Sofortvollzug

Sofortvollzug, or immediate enforceability, is the enforcement of a public administrative act or court decision immediately after it is issued, without the recipient needing a separate enforcement order or waiting period. In German-speaking public law, it allows authorities to implement the decision right away to safeguard public interests or prevent irreparable harm. The decision may provide for immediate enforcement itself, or the law may permit it by operation of law.

Sofortvollzug applies to many forms of administrative acts, such as fines, cease-and-desist orders, building permits, zoning decisions, or mandates to vacate property, as well as certain court orders that require urgent action. The exact scope and procedure depend on the jurisdiction and the underlying statute; in Germany, the possibility is typically set out in the administrative act or in the governing law, and authorities may enforce the act immediately unless a court suspends enforcement.

If a person affected by a Sofortvollzug challenge believes that enforcement would cause irreparable harm or that the decision is likely unlawful, they can seek relief through interim judicial protection. This usually takes the form of a request for a suspensive effect on the enforcement or a temporary injunction, which a higher court can grant, suspending the immediate enforcement for the duration of the proceedings.

Examples include monetary fines payable on demand, immediate demolition or removal orders, or police-ordered eviction from a property, all of which are binding and enforceable at once, subject to potential later review.