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Berlin's citizens' initiative to limit advertising in public spaces has made significant progress, with the Senate declaring a bill admissible in 2020. The initiative, which began in 2018, aims to reduce advertising to a "city-compatible" level, with a complete ban on digital commercial advertising in public spaces.
The initiative has collected over 30,000 valid signatures, setting it in motion. If it can gather signatures of at least 7% of eligible voters (around 170,000 people) by the end of April 2026, a citizens' vote will follow. The Greens in Berlin have signaled their support for the initiative and have warned the coalition not to reject it automatically.
The spokesman for the initiative is open to constructive talks and possible changes. One of the main concerns is the digitalization of advertising installations, which exacerbates the problem, causing light pollution with negative effects on humans, animals, and nature. The initiative also complains about the increasing visual dominance of advertising in urban spaces, which negatively affects the streetscape, architectural, and urban design.
The Senate initially rejected the initiative's bill due to concerns about property rights. However, in 2020, the Berlin Constitutional Court dismissed these concerns and criticized the Senate for not giving the initiative a chance to improve its draft. The Senate took years to revise its initial decision, and the ball is now in the Parliament's court.
The initiative is not calling for a complete ban on all advertising. Classical advertising pillars, posters in subway stations, and certain types of sponsoring will remain. Instead, the initiative proposes restrictions on the size, number, and placement of outdoor advertisements to reduce visual pollution. There is also a push for increased use of public spaces for non-commercial purposes, such as art, cultural messages, or greenery.
The Left in Berlin supports the initiative, arguing that public spaces should not be extended sales areas for corporations. A similar citizens' initiative against too much advertising took place in Hamburg, but it failed in May of this year due to insufficient signatures. The Hamburg Senate initially rejected the initiative, but the State Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the initiators in 2024.
The targeted date for the citizens' vote in Berlin is the 20th of September 2026, the day of the election to the House of Representatives. The initiative has called for talks with the aim of passing the bill before the vote. As the initiative gains momentum, it will be interesting to see how the Parliament responds and whether Berlin will see a reduction in advertising in the near future.
- The Greens in Berlin have expressed their support for the citizens' initiative aimed at limiting advertising in public spaces, warning the coalition not to reject it automatically, as they believe that public spaces should not be extended sales areas for corporations.
- The upcoming citizens' vote in Berlin, scheduled for the 20th of September 2026, will decide the fate of the initiative to reduce advertising to a "city-compatible" level, which includes restrictions on the size, number, and placement of outdoor advertisements to reduce visual pollution, and an increased use of public spaces for non-commercial purposes.
