Posters for demonstrations are generally approved
The City Council is expected to vote on an amendment to the poster display guidelines at its meeting on September 9, 2026. The goal is to regulate billposting in public streets not only for events but also for gatherings (demonstrations). Billposting for demonstrations for which applications are submitted before the City Council’s decision is made will generally be approved.
“Freedom of assembly is such a precious right that, in my view, a blanket ban on special permits for advertising such events is not legally sound and is also not desirable for the democratic formation of public opinion,” said Mayor Nino Haase.
Following consultations between the mayor and Mayor Daniel Köbler—who is standing in for the mayor during his vacation—as well as with Karsten Lange, head of the Public Order Department, and the Public Order Office, a consensus has been reached: Posting of posters promoting demonstrations is to be permitted as a general rule, effective immediately. To this end, the constitutionally protected freedom of assembly will be taken into account to the necessary extent when deciding on poster display applications. To “ensure the orderly and legally compliant conduct of administrative affairs,” Mayor Haase set this out in writing on August 6, 2026.
The legal assessment regarding the promotion of assemblies is also shared by the supervisory authority ADD. An email from the ADD dated August 5, 2026, states that “a general or blanket denial of a permit to post posters does not withstand constitutional and administrative review from the perspective of this city’s higher assembly authority.”
The “Guidelines for the Use of Public Road Space in the City of Mainz,” or “Posting Guidelines” for short, were adopted by the City Council on June 28, 2017. In July 2026, as part of a regular review of administrative practices, the Public Order Office determined that the current guidelines do not address the posting of posters in public street spaces for demonstrations. For this reason, the administration has thus far rejected an application for a poster permit intended to publicize an assembly.
The following schedule is planned for amending the Poster Display Guidelines: The draft resolution containing the amended Poster Display Guidelines is expected to be made publicly available via the citizen information system starting August 26. On September 2, the General and Personnel Committee will discuss this matter in a public meeting. The City Council will then make the decision in a public meeting on September 9.
The goal remains to clearly regulate billposting for assemblies as well. At the same time, these guidelines are also intended to continue to comply with the City Council’s resolution to avoid visual clutter in the streetscape.