How German states regulate Sunday working hours

Germany has one of the strictest outlooks on Sunday operating hours in Europe. While the recent pushes for the ban on Sunday work have received mixed reactions in Europe, Germany has been implementing its own rules on this topic, and in 2006, the right to regulate working hours was passed to each individual German Federal State. This effectively means that the rule regarding the working hours of stores on Sundays in Germany varies depending on the state and the type of store. In general, German shops are closed on Sundays, except for some exceptions such as bakeries, gas stations, or grocery stores in train stations. However, some states allow stores to open on a limited number of Sundays per year, usually for special occasions or events. In the following, we unveil the entire state list with its rules.

Here is a list of the rules for each state:

• Baden-Württemberg: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of five hours each time.
• Bavaria: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time. However, in Munich, stores can only open on two Sundays per year.
• Berlin: Stores can open on ten Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time. However, eight of these Sundays must be between November and January.
• Brandenburg: Stores can open on six Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• Bremen: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of five hours each time.
• Hamburg: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• Hesse: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• Lower Saxony: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of five hours each time.
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• North Rhine-Westphalia: Stores can open on eight Sundays per year, for a maximum of five hours each time.
• Rhineland-Palatinate: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of five hours each time.
• Saarland: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• Saxony: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• Saxony-Anhalt: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.
• Schleswig-Holstein: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of five hours each time.
• Thuringia: Stores can open on four Sundays per year, for a maximum of six hours each time.