Essen bans begging within five metres of café terraces

The Essen city council on 10 October 2026 approved a new regulation prohibiting begging within a five‑metre radius of outdoor terraces at cafés and restaurants.

The move follows repeated complaints from hospitality businesses and their customers that people asking for money approach patrons on terrace areas, sometimes repeatedly. City officials said the measure is intended to protect the right of restaurants and cafés to use approved outdoor space without persistent disturbances.

Scope and enforcement

The ban explicitly covers what the city describes as the so‑called "quiet begging" — for example, sitting on the ground or displaying a sign to request money — within five metres of summer terraces. Essen already had prohibitions on aggressive and organised begging and on begging involving children or animals; the new rule targets the area immediately around hospitality terraces.

Christian Kromberg (CDU), the city councillor responsible for public order, told the council that the measure was necessary and that issuing fines would be a last resort. He cited earlier experience in Dortmund, where a comparable restriction was introduced at the beginning of August 2026, as encouraging about the measure’s effectiveness. The motion was opposed by SPD, the Greens, The Left and Volt.

City spokesperson Silke Lenz said the municipal public order service will now have a legal basis to act when begging disturbs guests or staff. Essen’s administration also noted that begging is in principle a protected personal social expression in Germany, which is why a blanket prohibition would not stand up legally; the new rule is narrowly targeted to places where public order and the tranquillity of others are affected.

Officials in Dortmund reported that their restriction produced few incidents in the first weeks: authorities initially issued verbal warnings and began imposing fines from mid‑August 2026. Local hospitality operators there told city officials they welcomed the rule and consider it likely to improve the situation around their premises.

Photo: press material from the event