Rare and Weird Laws in Germany (2025 Guide for Expats)

I met my dear friend Hélène when she moved from Paris to Berlin chasing what many expats dream of: creativity, freedom, and maybe a little je ne sais quoi. What she didn’t expect was the invisible web of rules that quietly governs daily life in Germany.

Berlin might market itself as wild and anarchic, but beneath the graffiti and the techno is a country obsessed with Ordnung (Order). From sacred Ruhezeiten (rest periods)  to fines for walking your dog off-leash, Germany’s weird laws form a parallel universe where discipline meets absurdity.  

But I digress. 

Here are 20 of the strangest, funniest, and most confusing laws Hélène has discovered while trying to build a bridge between croissants and currywurst.

The 20 (Odd) Commandments

1. Ruhezeit and Sonntagsruhe — Be Quiet

Silence isn’t just polite — it’s the law. On Sundays and public holidays, you can’t mow, drill, vacuum, or play loud music. For expats, it’s less “lazy Sunday” and more “silent retreat.”

2. Mittagsruhe — The Midday Pause

Even on weekdays, some apartment buildings enforce a daily quiet break from 13:00 to 15:00. It’s when the city collectively sighs and shushes.

3. Schwarzfahren — Riding Without a Ticket

Hopping on the U-Bahn without a valid fare isn’t a slap on the wrist. It’s a criminal act under §265a StGB. Miss one BVG app refresh and you might end up in front of a judge.

4. Fahrrad + Alkohol — Careful With a Bike DUI

Drunk cycling is not a vibe. If you’re caught with more than 1.6‰ alcohol in your system, you can lose your Führerschein (driver’s license). The law treats your bike like a BMW.

5. Autobahn Panne — Empty Gas Tank

Running out of gas on the Autobahn is considered a form of negligence. Stopping on the highway? Fineable offense. Germany doesn’t do “oops.”

6. Leerlauf — Engine Idling

Letting your car idle while you scroll TikTok? Illegal. The environment trumps convenience every time.

7. Beleidigung — The Price of an Insult

Middle finger? €4,000. Rude remark to a police officer? Fined. “Du” instead of “Sie”? Technically, also an insult. Germany’s version of free speech is… very polite.

8. Recht am eigenen Bild — Photo Consent From Strangers

You can’t photograph strangers without permission. Every Berliner on the street has the legal right to say “Nein.”

9. Tanzverbot — The Holy Dance Ban

Even in the clubbing capital of Europe, dancing is banned on certain religious holidays like Karfreitag (Good Friday). Imagine Berghain without a beat — it happens every year.

10. Bärlauch Pflücken — No Garlic Picking

Picking wild garlic in protected forests? Illegal. Nature has its lawyers here.

11. Im Gleichschritt Marschieren — No Synchronous Walking

Marching in perfect rhythm across bridges is banned because synchronized footsteps can create vibrations that damage structures. A rule born from physics — and paranoia.

12. Bestattungspflicht — No Ashes at Home

You can’t keep a loved one’s ashes at home. Germany requires all burials to follow proper cemetery procedures. Bureaucracy doesn’t end at death.

13. Ladenschlussgesetz — National Day of Rest

Sunday shopping? Forget it. The Ladenschlussgesetz keeps most stores closed, protecting the national day of rest — and driving every expat mad.

14. Wäscheverbot am Balkon — Keep it Clean

In some buildings, you can’t hang laundry facing the street. It “ruins the view.” Urban life, curated.

15. Grillzone Pflicht — Barbecue Cues

Public barbecues are only allowed in designated Grillzonen. Try grilling outside them, and your sausages might come with a fine.

16. Hausordnung — Always Comply (Even at Home)

Many apartment buildings have internal rulebooks stricter than national law — covering everything from trash schedules to stairwell etiquette.

17. Ruhezeit for Recycling — Again, Be Quiet

Throwing glass bottles into recycling bins after 8 p.m. violates Ruhezeit. Germans can hear that crash three floors down — and they will report it.

18. Leinenpflicht — Doggie Leashes

Letting your dog run free in the park? Illegal in many areas. The Leinenpflicht (leash law) applies almost everywhere, except in designated dog zones.

19. Namensrecht — Only German Names

Want to name your baby “Moonlight” or “Blue”? The Standesamt (Registry Office) can reject any name that doesn’t clearly indicate gender or “fit within German naming tradition.”

20. Körperverletzung mit Kissen — Pillow Fight Club

Yes, a pillow fight can count as assault (Körperverletzung) if someone feels attacked. Hélène found that out the hard way in her shared flat.

The 20 Wackiest German Laws at a Glance

The Last Order of Chaos

Germany’s laws may seem absurd to outsiders, but for those who stay long enough, they start to make a strange kind of sense. They reflect a culture that values respect, order, and precision — even in silence.

As one Berliner once told Hélène with a smirk: “In Deutschland, selbst das Chaos hat Ordnung.” (In Germany, even chaos has order.)

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