Ladenöffnungszeiten

In Lower Saxony, sales outlets may be open from midnight on Monday to midnight on Saturday.

There is a general ban on opening and selling on Sundays and public holidays. The Lower Saxony Act on Shop Opening and Selling Hours (NLöffVZG) regulates exceptions to this ban for:

• Pharmacies, petrol stations, points of sale at railroad stations for passenger transportation, airports and ferry ports,
• Points of sale for the consumption of goods for immediate consumption to meet local needs
• Sales outlets in health resorts and resorts for recreation, excursions and pilgrimages,
• Sales outlets which, in terms of their size and product range, are geared towards the sale of goods for small daily needs,
• farm stores,
• Sundays open for business four times a year and eight times a year in tourist destinations.

Different time and shopping basket restrictions apply to the exceptions.

The regulations applicable in Lower Saxony do not apply

• to the wholesale trade (sales to resellers and commercial customers),
• to the sale of accessories if they are provided at the location of the main service and the main service is not subject to the provisions of the law,
• the sale of goods at fairs, markets and exhibitions,
• to restaurants, video shops and service businesses.

Documents may be required. Please contact the competent authority.

Fees may apply, please contact the competent authority.

Deadlines may have to be observed. Please contact the competent authority.

Further information can be found under the search term "open Sundays".

The responsibility lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city, which is responsible for monitoring compliance with the regulations regarding opening and sales hours as well asthe sale of permitted shopping baskets.

In addition, the State Labour Inspectorate is responsible for verifying compliance with occupational health and safety.

Responsibility lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city, which are responsible for monitoring compliance with the regulations regarding opening and sales hours and the sale of permitted shopping baskets.

In addition, the State Trade Supervisory Office is responsible for checking compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.