Prostitution; restricted areas/restricted districts

Both indoor prostitution and street prostitution are no longer considered immoral in Germany.

Prostitution is illegal if a legal ordinance (so-called restricted area ordinance) specifies certain places or times in which the practice of prostitution is prohibited.

Within these areas, for example, it may be prohibited to engage in prostitution on streets, paths, squares and bridges, in train stations and in all places that are public or can be viewed by the public in order to protect young people and public decency.

Violations of these regulations constitute administrative offenses that can be punished with a fine or, in the event of a repeat offense, as a criminal offense.

In Hesse, as in other federal states, corresponding restricted areas have been established in many cities.