Smallest possible "mini-house" for residence

Every municipality has recreational plots on the outskirts or in the forest.

You absolutely have to tell more about this paradise. I actually know it the exact opposite from "every municipality": every potential summer cottage plot is rigorously classified as being in the outer area, and otherwise, campsites or allotment gardens are leased out, where some nitpicker (who spoils every barbecue evening with his stupid chatter over the hedge) pays close attention to make sure that absolutely no one plants smokable types of grass ;-) or even worse: puts up garden gnomes with punk hairstyles.

For registration of residence you do not need a house. Only a house number. Plot within the inner area and a house number. Nothing more.

I cannot confirm that. We had planned to use the registration address and mailbox at our building plot so that after moving into an interim solution we wouldn't have to change addresses everywhere twice in a short time. That is not allowed; you must be able to live there, whether apartment or house does not matter. But only a plot or shell construction did not count as a registration address for us.

You don't need a house to register an address. Only a house number. A plot within the inner area and a house number. Nothing more. Apply for a house number at the regulatory office of your municipality, if you don't have one yet. Costs around 35 euros. Then you can register at the residents' registration office and that's it. You could also set up a mailbox for the mail.

Legally, it is like this. Depending on the federal state, you can then build without permission, e.g. a garage with 50 sqm and an eaves height of 3 m. You could put a washing machine and refrigerator, etc. in there. You can also sleep inside or in the camper.

That is interesting. I did not know that was possible. I had assumed so far that you need a house to apply for a house number.

Well, for me it went smoothly. Of course, it can vary from office to office. On one of my building plots there is only a barn. However, it is a designated residential building plot and had no house number yet.

I couldn't register at first because there was no house number. Then I went to the public order office and applied for a house number with a land register extract. About 3 weeks later I received the house number and then immediately registered there. No problems. There is no house there.

Building plots on which there is no house, or no house yet, usually also have a house number. These are usually assigned with the parceling or surveying in new development areas.

In my case, however, there was initially no house number for this plot. Another building plot in another municipality in Saxony also does not yet have a house number but is also designated as a residential building plot.

We had a house number and a garden house on the property and it was not possible. So it really seems to be different.

What you describe is a recreational property. Normally, you are not allowed to build in the middle of nowhere, because there is no building land there unless you have agricultural interests. Watching frogs is not part of that. To park a camper overnight, you don’t need a property with a cabin. You can also do laundry more conveniently. And whether you have to build a cabin just for your hobby of relaxing is also questionable. Every municipality has recreational properties on the outskirts or in the forest. You can buy them cheaply. Everything included, usually with a septic tank, but running water and electricity. Some are even allowed to be registered as permanent residences. Where are you currently registered?

By middle of nowhere I mean more like a village of 300 people somewhere at the end of the world. I understand that building in the outer area is not allowed.

Currently, I am registered in a rental apartment.