Craftsman parking permits: Only four cities are convincing in comparison!

Craftsman parking permits: Only four cities are convincing in comparison!

A current study by the Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Stade Chamber of Crafts shows that only four of 21 municipalities in Lower Saxony do well when it comes to craft parking permits. The analysis, which included all cities with more than 25,000 inhabitants, documents a clear need for improvement in the provision of information and the option to submit applications online. Chamber President Detlef Bade emphasizes that many cities provide insufficient information on parking permits and often rely on analogue processes, which represents an unnecessary hurdle for craft businesses. Celle press reports that the lack of clear responsibilities and information about fees represents another stumbling block for tradesmen.

The Chamber of Crafts evaluates the municipalities' websites and their online application options using a traffic light system. While Braunschweig, Buchholz, Buxtehude and Stade are in the green area, some cities such as Celle and Salzgitter are only marked yellow. The situation is particularly critical in twelve cities, including Lüneburg, Wolfsburg and Gifhorn, where the information was classified as a red light. It remains to be seen whether the cities mentioned can improve their digital offerings, as the Chamber of Crafts is calling for a nationwide digital application system with uniform standards.

Digitalization on the rise

A positive example of digitalization in the area of ​​craft parking permits comes from Kassel. Since March 2025, craft businesses have been able to apply for their exemptions online. A new digital portal replaces the previous paper-based process and makes it easier for tradesmen to access parking near their work sites, which is often necessary to transport materials. Commune21 reports that registration is first necessary via the digital system, in which the craftsman status and the operational requirements must be proven.

After successful registration, tradesmen can apply for permits for specific vehicles, locations and times. The approval is usually automated and the control is carried out by the public order office based on the vehicle license plate - similar to cell phone parking. These measures could serve as a model for other municipalities to better meet the needs of tradespeople.

Uniform standards required

The Chamber of Crafts is in favor of setting up central information portals that should offer clear fee structures. Another idea is to introduce a uniform craftsman parking permit for neighboring municipalities, similar to the Lübeck model, which provides for simple proof of work without a permit for short-term activities of up to three days. Such an approach could make the work of craftsmen much easier and more beneficial.

The background to the investigation is the road traffic regulations, which allow municipalities to issue special permits for tradesmen's vehicles. The aim of the Chamber of Crafts is to make structural differences in transparency, fee structures and digital accessibility visible and ultimately eliminate them. It remains to be seen whether the identified deficiencies will be remedied in a timely manner so that craft businesses can carry out their tasks with less bureaucracy and more efficiency.