Everything You Need To Know About Ruhezeit in Germany

Living in Germany and want to learn more about Ruhezeit? Check out this post for everything you need to know about Ruhezeit in Germany and more!

As someone who has been living in Germany for quite some time now, the concept of Ruhezeit is still foreign to me. This is a concept that’s technically not practiced in the States but Germans honor it like a law. In fact, some would also say it’s the reason several cities in Germany are known for being the quietest destinations in Europe.

So, if you’re planning to live in Germany for the first time and know nothing about Ruhezeit, you’ve come to the right place. This post alone answers the most frequently asked questions about Ruhezeit in Germany and what it is.

What does the word Ruhezeit in Germany mean?

Ruhezeit for those of you who don’t know is a word that comes from the German words ruhig and zeit. Ruhig in German translates to “quiet” in English and zeit translates to “time”. So with that in mind, the word Ruhezeit in Germany is “quiet time”.

So you may be wondering why do Germans have a special word for “quiet time”?

Well, “quiet time” in Germany is more serious than you think. It essentially means that making any noise on Sundays or after 10 pm on weeknights is strictly forbidden wherever you are in Germany. As a result, a majority of shops are closed on Sundays and most people are not working.

Why does Ruhezeit exist in Germany?

Ruhezeit exists in Germany due to its roots in Germany’s Basic Law and the historical influence of the church. Since Germany is a devoutly religious country, the government imposed Ruhezeit on the country so that Germans would have the opportunity to attend church on Sundays and spend time with their families. In addition, as the population in Germany grew, so did the noise pollution. Which, as you can imagine, was even worse for those who had a place of residence in a big city. So with that in mind, due to Ruhezeit, noise regulations became a legitimate legal matter.

When is Ruhezeit in Germany?

The answer to this question really depends on where you are in Germany because some areas could be different. However, I would say generally Ruhezeit begins at 10pm and ends at 6 or 7am on weekdays. Ruhezeit is also an all day thing on Sundays as well as for public holidays. However, there are no special quiet hours on Saturdays since they are generally considered to be working days unless a holiday falls on one.

Another thing that’s also important to note is the fact that Ruhezeit can also affect lunchtimes in Germany too. Depending on where you are, there can be a quiet time for lunch from 12-3pm or 1-3pm. A landlord may also impose their own rules on when Ruhezeit is on their property so do make sure to read your lease so that you’re informed.

What noises are forbidden during Ruhezeit in Germany?

The rule of thumb in Germany is that any noise over 50 decibels is considered to be forbidden during Ruhezeit. For example, these noises could be:

• Running a leaf blower
• Loud parties
• Using a chainsaw
• Hammering
• Construction work
• Washing your car
• Using a washing machine
• Mowing your lawn
• Vacuuming
• Snow blowers
• Water pumps/motors
• Loud music
• Loud gatherings/events

How is it different from Ruhetag?

Ruhetag isn’t necessarily different from Ruhezeit. It’s actually the same thing. Similar to Ruhezeit, the word Ruhetag comes from the German words ruhig and tag which translate to “quiet” and “day”. So, in the case of Ruhezeit, Sunday is actually a Ruhetag. However, since not all shops are closed on Sunday in Germany, the owners are actually allowed to pick another day of the week as Ruhetag.

For example, if an ice cream shop in Germany is open on Sundays, then they can choose to have a Ruhetag on Tuesday as an alternative. In addition, some stores may choose to have a Ruhetag on days other than Sunday because it could be more profitable for their business.

What do you do if someone doesn’t follow Ruhezeit in Germany?

There are typically three things you can generally do when someone isn’t following Ruhezeit in Germany:

The first thing you can do is leave an anonymous note on the offender’s door. This is typically only done if the noise level is a small disturbance but it’s the most passive aggressive way.

The second thing you can do is directly go and knock on the offender’s door to ask them to keep the noise down. Now obviously you need to be really assertive to do this but this is a great option if you need the issue to be resolved immediately.

Lastly, the third thing you can do if someone isn’t following Ruhezeit in Germany is call the police. This obviously is the more “Karen” thing to do but a lot of Germans do take this approach. The offender in this case would obviously get a fine if the police is called but it will be a smaller one if it is a first-time offense. If it’s not the offender’s first-time offense then they can expect to receive a fine around a few thousand euros . :/

Is there a way to file a noise complaint in Germany?

The best way to file a noise complaint in Germany is by contacting the local Ordnungsamt near you. The Ordnungsamt will then send a police officer to make the noise stop and the Polizei will then take it from there.

The Ordnungsamt in addition can also be contacted in two ways: by telephone or by email. I’d highly recommend using email if your German isn’t good enough to hold a conversation that way you can avoid any awkwardness on the phone. However, if you’re in a really big international city, you could try calling them on the phone in English if you’re brave.

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Overall, I really hope you enjoyed reading this post on everything you need to know about Ruhezeit in Germany! Please let me know in the comments down below which fact about it surprised you the most. I would love to hear from you! 🙂

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