> Update October 2026: Since 29 July 2026 the Building Modernization Act (GModG) has applied. The 65% renewable energy requirement and its link to heat plans and district designations have been deleted. The sections on obligations under GEG 2024 describe the legal position until 28 July 2026. New gas and oil heating systems face the Bio-Staircase from 2029.
What Is Municipal Heat Planning?
Municipal heat planning is a strategic planning instrument that every city and municipality in Germany must produce. The legal basis is the Heat Planning Act (WPG), which entered into force on 1 January 2024.
Goal: Each municipality determines how it will meet its heating demand in a climate-neutral manner by 2045 at the latest – through district heating, heat pumps, hydrogen, or other technologies.
Deadlines by Municipality Size
| Municipality Size | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Up to 100,000 inhabitants | 30 June 2028 |
| Under 10,000 inhabitants | Simplified procedure |
For the Rhine-Main region, this means: Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Darmstadt, Offenbach, and Mainz must submit their heat plans by 30 June 2026 – the deadline is less than 3 months away.
Status Quo: Every Rhine-Main Major City at a Glance
Frankfurt am Main
Darmstadt
Wiesbaden
Offenbach am Main
Mainz
The Crucial Difference: Heat Plan ≠ District Designation
This is the most important point that is frequently misunderstood – and which the Competence Centre for Municipal Heat Transition has expressly clarified:
The adoption of a heat plan does NOT bring the 65% rule into effect early.
| Aspect | Heat Plan | District Designation |
|---|---|---|
| Legal effect | Advisory, no obligations | Triggers concrete obligations |
| GEG effect | No impact | Activates 65% requirement 1 month after announcement |
| Sequence | Comes first | Separate, subsequent decision |
What the Heat Plan Does NOT Do
What Happened After the District Designation? (Legal Position Until 28 July 2026)
Under GEG 2024, concrete obligations for a new heating system arose only with a formal district designation. The GModG has removed these obligations:
Heating Network Expansion Area
If your area is designated for district heating, you may install a non-compliant heating system on a transitional basis – provided you sign a supply contract with the heating network operator. Connection within 10 years of signing the contract.
Decentralised Supply Area
Here the 65% renewable energy requirement applies directly: new heating systems must use at least 65% renewable energy (e.g. heat pump, biomass, solar thermal).
Hydrogen Network Area
In these areas, gas heating systems may be installed provided they are convertible to 100% hydrogen.
Interaction with GEG 2024 and the GModG
Until 28 July 2026: GEG 2024
The Building Energy Act linked the 65% renewable energy requirement directly to municipal heat planning:
| Existing buildings in ... | 65% requirement from |
|---|---|
| Smaller municipalities (<100,000 pop.) | no later than 1 July 2028 |
| With early district designation | 1 month after announcement |
Transitional Provisions in GEG 2024 (Deleted by the GModG)
Since 29 July 2026: Building Modernization Act (GModG)
The GModG was promulgated on 28 July 2026 (BGBl. 2026 I No. 226). The key changes:
More in our article: Building Modernization Act (GModG): Germany’s Heating Law Replaced – What Applies Now?
BEG Funding: Up to 70% Subsidy for Heating Replacement
Regardless of the heat plan and GModG: the BEG funding programme (KfW Programme 458)/) is already available.
Funding Rates at a Glance
| Component | Rate | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Climate speed bonus | 20% (until end of 2028) | Owner-occupier, replacing fossil heating |
| Efficiency bonus | 5% | Heat pump with natural refrigerant |
| Income bonus | 30% | Household income below EUR 40,000/year |
| Maximum subsidy | 70% | Cumulation possible |
Eligible Costs
Worked Example: HOA with 12 Units
Eligible costs: 30,000 + 5 × 15,000 + 6 × 8,000 = EUR 153,000. At 30% base subsidy, this yields EUR 45,900 in grants for the entire community.
Important: Always submit the funding application before installation via the 'Meine KfW' portal.
Checklist: What Property Owners in the Rhine-Main Region Should Do Now
1. Review your city's heat plan
Check the interactive maps on your city's website to see whether your area is designated for district heating or decentralised supply. In Frankfurt, this is available via the Geoportal.
2. Don't make hasty decisions
Since 29 July 2026, neither the heat plan nor a district designation triggers a 65% requirement. The heat plan still shows whether a heating network is planned for your area. Plan ahead, but don't act in haste.
3. When replacing a heating system: apply for BEG funding
Regardless of the heat plan: if a heating replacement is due, use the BEG funding (up to 70%). Apply before installation.
4. HOAs: put it on the agenda
Inform your HOA management and advisory board about the status of heat planning. Potential resolutions on heating system renovation should not be put off indefinitely.
5. Seek energy consultation
Since 1 January 2024, an energy consultation has been mandatory before installing a fossil heating system. Use this to determine the optimal technology for your property.
What Verto Can Do for Your HOA or Rental Property
As a professional property management firm in the Rhine-Main region, we actively guide our clients through the heat transition:
Municipal heat planning may seem complex, but with professional guidance it becomes an opportunity: for lower energy costs, higher property values, and long-term planning certainty.
More on heating costs and energy efficiency in our articles:
