Bürgerbeteiligung: Participation or Paperwork?

Berlin invites its citizens to participate — but only after the decisions are made. A visit to the Bürgerbeteiligungsbüro: where good intentions meet German bureaucracy.

I was so happy when I first discovered the Bürgerbeteiligungsbüro. Yes! Finally, a place for participation! It took me quite some time, though, to understand what this institution is actually about — what it’s good for, and what it isn’t.

Attention: this is my subjective opinion about the Bürgerbeteiligungsbüro. The truth is out there.

For me, BBB (let’s call it that) is a super-typical German/Berlin thing:

1. Absolutely good intentions
2. A lot of excellent, kind people working there
3. Still, nothing more than another part of the bureaucracy
4. And it won’t really change anything.

The Berlin Senate set up a BBB in every district around 2019. The goal: to make city development more transparent and to ask for citizens’ opinions. You can go there (or check online — they publish project lists), see what’s planned in your district in terms of infrastructure, and share your opinion. You can meet with other citizens, request a meeting space, even ask for a projector.

They’ll most likely explain what’s planned — schools, sports facilities, roads, parks, bike paths, new buildings, and so on. You can share what you think and your opinion will tick the box: “public consultation held.”

So on one hand, you get information. On the other, you can’t really influence much.

No one asks for your ideas about what the city administration should do.
No one asks about your intentions, ideas, or needs — things that could actually serve as a basis for development or innovation.

I’d start with small changes.

Ask people’s opinions on how to spend a certain amount of money — say €50,000 — in the Kiez this year.
Let citizens decide: should it go toward planting trees, a playground, cleaning graffiti, a community project, or three street festivals?
Or, if you’re building a new pedestrian bridge over the canal — ask people what color it should be.
Or… or… or…

That would be Bürgerbeteiligung.

Bürgerbeteiligungsbüro (noun, German): A citizen participation office or public participation office — a municipal or governmental institution responsible for promoting and organizing the involvement of citizens in political decision-making and local development processes. Such an office typically serves as a bridge between the administration and the public, ensuring that residents can share their opinions, ideas, and concerns regarding urban planning, environmental projects, social initiatives, or policy development. A Bürgerbeteiligungsbüro may coordinate public consultations, workshops, and dialogue events, provide information about ongoing projects, and help make government actions more transparent and democratic by encouraging active civic engagement.

Still, I encourage you to check the project lists and visit your local BBB. As I said, there are really nice people working there — and who knows, maybe you’ll get an answer to your question, have a good chat, or even meet some new people.

List of Bürgerbeteiligungsbüros in Berlin

1. Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
   Name: Haus am Mierendorffplatz
   Address: Mierendorffplatz 19, 10589 Berlin
   Email: beteiligung@dorfwerkstadt.de
   Telephone: 0157 581 596 25
2. Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
   Currently no established Raum für Beteiligung
3. Lichtenberg
   Name: Lichtenberger Anlaufstelle für Bürgerbeteiligung (LAB)
   Address: Hubertusstraße 47, 10365 Berlin(Altes Stadtbad Lichtenberg/Hubertusbad)
   Email: buergerbeteiligung.lichtenberg@stadtkuemmerei.de
   Telephone: 030 767 29 007
   Website: www.beteiligung-lichtenberg.de
4. Marzahn-Hellersdorf
   Currently no established Raum für Beteiligung
5. Mitte
   Name: Büro für Bürger*innenbeteiligung
   Address: Gottschedstr. 33, 13357 Berlin
   Email: beteiligung-mitte@list-gmbh.de
   Telephone: 030 460 60 55 60
   Additional Contact (Bezirksamt): buergerbeteiligung@ba-mitte.berlin.de / 030 9018 42393
   Operator: L.I.S.T. GmbH
   Website: www.mittemachen-berlin.de
6. Neukölln
   Name: Mitmach-Laden / Koordinierungsstelle für Beteiligung und Engagement
   Address: Hertzbergstraße 22, 12055 Berlin
   Email: kontakt@neukoelln-beteiligt.de
   Telephone: 030 627 28 727
   Administrative Office: Karl-Marx-Str. 83, 12040 Berlin
7. Pankow
   Name: Büro Pankow beteiligt – Raum für Beteiligung
   Address: Dunckerstr. 59C, 10439 Berlin
   Email: kontakt@pankow-beteiligt.berlin
   Telephone: 030 89006775
   Office Hours: Wednesday 10:00-12:00 & Thursday 16:00-18:00 & by appointment
   Operator: Mieterberatung Prenzlauer Berg GmbH
   Website: www.pankow-beteiligt.berlin
8. Reinickendorf
   Name: Büro für Bürgerbeteiligung Reinickendorf
   Address: Scharnweberstrasse 55a, 13405 Berlin
   Telephone: 030 417 480 70
   Office Hours: Tuesdays 16:00-18:00, Thursdays 10:00-12:00
   Website: www.mein-reinickendorf.de
   Social Media: Facebook: Mein.Reinickendorf, Instagram: meinreinickendorf
9. Spandau
   Name: Raum für Beteiligung Spandau
   Address: Carl-Schurz-Str. 2/6, 13597 Berlin
   Email: beteiligung.spandau@inpolis-urbanism.de
   Telephone: 0159 04 36 27 15
10. Steglitz-Zehlendorf
    Name: Raum für Beteiligung
    Address: Potsdamer Straße 50, 14163 Berlin
    Operator: die raumplaner & intep
    Website: sz-beteiligt.de
11. Tempelhof-Schöneberg
    Name: Raum für Beteiligung Tempelhof-Schöneberg
    Website: Check Berlin.de/ba-tempelhof-schoeneberg
12. Treptow-Köpenick
    Status: Information about Bürgerbeteiligung office available on district website
    Website
    Central Office (Zentraler Raum für Beteiligung)
    For questions about Senate-level projects
    Operator: Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Bauen und Wohnen & AG.URBAN
    Website: www.berlin.de/raum-fuer-beteiligung