicate.

• The building plot in the restricted zone for second homes will not be used as a second home.
• The acquirer is not a foreigner.
• The acquirer is familiar with the relevant laws.

The following are exempt from this declaration requirement:

• Legal transactions concerning land used for commercial accommodation
• Legal acquisitions for the purpose of public administration/public transport
• Exceptions to the provisions of §§ 13 and 15 of the Land Partitioning Act
• Legal acquisitions for the purpose of changing co-ownership quotas
• Legal transactions concerning second homes which have been used exclusively as second homes for at least 1 year prior to the legal establishment of the restricted zones and are unsuitable for a primary residence
• Legal transactions between spouses, cohabitants or registered partners
• Legal transactions between relatives

Acquisition by Foreigners in the Federal State of Styria

The acquisition of ownership of a property by a foreign person in the federal state of Styria is generally subject to approval. The following are exempt from this approval requirement:

• Legal transactions between spouses, cohabitants or registered partners
• Legal transactions between relatives

The following requirements must be met for approval by the Agricultural Land Transaction Authority:

• The interests of national politics must not be impaired.
• There must be an economic, economic, social or cultural interest in the legal acquisition.