Pompous Christmas lights at the neighbors: what to do if the flashing lights are annoying?

Created: 11/30/2022, 3:30 p.m

By: Andrea Stettner

Festive Christmas lights are not always a reason to celebrate.

It is not uncommon for neighbors to feel disturbed by flashing lights.

What is legally allowed?

A Santa Claus in the garden, flashing fairy lights on the balcony - many people love to illuminate their house extensively at Christmas time, even if the Christmas lights eat up a lot of electricity.

But not everyone can be happy about the sometimes glaring lights.

When the neighbor's reindeer sleigh lights up into the living room, many people feel sensitively disturbed.

But how much Christmas decoration is allowed - and what can you do about it as an annoyed neighbor?

Some neighbors feel disturbed by excessive Christmas lights.

© Markus Brandhuber via www.imago-images.de

Festive Christmas lights should not be banned - as long as they are kept within limits

In fact, festive lighting should not be banned as long as it stays within limits.

This applies not only to owners, but also to tenants.

After all, Christmas lighting is a recognized custom in this country and is taken into account accordingly in court.

Neighbors or landlords who disturb the flashing lights must therefore largely tolerate the festive lights - especially since the Christmas lights are only on for a few weeks a year.

"If the Christmas lights are not significantly brighter than the other lighting in the area - for example from street lamps - it is considered an insignificant impairment according to Section 906 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch - BGB), against which neighbors cannot take any legal action," informs the legal

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When can neighbors defend themselves against annoying Christmas lights?

How much Christmas lighting is now "within limits" and therefore allowed cannot be said in principle.

This is always a case-by-case decision and depends, among other things, on the local immission limit values.

However, if the Christmas lights are so bright that they disturb neighbors while they are sleeping or the flashing lights spoil a cozy evening watching TV, neighbors can demand that the lights be switched off at least at certain times in accordance with Section 1004 of the German Civil Code.

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Turning off Christmas lights at night prevents disputes between neighbors

According to

, the Christmas lights should be switched off between 10 p.m.

At this time, the general quiet time also applies, which must be observed in particular if the Christmas decorations are also making noises and music.

Where can Christmas decorations be placed?

Christmas lights in the apartment, on the balcony or in the garden must therefore be tolerated.

Tenants may also festively decorate the outside of the apartment door.

The situation is different when tenants want to make structural changes, such as drilling into the outside wall or apartment door to hang up the lighting.

In this case, permission must first be obtained from the landlord.

Incidentally, from 2023 landlords will also have to bear part of the additional costs.