Overview
- Hamburg’s two‑week exemption allows private use of classic de‑icing salt through January 21, with officials urging targeted, sparing application; household table salt is permitted but loses effectiveness below about −10°C.
- Berlin confirmed it cannot grant an exemption under its street‑cleaning law, so private salt use on sidewalks remains banned as the BSR limits applications to tightly dosed feuchtsalz/sole treatments.
- Hardware chains including Hornbach, OBI, Toom, Bauhaus and Hagebau report regional sellouts after demand spiked, though restocking is ongoing and customers are advised to check online availability or order delivery.
- BUND warns salt harms soils, trees, groundwater and animals, recommending alternatives such as sand, gravel, sawdust or Blue‑Angel‑certified products, while cautioning some granulates may contain toxic trace substances.
- Beyond Hamburg and Berlin, cities deploy stored salt and brine with salt‑saving strategies; Braunschweig has approved a limited salt exception from Friday to Monday, and homeowners remain liable to clear sidewalks under local rules.