Hamburg-Mitte loosens rules for outdoor catering-what comes now!

Hamburg-Mitte loosens rules for outdoor catering-what comes now!

in Hamburg, and especially in the Mitte district, the future of external catering is on the agenda. On June 16, 2025, the district decided to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles for outdoor catering in order to enable year -round use of outdoor spaces. According to ndr , new areas in the city center and at the Hansaplatz are already approved there was.

The measures are no coincidence. In the Hamburg scene, complaints about noise and lack of space, especially in scene areas, have accumulated. In 2024, for example, 12 noise complaints in the Hamburg-Mitte district and 34 were recorded in Altona. A sound -related investigation by the Altona district show showed that in these areas the permissible noise limit values ​​were sometimes exceeded by more than 30 decibels at night, which the residents understandably annoyed. Here the new coalition of the SPD, the Greens and FDP wants to remedy the situation by introducing a "night representative" for Hamburg-Mitte. Such positions have already proven themselves in St. Pauli and could also ensure calm here.

regulations and challenges

restaurateurs that want to use outdoor areas must continue to adhere to a number of strict regulations. These are divided into four categories and affect immission protection, which has a view of sound and noise protection as well as light emissions. Nationwide, a night's sleep from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The maximum permitted noise level in urban areas is 45 decibels, which means an additional challenge for innkeepers. After all, wind protection walls are just an example of noise reduction measures that restaurateurs can take. In addition to patronage also other organizations.

Some affected restaurateurs fear that new regulations required by the SPD and the Greens that could endanger the much -touted outdoor catering. This includes the revision of the Senate decision from 2007, which enables longer operating times, as well as the desired restriction of opening hours to 10 p.m. Opposition parties such as the FDP, on the other hand, warn of over -regulation and emphasize the importance of external catering for tourism and social life. The creation of a cross -departmental taskforce could be helpful to find a balance between residents' interests and the needs of gastronomy.

A dialogue between residents and gastronomy

is particularly important to the district government of dialogue between residents and restaurateurs. In Workshops, common regulations are to be developed to ensure a harmonious living together. This could lead to a win-win situation where both restaurateurs and residents can benefit.

Overall, the outdoor catering in Hamburg is not only regulated by this transformative process, but also learns an upgrade that could ideally take a positive turn for everyone involved. It is to be hoped that with all these changes the good taste and the quality of life in the city will not fall by the wayside!