Are fireworks allowed in my own garden?
Corona rules on New Year's Eve
Created: 12/20/2021, 8:06 AM
From: Franziska Kaindl
Due to the tough corona lockdown in Germany, the planned easing on New Year's Eve will not work.
But what is actually still allowed?
We have been in a tough lockdown * in Germany since December 16. This mainly affects stores that have to remain closed, but the planned easing for New Year's Eve has also been withdrawn. According to a decision of the federal and state governments on December 13th, there is
now a nationwide ban on gathering and gathering on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
. In addition, fireworks are not allowed on “public places to be defined by the municipalities”. The
sale of pyrotechnics before New Year's Eve is generally prohibited in 2020
, and lighting New Year's Eve fireworks is strongly discouraged, according to the decision. The background to this is the high risk of injury, which is further straining the already enormously strained health system.
Different regulations apply in the federal states on New Year's Eve.
© imago images / Marius Schwarz
Are New Year's Eve fireworks allowed in my own garden?
The decision of the federal and state governments forbids New Year's Eve fireworks in
crowded places
.
But what about the private property - your own garden or the driveway, for example?
Here the regulations can differ greatly from state to state.
"Firing fireworks from your own garden is not forbidden next New Year's Eve," says Rudi Hoogvliet, spokesman for the Baden-Württemberg State Ministry when asked by the
Südkurier
. The balcony, the courtyard entrance or the terrace should also be
used for firecrackers
in
Baden-Württemberg
-
on your own property
. Separate gardens - such as an allotment garden -, a field or other piece of land that does not belong to the apartment may not be visited. Since no pyrotechnics may be sold, firecrackers from the previous year are also allowed. However, the country warns that old fireworks could pose a risk of injury if incorrectly stored. However, it is forbidden to meet other people on the street at midnight or to brawl.
It looks completely different in
Lower Saxony
, however. Claudia Schröder, the deputy head of the Lower Saxony crisis team, quoted the state ordinance in a press conference: “'Burning fireworks is prohibited'. And so it is actually
forbidden in the garden at home
. ”Fireworks from the previous year may not be lit with it either. However, the Lüneburg Higher Administrative Court has suspended the general ban on fireworks. Nevertheless, a ban on the burning of fireworks for December 31st and January 1st should come in the next few days. Burning down pyrotechnics remains forbidden in public.
In
Bavaria,
on the other hand, as in Baden-Württemberg, there is a
night curfew
for public spaces. So, in theory, igniting fireworks from the balcony or home garden would not be forbidden as long as the property is private. Nevertheless, the regulations of individual cities must be observed: The district administration department of Munich told tz.de * that the burning of pyrotechnics is not a valid reason to leave the apartment according to the ordinance. In fact, the burning of pyrotechnics in public spaces is excluded. So it is on
private areas belonging to the apartment, such as in your own garden
**, possible.
Only within the Middle Ring - and thus on the private property located there - is the burning of pyrotechnic objects with an exclusive bang effect (classic New Year's Eve crackers without light effects) prohibited on New Year's Eve.
In Nuremberg, there is also a ban on firecrackers for private properties - so no fireworks may be set off in your own garden.
New Year's Eve in the Corona year 2020: Here is an overview of the regulations of the federal states
Baden-Wuerttemberg | It is forbidden to set off fireworks in public spaces. Exit restrictions apply from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. You can shoot in your own garden or from the balcony. |
Bavaria | There is a nightly curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Fireworks can only be made on private property. However, many cities and municipalities prohibit firecrackers - for example Nuremberg or Markt Peiting. |
Berlin | Fireworks are generally allowed. However, there will be a few areas where gunfire is prohibited - for example at Alexanderplatz. |
Brandenburg | On New Year's Eve, people are allowed to be out and about until 2 a.m. - normally there is a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. There is no general ban on firecrackers, but rural districts and urban districts can prohibit the use of pyrotechnics if the minimum distance cannot be maintained in public places. Nevertheless, we strongly advise against lighting New Year's Eve fireworks. |
Bremen | There is no general ban on firecrackers in Bremen, it should only be banned on some public streets and squares. |
Hamburg | Igniting pyrotechnics is prohibited, with the exception of small fireworks (sparklers up to 30 centimeters, snap peas or table fireworks). |
Hesse | Fireworks are forbidden in crowded places, but there is no general ban on fireworks. The districts and cities may, however, determine their own measures: in the Offenbach district there is a ban on fireworks and the Groß-Gerau district forbids the setting off of fireworks in the entire public space. |
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | There is a ban on firecrackers on all public streets and squares. Only small fireworks such as sparklers are allowed. |
Lower Saxony | The general ban on fireworks was temporarily suspended by the Lüneburg Higher Administrative Court. However, a ban on the burning of fireworks is likely to come on December 31st and January 1st. |
North Rhine-Westphalia | Lighting fireworks is not generally prohibited on New Year's Eve - it is, however, not advised. However, individual municipalities can tighten the rules. In Hamm, for example, there is a ban on burning the entire public space. So it is only allowed to shoot in your own garden. |
Rhineland-Palatinate | The municipalities set a ban on firecrackers in public places. In addition, it is strongly advised not to set off fireworks. |
Saarland | Fireworks will also be prohibited here in busy places and streets. |
Saxony | With the exception of Dresden, there is currently no general ban on firecrackers. In Saxony, however, there is a curfew between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. An exception on New Year's Eve is not planned. |
Saxony-Anhalt | There is no general ban on firecrackers. However, the municipalities are allowed to prohibit the burning of pyrotechnics on certain public streets and places. |
Schleswig-Holstein | There should be a ban on firecrackers on streets, paths and squares where an increased number of people is to be expected. The responsible authorities announce the areas. Citizens are asked, however, to refrain from using fireworks altogether. |
Thuringia | There is a ban on firecrackers in busy streets and squares. |
Also interesting
: Hard corona lockdown: Can I still move with friends and relatives?
How many people are allowed together on New Year's Eve?
In contrast to Christmas, the decision of the federal and state governments of December 13 does not provide for any relaxation of the contact restrictions on New Year's Eve.
Private get-togethers with friends, relatives or acquaintances are therefore limited to
a total of two households and five people
- with the exception of children up to 14 years of age.
In federal states with night curfews, however, guests must note that they are not allowed to leave the house during the corresponding hours.
In Bavaria it is therefore allowed to stay with another household - as long as the contact restrictions are adhered to.
(fk) * Merkur.de and tz.de are part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editorial network.
**
In an earlier version of the article it was incorrectly reported that it is generally forbidden in Munich to light firecrackers from the previous year in your own garden.
This message has been corrected.
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