Public entertainment; notification and application for a permit

If you wish to organize a public entertainment event, you must notify the municipality in writing at least one week in advance, stating the type, location and time of the event and the number of participants to be admitted. A single notification is sufficient for regularly recurring, similar public amusements. The obligation to notify does not apply to amusements that primarily serve religious, artistic, cultural, scientific, instructional or educational purposes or commercial advertising, provided that the amusements take place in rooms that are intended for events of the intended type.

Amusement is an event that is intended and suitable to entertain, amuse, divert or relax visitors. Gatherings within the meaning of the law on assemblies are not covered by this. The entertainment is public if access is not restricted to specific persons or specially invited guests.

The organization of public entertainment requires a permit if the required notification is not submitted on time, if it is a motor sport event or if more than 1000 visitors are to be admitted at the same time to an event that is to take place outside designated facilities. The municipalities are responsible for issuing permits, while the independent municipalities, district administration offices and large district towns are responsible for motor sport events. Permission must be denied if it appears necessary to prevent danger to life, health or property or to protect against significant disadvantages or significant nuisance to the general public or neighborhood or against significant damage to nature or the landscape. The same applies if other public law regulations conflict with this.

To protect these legal interests, the municipalities, and for motor sport events (see "Related topics" below) the independent municipalities, district administrations and large district towns, can issue orders for individual cases for the organization of public and other amusements. If these are not sufficient or if they conflict with other public law regulations, the event may also be prohibited.

Municipal ordinances, the existence of which you can find out about from the responsible municipality, may result in modifications to the aforementioned notification and permit obligations as well as other requirements.

Priority special regulations may apply to certain events, which you can also find out about from the local authorities. Examples include public festivals, lotteries, casinos, aviation events, the burning of pyrotechnic objects and - particularly important in practice - cycling or motor sport events and, where applicable, parades that take place exclusively or partially on public roads. For the latter events on public roads, only or additionally a permit or exception under traffic law is required from the responsible road traffic authority.

Contact:

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 1682

+(49) 09131 / 86 - 2636

The application for a permit or notification of an event that does not require a permit must be submitted as early as possible.

• Notification of public entertainment
  In addition to naming the organizer, the notification of public entertainment must also include information on the type, place and time of the event and the number of participants to be admitted.