A ruling by the Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald has declared Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Sunday trading regulations unlawful, creating significant uncertainty for retailers and tourists just days before the start of the holiday season.

Court Ruling Against Sunday Trading

The Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald ruled that the current 'Bäderregelung' in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is unlawful following a challenge by the ver.di trade union.

Impact on Coastal Tourism

The regulation traditionally allowed shops in over 150 municipalities across northern Germany to open on Sundays from March 15 to October 31.

Temporary Reprieve for Retailers

Despite the ruling, shops will still be allowed to open on Sunday, March 15, as the judgment is not yet legally binding.

Economic vs. Labor Rights Dispute

Trade unions argue for the protection of workers' rest days, while business leaders warn of economic damage to coastal resorts competing internationally.

A German court ruling has thrown the future of Sunday shopping in northern coastal resorts into legal uncertainty, just days before the traditional tourist season opening. The Higher Administrative Court in Greifswald ruled on March 12, 2026, that the current Sunday trading regulation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is unlawful. The court found that the regulation permitted too many shops to open on too many Sundays. The lawsuit was brought by the trade union ver.di, which argued the regulation failed to adequately protect employees' rights and family time. Despite the ruling, shops in the affected areas can still open on Sunday, March 15, because the judgment is not yet legally binding.

The regulation at the center of the dispute is the Bäderregelung, which permits shops in tourist regions of northern Germany to open on Sundays between March 15 and October 31 each year. The rule applies to more than 150 municipalities and cities across two federal states: 95 locations in Schleswig-Holstein and 58 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The regulation has long been a fixture of the coastal tourism economy, allowing visitors to shop on days when most German stores remain closed under the country's strict Sunday trading laws. In Schleswig-Holstein, a separate agreement on the Bäderregelung has been reached through the end of 2028, according to web search results, meaning the Greifswald ruling does not directly affect that state. The legal challenge in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern now creates a divergence between the two neighboring tourist regions.

Sunday trading in Germany is governed by state-level legislation, with federal law setting a general prohibition on commercial activity on Sundays and public holidays. The Bäderregelung represents one of the longstanding exceptions carved out for economically dependent tourist areas, particularly along the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts. The ver.di union was established in 2001 through the merger of five individual unions and has consistently advocated for the protection of Sunday as a day of rest for retail workers.

Employer associations and tourism industry representatives reacted critically to the court's decision and ver.di's legal success, citing economic concerns and uncertainty for businesses in the region. The Ministry of Economics of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said it was awaiting the written justification of the judgment before deciding whether to appeal to the Federal Administrative Court. Until that written reasoning is delivered and a decision on appeal is made, the legal status of Sunday openings in the state's resort municipalities remains unresolved. The tourism sector, which depends heavily on Sunday footfall from domestic visitors during the spring and summer months, faces a period of uncertainty heading into the peak season. Ver.di, by contrast, welcomed the ruling as a vindication of workers' right to a protected day of rest.

Key dates for Sunday trading in northern German resorts: — ; — ; —