Berlin implements new diesel restrictions

Berlin has implemented the first of seven planned diesel restrictions, in an attempt to manage its nitrogen dioxide emissions.

The city follows action by other cities in Germany, Hamburg and Darmstadt, which have implemented low emission zones to facilitate compliance with nitrogen dioxide limits. It is likely that additional cities in Germany will implement low emission zones to tackle nitrogen dioxide exceedances. 

Since 1 January 2010, Berlin has had a low emission zone in place, which bans Euro 4 (diesel) and Euro 1 (petrol) vehicles from entering the city. Under this low emission zone, vehicle owners must purchase green stickers from government authorities or other authorised bodies, to display compliance with the low emission zone.

The city decided to implement a stricter low emission zone, known as the Diesel Fahrverbot (diesel ban), which allows only diesel vehicles with a Euro 6 standard or above to operate in the city. Road signs were introduced on the first of seven streets on 22 November 2019, to mark the introduction of the new low emission zone. A further seven streets are included in the diesel ban, and it is likely that the restrictions will be put in place by 30 November 2019. No green stickers are required to display compliance with the new low emission zone.  

The following streets are affected:

• Alt-Moabit from Gotzkowkystraße to Beusselstraße
• Brückenstraße from Köpenicker to Holzmarkstraße
• Friedrichstraße from Mittelstraße to Dorotheenstraße
• Hermannstraße from Silbersteinstraße to Emser Straße
• Leipziger Straße from Charlottenstraße to Leipziger Platz
• Reinhardstraße from Charitéstraße to Kapelle-Ufer
• Silbersteinstraße from Hermannstraße to Karl-Marx-Straße
• Stromstraße from Bugenhagenstraße to Turmstraße

For more information, please visit the Urban Access Regulations webpage on Berlin.