- Legal Basis
- §§ 306–306c StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment from one to ten years; in less serious cases imprisonment from six months to five years; aggravated arson carries imprisonment of not less than two years
- Summary
- Setting fire to a building or structure or causing its destruction by fire
Arson (Section 306 StGB)
Arson belongs to the category of offences creating a public danger and is regulated in the 28th Chapter of the StGB. German law distinguishes several levels, from simple arson through serious arson to particularly serious arson and arson resulting in death. The provisions protect both property and the life and limb of the general public from the uncontrollable dangers of fire.
Legal Basis
Section 306(1) of the German Criminal Code (StGB) provides:
“Anyone who sets fire to or destroys, wholly or in part, by setting fire to another’s buildings or huts, business premises or technical installations, notably machines, warehouses or stocks, motor vehicles, rail, air, or watercraft, forests, heaths or moors, or agricultural, food, or forestry facilities or products, shall be punished with imprisonment from one to ten years.”
Section 306a StGB (serious arson) concerns premises serving as human habitation. Section 306b StGB (particularly serious arson) covers cases where persons are placed in danger or seriously injured.
Elements of the Offence
Objects of the offence: Section 306(1) StGB contains an exhaustive catalogue: buildings, huts, business premises, technical installations, warehouses, motor vehicles, rail, air, or watercraft, forests, heaths, moors, and agricultural and forestry facilities. The object must be “another’s,” meaning it must not be solely owned by the perpetrator.
Setting fire: An object is set on fire when it has been seized by fire to the extent that it can continue burning independently. Merely charring or singeing does not suffice.
Destruction by setting fire: Alternatively, total or partial destruction by setting fire suffices, even if the object itself did not catch fire (e.g., destruction through heat development or smoke).
Intent: The perpetrator must act intentionally. In serious arson (Section 306a(1) StGB), intent regarding the habitation character is not required; it is an offence of abstract endangerment.
Typical Methods of Commission
The most common forms include setting fire to buildings out of revenge, insurance fraud (setting fire to one’s own property to obtain insurance proceeds — Section 306(2) StGB applies here), arson in the context of vandalism, politically or ideologically motivated arson attacks, setting fire to vehicles, and arson as a cover-up offence to destroy evidence of another crime.
Sentencing Range
Simple arson (Section 306 StGB) carries imprisonment from one to ten years. In less serious cases, the sentence is imprisonment from six months to five years. Serious arson (Section 306a StGB) carries imprisonment of not less than one year, and particularly serious arson (Section 306b StGB) imprisonment of not less than two years. Arson resulting in death (Section 306c StGB) carries life imprisonment or imprisonment of not less than ten years.
Typical Defence Strategies
The defence first examines the cause of the fire: was there actually intentional arson, or was a technical defect, accident, or spontaneous combustion the cause? Expert fire reports are frequently open to challenge. Furthermore, attributing the act to the accused is often problematic — DNA and trace evidence at the fire scene may be contaminated or distorted by firefighting operations. In serious arson, the habitation character of the building is questioned: did the building actually serve as human habitation at the time of the offence? The distinction between completed and attempted arson provides further starting points, particularly where the fire was discovered and extinguished early. Finally, in cases of insurance arson, the question of active repentance (Section 306e StGB) can have a mitigating effect on sentencing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Welche Formen der Arson gibt es?
Das Gesetz unterscheidet die Arson an fremden Sachen (§ 306 StGB), die schwere Arson etwa an Wohngebäuden (§ 306a StGB) und die fahrlässige Arson (§ 306d StGB). Die schwere Arson ist ein Verbrechen.
Welche Verteidigungsansätze gibt es?
Zentral sind der Täterschaftsnachweis, ein Brandursachengutachten, die Abgrenzung von Vorsatz und Fahrlässigkeit sowie die tätige Reue (§ 306e StGB).
Welche Strafe droht?
Bei § 306 StGB ein bis zehn Jahre Freiheitsstrafe, bei der schweren Arson (§ 306a StGB) mindestens ein Jahr.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Arson? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Arson requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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