It's a question that most newcomers to urbex always ask themselves.
Is it legal to explore abandoned buildings? The answer is not always yes or no.
Most of the places we explore are restricted from public access. Even if the location is clearly abandoned, most of the time there is an owner. Even if the building is not fenced off or doesn't have "No Entry" signs. That doesn't mean it belongs to no one.
Breaking into an abandoned place without the owner's permission means you are entering without authorization. So yes, it is illegal.
But that's not always the case. There are several places freely accessible to the public that are also abandoned. In that case, no, it is not illegal to enter and explore.
You don't have to break the law to do urbex.
If you want to stay on the right side, before breaking into an abandoned building you want to explore, do some quick research first. Just to make sure you’re not entering illegally.
You can avoid trouble with a simple 5-minute Google search.
Often, you can even ask the owners of an abandoned building if you can come in and take a look around. You could say you are a photographer or amateur historian and just want to document the place. Sometimes, owners will grant you permission to enter directly.
