Pflanzerverein Romanshorn

The purpose of the association is to provide its members with suitable arable land for use as family gardens. It endeavors to obtain the necessary land on acceptable terms and, if possible, on a long-term basis from the local community and other landowners. It promotes the professional development of its members, the concept of family gardening, and horticulture as a meaningful leisure activity.

The association is affiliated as a section of the Swiss Family Gardeners' Association.

Any adult of good character may become a member of the association. Resignations can be made at the end of each year by submitting a written notice by September 30th.

The association includes the following membership categories:

Active members (tenants of a family garden on the club grounds)

Honorary members (are exempt from membership fees and have the same rights as active members)

Passive members (patrons)

Honorary members can be appointed from among those who have rendered outstanding service to the association.

Members who disregard the usage regulations and the lease agreement, or who act contrary to the association's purpose, may be expelled by the board after an unsuccessful written warning. They have the right to appeal to the general meeting. Upon expulsion, all claims to leased land and association assets are forfeited.

The supreme body is the General Assembly. The ordinary General Assembly takes place every year in the first quarter. Invitations are sent out approximately three weeks in advance. Extraordinary General Assemblies can be convened by the Board of Directors, the auditors, or at the request of one-fifth of the members.

Voting is open unless at least one-tenth of those present at the meeting request a secret ballot.

In all votes and elections, an absolute majority is required. In the event of a tie, the president has the deciding vote.

The following items will be discussed at the ordinary general meeting:

Election of vote counters

(1)

Minutes of the last general meeting

Acceptance and approval:

of the President's annual report

the annual accounts

of the auditors' report

Setting the annual fee

Choose:

the president

the cashier

the other board members

the checkpoint

the construction managers and area managers

Applications

Miscellaneous

(1) The masculine form includes the feminine form.

Attendance at the general meeting is mandatory for active members.

The executive body is the board of directors. It consists of five to seven members and is composed as follows: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and one to three additional members with special responsibilities.

The general meeting elects the president and the treasurer individually, the other board members en bloc.

The legally binding signature is provided by the President, the Vice President, the Actuary and the Treasurer, jointly in pairs.

The president chairs the board meetings and assemblies, coordinates the activities of the other board members, and represents the association externally. He prepares the annual report and the membership list and manages membership changes.

The vice president represents the president in his absence.

The actuary keeps the minutes of the meetings and assemblies.

The cashier handles all cash transactions and closes the annual accounts on December 31st.

The site managers/area managers ensure compliance with the usage regulations and organize the volunteer work schedule. They provide information about upcoming work, as well as requests, suggestions, and complaints from the tenants. They can be invited to board meetings as needed.

The auditing body consists of two auditors and one alternate. The auditors examine the annual accounts and submit a written report to the general meeting.

The club's income consists of the

Membership fees, any other income, and subsidies. The annual fee comprises lease payments, water rates, membership fees, the association's journal, and a contribution towards voluntary service, and is recalculated annually at the general meeting.

The association's assets are solely liable for its debts. Personal liability of the members is excluded.

Proposals for amendments to the statutes or for dissolution of the association must be explicitly announced in the agenda at least three weeks before the general meeting.

Amendments to the statutes require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast.

The dissolution of the association requires a

Three-quarters majority of the votes.

Upon dissolution of the association, its records and assets must be transferred either to a successor organization or to the municipality of Romanshorn. If a new association with the same purpose is founded in the municipality of Romanshorn within ten years, the records and assets must be transferred to it. If this does not occur, the municipality of Romanshorn must transfer all assets to the Swiss Family Gardeners' Association after the ten-year period has expired.

Section III.-1 (page 1) does not apply if land is removed from planting areas by the landowners. The Romanshorn Planters' Association cannot be held liable for any resulting damage.

Insofar as these statutes do not specify anything, the provisions of the Swiss Civil Code shall apply.

The user regulations form an integral part of the statutes.

Each member receives a copy of the statutes.

The foregoing statutes were approved at the general meeting of March 11, 2023, and enter into force immediately. They replace the statutes of March 26, 2004. Romanshorn Planters' Association. Chairman: Secretary: Rudolf von Büren, Marcel Metzger

PRINCIPLE

Purpose

The facility is primarily used for flower and vegetable cultivation; purely recreational uses are only permitted to a limited extent (see Art. 15 1, BauR).

responsibility

The board of the Romanshorn Planters' Association represents the plot holders to the building authority and the municipal council. The Romanshorn Planters' Association appoints a plot manager for the planting area. This manager ensures compliance with the usage regulations and represents the plot holders to the governing bodies of the Planters' Association.

BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES

Buildings / Boundary distance

With the exception of communal structures as per Art. 15 para. 1 of the Building Regulations for the necessary infrastructure, only un-basemented garden sheds and tool sheds of lightweight construction (max. covered area including extension 15 m², max. ridge height 3 m) are permitted for the allotment gardens. All structures must maintain a boundary distance of 3 m from third parties and a distance of at least 1 m from internal allotment plot boundaries along main paths.

foundations

They should be limited to what is technically necessary (individual foundations).

Floor and walls

Only wood or wood products are permitted as materials for the floor and walls of the garden shed. Wood or prefabricated concrete or metal beams may be used for the supporting structure of the floor.

Paints

Environmentally friendly impregnating agents or dyes should be used for coatings. The colors should be adapted to the surroundings.

Roofs

Locally sourced materials must be used for roofing (e.g., tiles, asbestos-free fiber cement panels, bitumen shingles, stainless steel profiled sheets, durable plastics, etc.). Garden sheds and covered extensions may be roofed together or separately and with different materials. Roofs may not extend beyond the existing footprint by more than 0.5 m on any side.

Rainwater collection / drainage

Gutters must be installed on the roofs of garden sheds for water collection, and barrels or troughs with a total capacity of at least 250 liters must be placed inside. Discharging roof water over the property line is not permitted.

Water / Main lines

All unnecessary water consumption must be avoided. The use of lawn sprinklers, watering with hoses, and attaching hoses to fixed holders for irrigation are not permitted. Permanent water connections to garden sheds are prohibited. No alterations may be made to existing water pipes or taps.

Tomatoes – or rather, greenhouse

One freestanding tomato greenhouse or similar structure of no more than 8.00 m² (max. length 5.00 m, max. height 2.00 m) is permitted per plot. Metal, wood, rigid plastic, and organic glass (Plexiglas, Perspex, etc.) are permitted as building materials. Ordinary glass (window glass) is not permitted due to the risk of accidents. For temporary tomato greenhouses, the plastic sheeting must be removed between November 1st and March 31st.

Pergola / shaded area

One shaded area (pergola) covered with plants is permitted per plot. It may be separate from the garden shed with its covered extension or connected to it. A light support structure for the plants is allowed. The construction of a roof or walls made of any material is prohibited.

Fireplace / Fire / Smoke

One freestanding fireplace is permitted per plot. It must not be set in concrete and must not be built into the garden shed, extension, or their walls. The floor area of the firebox must not exceed 0.70 m² (internal dimensions). The height, including any flue pipe, must not exceed 2.20 m from the ground. A base plate of appropriate size is permitted for the fireplace. Burning any green/wet garden waste or environmentally harmful materials (waste) is prohibited. Using untreated, dry wood and charcoal in fireplaces and grills is permitted.

wetland biotope

One wetland biotope with a maximum open water surface of 5.00 m² is permitted per plot. The wetland biotope must be secured in such a way that it poses no danger to people, especially children. The tenant is solely responsible for this. Taking out liability insurance is recommended. For information on securing the wetland biotope, please refer to the recommendations of the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (bfu), Bern.

Power generation / Solar systems

Only solar thermal systems are permitted for electricity generation. One solar system per plot is allowed within the roof area of the garden shed. Systems with fuses exceeding 2 amps must be installed and inspected according to the Swiss Federal Ordinance on Low-Voltage Installations (NIV).

Wood stove in the garden shed

Because operating wood-burning stoves in the tenant's own garden shed involves fire risks, the club's board of directors, following its meetings of June 10, 2025, and October 13, 2025, orders that the following rules be communicated to the tenants concerned and become part of the applicable user regulations with immediate effect: Before putting the wood-burning stove into operation, the tenant must submit a copy of the inspection report from the local chimney sweep to the responsible area manager. Furthermore, the club's board of directors will confirm receipt of the inspection report to the tenant in writing, informing them of their liability in the event of fire damage to other tenants' garden sheds or to club buildings or facilities. For evidentiary purposes in the event of damage, this confirmation will be sent to the tenant by registered mail. This letter will also inform the tenant that they may already have this risk automatically covered by a private liability insurance policy taken out in their name. According to information obtained by telephone from the insurance company "Die Mobiliar" on October 3, 2025, the aforementioned liability risk is always included in the standard risks of a normal private liability insurance policy.

Building permit

General

The permitted structures and installations on each garden plot are described in the usage regulations. Other structures and installations are not permitted. The location of the garden sheds will be determined by the board on a case-by-case basis.

Approval for execution

All buildings and structures on the individual garden plots require approval from the Romanshorn Planters' Association before construction.

Instance

The Romanshorn Building Authority is the permitting and inspection body for infrastructure projects and facilities (the Romanshorn Municipal Council is the appeals body). The Romanshorn Gardeners' Association is the permitting and inspection body for structures and facilities on individual garden plots. Appeals are decided first by the Building Authority, and subsequently by the Municipal Council as the holder of the building rights.

Deadlines / Changes / Follow-up checks

Approved construction projects must be completed within 12 months and reported to the responsible inspection authority for acceptance. If changes are ordered, they must be implemented within 60 days and reported for follow-up inspection.

Structural maintenance

communal facilities

The Romanshorn Planters' Association is responsible for the upkeep of the communal facilities (clubhouse, toilet facilities, children's playground, access road, parking lot, etc.).

Equipment sheds/shelters and extensions

The tool sheds and shelters must be properly maintained. Their uniform appearance must not be compromised. This also applies to temporary extensions.

Intermediate paths

The adjacent paths, with a minimum width of 50 cm, must be maintained by the adjoining property owners and may not be dug up. The boundaries must be observed.

Water sources

The water points must be properly maintained. Double tap connections are prohibited.

Company regulations

Access

Access to the planting area in Mittelhofen is via Hofstrasse and Mittelhofstrasse. Kastaudenstrasse should be avoided. Parking is limited for motor vehicles and delivery vehicles.

Plantings / Plantland maintenance

The planting area must be cultivated and maintained according to ecological principles. Over-fertilization must be avoided. After the growing season, the planting areas must be tidied up. At least one-third of the plot must be planted with flowers and vegetables. The type of planting is unrestricted, with the exception of hemp plants, which are now regulated according to Article 5.2.1. New plantings of standard trees and tall-growing plants are not permitted. Blackberry and raspberry bushes must maintain a distance of at least 0.50 m from neighboring plots and from public paths.

Hemp plant ban

Cannabis from hemp plants is considered a prohibited drug in Switzerland. Cannabis products are only permitted if they contain less than 1 percent of the active ingredient THC. At the board meeting on October 13, 2025, it was decided that the cultivation of hemp plants will be prohibited from 2026 onwards. The reason given was that the effort required to conduct individual checks to determine the exact THC limit and take action in each case would be unreasonable for the Romanshorn Growers' Association.

Garden waste

Garden waste must be composted. In exceptional cases, it can be disposed of via the green waste collection service (fees apply). Disposing of leftover cooked food on the compost heap is prohibited. Household waste, plastic film, glass, household items, etc., must be taken away and disposed of via the regular waste collection service. Under no circumstances may they be left on the premises.

Border facilities

They may not be removed or relocated without the approval of the building authority. Any costs incurred due to non-compliance will be borne by the tenant.

Drinking water consumption / Water tank

Drinking water consumption must be limited to the absolute minimum. Private water containers must be covered. Communal water troughs must be kept refilled. After the growing season, water containers must be emptied and made winter-proof and storm-proof.

Toilet facilities

The communal toilet facilities must be kept clean.

Lighting, as well as radio and similar devices

They must be adjusted so that they do not disturb the neighbors.

Overnight stay / Burglary

Overnight stays on the premises are prohibited. Any break-ins at garden sheds or thefts must be reported to the area manager/board. The affected tenants themselves are responsible for filing police reports.

Animal husbandry

Keeping animals is not permitted in any of the areas. Dogs brought onto the premises must be kept on a leash and within their own plot.

Liability for damages

If damage is caused to the property and facilities of the Romanshorn Planters' Association (water pipes, fencing, paths, etc.), the person responsible is liable to the association.

Lease agreement

allocation of leased land

The allocation of leased land is the responsibility of the Romanshorn Planters' Association. Subletting is prohibited.

Termination of leased land

This must take place at the end of the growing season (September 30th). The land to be ceded must be handed over in good condition (plowed over). Disputed compensation claims will be decided by the board of the Romanshorn Planters' Association.

Failure to comply with the rules of use

In case of gross disregard for the regulations, the board may terminate the lease and revoke the leased land.

Disputes

The building authority makes the initial decisions in disputed matters, with the municipal council making the final decision. This amended usage regulation was approved at the board meeting on January 7, 2026, and comes into effect immediately. Romanshorn, January 7, 2026. Romanshorn Planters' Association. The President: Rudolf von Büren. The Treasurer: Hans Meister

Amount of the contribution

A voluntary service fee of CHF 25.- is levied per tenant.

The aforementioned contribution will be requested with the annual invoice.

Work assignments are compensated at CHF 12 per hour.

Performance contract

Compulsory labor takes place in every area.

The performance mandate is determined by the site manager in consultation with the board.

The coordination work will take place at the

Board meetings were discussed and scheduled.

The "controlling" is carried out by the area managers or by the president.

Invoice

Additional working hours can also be worked and compensated. Payment is made at our annual general meeting.

There is no entitlement to a refund of the remaining balance; this remains in the compulsory service account.

In the event of termination, only work performed will be compensated.

organization

Voluntary work assignments generally take place on Saturdays. Exceptions are possible by prior arrangement.

Each tenant can register for a work assignment with the site manager. (Information and dates will be posted on the notice board in due course.)

Three to four tenants can also form a working group. The regulations governing voluntary labor were adopted by our members at the general meeting on March 11, 2023, and come into effect immediately. Romanshorn Planters' Association, The Board