Munich city center will once again be a largely fireworks-free zone on New Year’s Eve: The district administration department (KVR) has issued a general decree that defines zones, sets times and identifies the types of pyrotechnics that are prohibited.
The regulations come into force on New Year’s Eve, i.e. Sunday, at 9 p.m. and are valid until Monday, January 1, 2024, at 2 a.m. During this time, it is not permitted to set off any fireworks on Marienplatz, in the pedestrian zone up to and including Stachus and on the Viktualienmarkt. The only exceptions are category F1 fireworks items, such as sparklers or firecrackers. Signs with pictograms and the text “Fireworks prohibited” will be placed in the prohibited zone. However, residents are allowed to transport pyrotechnics to their apartment or from their apartment to the outside area.
“New Year’s Eve is for celebrating. But in the past there have been dangerous situations, especially in the area around Marienplatz,” says district administration officer Hanna Sammüller-Gradl, explaining the ban. For the Viktualienmarkt, it is also argued that stray rockets in the narrow streets could quickly be responsible for major fire damage.
Fireworks ban in Munich is being monitored – there is a risk of fines
There is a ban on firecrackers within the environmental zone of the Middle Ring all day on December 31st and January 1st. It is not permitted there to ignite pyrotechnics with only a bang effect. However, fountains and the like are permitted.
The prohibited zones are controlled by the police, and fines can be imposed for violations. The KVR currently sees no legal basis for a general ban on fireworks throughout the city. Due to the mass burning of fireworks, the level of fine dust in the air rose extremely in the times before the ban. Injuries and burns as well as fires were also reported every year. In addition, many animals react sensitively to the loud spectacle.
Editor’s note: In an earlier version, the ban on pyrotechnics with only banging effects within the Middle Ring stated that “fountains and the like without banging are, however, permitted”. The addition “without bang” is misleading because fireworks can also have a banging effect, but not exclusively, and can therefore be permissible according to the city’s general decree here on the homepage of the city of Munich can be read. We have corrected this accordingly in the text.