Fireworks sales start today. There will be ban zones for firecrackers and rockets on New Year’s Eve in many German cities. But the rules are very different. What applies where at the turn of the year? An overview.
In no region in Germany are New Year’s Eve parties and firecrackers generally prohibited at the turn of the year. However, many cities and municipalities only allow the throwing or shooting of fireworks to a limited extent. Sometimes very different rules apply.
The following applies nationwide all year round – regardless of New Year’s Eve: No pyrotechnics may be ignited in the immediate vicinity of churches, hospitals, children’s and retirement homes as well as thatched and half-timbered houses. That looks Paragraph 23 of the First Ordinance on the Explosives Act before. It also stipulates that category 2 pyrotechnic objects – so-called small fireworks such as firecrackers, rockets and batteries – may only be burned on December 31st and January 1st by people who are over 18 years old.
Temporary and locally limited prohibition zones
In addition, especially in larger cities, there are temporally and locally limited prohibition zones for firecrackers – including in central squares and popular locations for large celebrations. Because where hundreds of people stand close together, there is an increased risk of injury from fireworks. For example, there was Hamburg Before a no-go zone is set up in the crowd, there are often threatening and dangerous situations as well as accidents. Therefore, since 2019/2020, only small fireworks can be set off around the Binnenalster and on the Rathausmarkt from December 31st at 6 p.m. to January 1st at 1 a.m. – such as sparklers and firecrackers. Other cities also regulate things in a similar way.
A special focus is on New Year’s Eve Berlin lay. Preparations for the big party between the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate have already begun. Up to 65,000 visitors can celebrate there – as always without bringing their own fireworks, with entry controls and, for the first time, for a fee: ten euros per person.
And while the police in Berlin-Mitte are hoping for a lively party, they are expecting riots like in previous years in other parts of the city. In addition to the usual violent fireworks, there were many firecrackers thrown and other attacks on police officers, firefighters and paramedics. That’s why the 2,000 to 2,500 Berlin police officers are receiving support from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and the Federal Police – also because there are fears of an even more emotional atmosphere in view of the war in the Middle East.
No bang in Munich’s city center
As in the past are in Munich Fireworks are prohibited in the entire pedestrian zone from Marienplatz at the town hall to Stachus, as well as at the Viktualienmarkt. The city refers to “the protection of people, animals and the environment from fireworks.” The ban applies from New Year’s Eve at 9 p.m. until New Year’s Day at 2 a.m.
Some places go one step further: those in the old town of regensburg or in downtown augsburg If you are traveling, you are not even allowed to carry pyrotechnic items with you. According to the city of Augsburg, glass bottles and cans are also not allowed there on New Year’s Eve. In Nuremberg There is a strict ban around the castle. A security service will also check bags there on New Year’s Eve to ensure that no fireworks are taken away.
Local firecracker bans also exist in other federal states
In the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate Mainz According to a spokesman, the same regulations apply on New Year’s Eve as last year: no blanket ban on fireworks, but a prohibited zone in the old town. Also in the main market area trier There is a ban on firecrackers.
In Baden-Württemberg this year there are, among other things, Stuttgart, Tübingen, Reutlingen and Constancy local firecracker bans. In the state capital, a ban on fireworks is planned within the city ring. In coordination with the police, an ordinance will be issued that prohibits the burning or carrying of fireworks in this area, a city spokeswoman told the SWR.
In Frankfurt am Main Fireworks and firecrackers are prohibited on the Iron Bridge. The main reason is the risk of injury due to the many people who are on this bridge every New Year’s Eve. The city announced controls on both sides of the pedestrian bridge.
In Cologne For the first time there will be a large area in the city center on the left bank of the Rhine where no shooting is allowed. Anyone who fires firecrackers despite the ban will face a fine of up to 200 euros. The explosives law even allows for a fine of up to 50,000 euros, the city said.
Elsewhere it is about protecting buildings and infrastructure from fires caused by stray firecrackers – for example in the World Heritage Old Town of Quedlinburg and around the state palaces and castles throughout Bavaria. “Rockets, firecrackers and flying sparks pose a significant threat to the historic buildings,” said the palace administration.
No general bans in Dresden or Leipzig, for example
In many places, however, the rule that pyrotechnics are taboo near half-timbered houses no longer requires a special ban zone on New Year’s Eve. According to city spokeswoman Heike Dobenecker, this is true Erfurt: Almost the entire old town is a firecracker-free area. Saxony’s big cities like Leipzig, Chemnitz or the state capital Dresden waive a general ban on firecrackers. However, Dresden has established 27 prohibited areas under nature conservation law – such as the Elbe meadows and Elbe valley slopes as well as the Dresden Heath.
Usually no bans in smaller cities
Smaller cities also forego bans. This is what a survey by the dpa news agency from the 8,000-inhabitant community of Gerbstedt in Saxony-Anhalt says: As a unified community, there has been no reason for a ban on firecrackers since it was founded. People should decide for themselves, says Braunsbedra, which has around 11,000 residents. The past few years have shown that the situation was always manageable by the fire brigade and rescue service, says Stefanie Braune from the Jena city administration. There are currently no hard reasons for any bans based on environmental, nature conservation or pollution control reasons.
Environmental aid wants sales stopped
German Environmental Aid has been calling for an end to the banging for years – partly because of fine dust pollution. The private purchase of pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve should be permanently stopped, according to a letter to the Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser. “On January 1st, the air in many places will be polluted with fine dust levels that significantly exceed the limits recommended by the World Health Organization.” For domestic, wild and farm animals, the explosion means stress, panic and often fear of death.
An environmentally friendly alternative could be a drone light show – with spectacular images without any huff and puff.
“Bread instead of firecrackers”
Church aid organizations have been appealing for many years to donate the money spent on pyrotechnics to people in need instead of wasting the money on a quick kick. Under the motto “Bread instead of firecrackers,” the Protestant aid organization Bread for the World has been calling for donations and people to avoid fireworks since 1982.
Industry expects record sales
But this request will probably go unheard in many cases. The pyrotechnics industry is looking forward to record sales this year. This was already apparent at the beginning of December through tens of thousands of pre-orders in specialized online retailers by private individuals and the quantities ordered by retailers, explained the chairman of the Federal Association for Pyrotechnics and Artistic Fireworks (BVPK), Ingo Schubert.
After two pandemic years without fireworks, there was a “gigantic amount of catching up to do” in 2022, says the chairman of the Association of the Pyrotechnic Industry, Thomas Schreiber. They are “optimistic that the demand for New Year’s Eve fireworks will be high again this time.”