Do you want to move on Sunday? This is only possible under certain conditions. You can find out in this article which 5 important tips you should keep in mind when planning your move.
Sunday parade: observe public holiday law
Moving on Sunday is not easy due to the public holiday law (FTG). It specifies the activities that are permitted or prohibited on Sundays and public holidays. Depending on the federal state, these regulations are listed in different paragraphs, although the content is the same. According to the FTG, no work that can be done on another day may be carried out on Sundays or public holidays. Parades belong to this category because they are not exclusively tied to Sundays. A move on Sunday is therefore only possible if it cannot be postponed to satisfy the needs of the following species:
- domestic
- rural
That means if you have a good reason for the Sunday parade, the plan is allowed. To avoid problems with the municipality or city, you should find out beforehand whether your case is an exception. There are numerous reasons that can make moving on Sundays possible. Some of them are:
- Moving necessary on the 1st day of the month
- special move-out deadlines apply
Important: Federal Immission Control Act
Another hurdle when moving on Sunday is the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG). It regulates the maximum volume allowed on public holidays and Sundays in order to reduce harmful effects on the environment. This also includes noise pollution caused by the moving activities. This means that certain noise limits must not be exceeded in order not to expose the neighborhood to noise pollution. Depending on your new place of residence, the following maximum limits apply:
- Exclusive residential area: 35 dB
- general residential area: 40 dB
- Villages and mixed areas: 45 dB
For example, an exclusively residential area consists primarily of residential buildings, while a general area has service buildings such as restaurants, schools or supermarkets in the immediate vicinity. If you instead live in a core area or even an industrial or commercial area in the future, which is not uncommon in cities, the maximum limit is 50 dB to 70 dB. In residential and village areas you should definitely pay attention to how loud you are when changing, otherwise you will get into trouble.
The following overview shows what corresponds to the specified decibel values:
- 35 dB: rustling of trees, whisper volume
- 40 dB: apartment (closed windows), refrigerator
- 45 dB: Rain, apartment (open windows)
- 50 dB: conversation
- 70 dB: Office
Move noisy work
You should therefore save the following activities for the next day if you want to move on Sunday:
- drilling
- hammering
- sawing
- Use a cordless screwdriver
- Assembling furniture
- speak loudly
Note:
Even if a Sunday parade is possible for you, you should think carefully about this step. Many moving companies don't work on Sundays at all or charge significantly more for the effort. Online tools can help you find a fair price comparison for the moving company in Cologne, Berlin or your city
Sunday driving ban for trucks
In addition to the public holidays and federal pollution control law, you also have to observe the ban on driving trucks on Sundays and public holidays. This specifies how large a truck can be in Germany in order to be used on Sundays in the Federal Republic. This means you may have to spread your move over several days if you need a larger truck than allowed. According to Section 30 (environmental protection, driving ban on Sundays and public holidays) of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), the following trucks may not be driven on Sundays:
- permitted total weight over 7.5 tons
- with pendant
- cars with trailers registered as trucks
This ban applies from midnight to 10 p.m. on all roads in Germany. However, this regulation does not give you a license to move after 10 p.m., as you are generally not allowed to cause any noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Although you could transport something at this time, you could not unload it.
The followingFines will be issued if the regulations are ignored:
- drive yourself: 120 euros
- arrange or allow: 570 euros
Note:
There is only an exception to this rule if you transport perishable goods. This rarely happens when moving as a private household.
Set up no-parking zone
An often overlooked point when attending a Sunday parade is applying for a no-parking zone. Even if many people travel by car on Sunday, there are just as many who enjoy the day off in their own four walls. For this reason, you cannot assume that a parking space is available. Ideally, you will have planned the move several weeks in advance, which gives you plenty of time. If you have rented a house with a large driveway, a no-parking zone is usually not necessary.
You can apply for it at the following institutions in your municipality or city:
- Road Transport Authority
- Town Hall
- Office of Public Order
Note:
A no-parking zone should be requested as early as possible, especially for a Sunday procession in cities. Otherwise massive space problems can quickly arise, even if only a small transporter is needed.
Mark no-parking zone
The certificate that a no-parking zone has been set up alone does not guarantee a free space for the move, regardless of whether it is on Sunday or another day. In addition to the certificate, you also need official no-parking signs. These can be rented from various companies (including delivery, assembly and collection). Some of these companies also offer a complete service and take care of the administrative process for you.
Tip:
The effort costs money, but it saves a lot of nerves later. An official and properly signposted no-parking zone is also taken seriously by other people, which is rarely the case with two chairs, a laminated piece of paper and some string.
Inform neighbors in advance
Don't forget to inform your future neighbors about the upcoming move. This is helpful if a Sunday parade is possible without noise and on a small scale. In this way, you can prevent dissatisfaction with the new neighbors, which would have a negative impact on the relationship in the long run. If it becomes clear when talking to your neighbors that the Sunday parade is not tolerated, you should preferably choose a different day of the week or reduce the size. You should contact your future neighbors, especially on holidays such as Christmas, which can also fall on a Sunday. Especially on days like these, you can easily mess up your neighborhood.
