No-Stopping Signs with Supplementary Signs: What Do They Mean?

Introduction

Small white supplementary signs (Zusatzzeichen) often hang beneath no-stopping signs, displaying times, arrows, or text. These supplementary signs modify or specify the no-stopping restriction. Here you will find out what the most important supplementary signs mean.

How Supplementary Signs Work

Supplementary signs (Zusatzzeichen) are placed below the main sign (sign 283 or 286) and apply only to that sign. They can:

• Restrict the effective time (e.g. only 8 am–6 pm)
• Change the area of application (e.g. including the road shoulder)
• Establish exceptions (e.g. for disabled persons)

Time Restriction Sign

Supplementary sign text: time restriction, for example “8 - 18 h” or “Mo - Fr, 7 - 19 h”.

Example: “8 - 18 h” or “Mo - Fr, 7 - 19 h”

Meaning: The no-stopping restriction only applies during the stated times. Outside these hours, you may stop and park normally.

Common variants:

• 8 - 18 h: applies during daytime only
• Mo - Fr: applies on weekdays only
• Mo - Fr, 8 - 18 h: weekdays during daytime
• Sa 8 - 14 h: Saturday morning only

Important: Without a supplementary sign, the no-stopping restriction applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

”On the Shoulder” Sign (Seitenstreifen)

Supplementary sign text: “auf dem Seitenstreifen” / “also on the road shoulder”.

Text: “auf dem Seitenstreifen” (on the shoulder) or “auch auf dem Seitenstreifen” (also on the shoulder)

Meaning:

• “auf dem Seitenstreifen”: the restriction applies only on the road shoulder, not on the carriageway
• “auch auf dem Seitenstreifen”: the restriction applies on the carriageway and the road shoulder

Without this supplementary sign, the no-stopping restriction applies only on the carriageway.

Parking Permit Exceptions

Resident Parking Permit (Bewohnerparkausweis)

Supplementary sign text: “Bewohner mit Parkausweis Nr. … frei”.

Text: “Bewohner mit Parkausweis Nr. … frei” (Residents with parking permit no. … exempt)

Meaning: Residents with a valid resident parking permit for this zone may park here. For everyone else, the no-stopping restriction applies.

Disabled Parking Permit (Schwerbehindertenparkausweis)

Supplementary sign text: “Schwerbehinderte mit Parkausweis Nr. …” or the wheelchair symbol.

Text: “Schwerbehinderte mit Parkausweis Nr. …” or wheelchair symbol

Meaning: Only persons holding a blue EU parking card may stop or park here.

Electric Vehicles Sign

Supplementary sign text: “Elektrisch betriebene Fahrzeuge”.

Text: “Elektrisch betriebene Fahrzeuge” (Electrically powered vehicles) with E-plate symbol

Meaning: The no-stopping restriction does not apply to electric vehicles with an E-plate (E-Kennzeichen) that are charging at that location.

Carsharing Sign

Text: “Carsharing-Fahrzeuge frei” (Carsharing vehicles exempt) with CS symbol

Meaning: Carsharing vehicles displaying the appropriate sticker may stop or park here.

Date Restriction Sign

Text: e.g. “1.3. - 15.3.” or “ab 1.4., 8 Uhr” (from 1 April, 8 am)

Meaning: The no-stopping restriction applies only during the specified period. This is typical for temporary no-stopping zones set up for moves or construction work.

Important: For temporary no-stopping zones, the sign must be erected at least 72 hours in advance (Vorlaufzeit / lead time).

Combined Supplementary Signs

Multiple restrictions can be combined on a single post:

Example 1: No-stopping + “Mo-Fr, 8-18 h” + “on the shoulder” No stopping on the road shoulder on weekdays during daytime

Example 2: No-stopping + “Residents with permit exempt” Everyone except residents is prohibited from stopping

What Applies Without a Supplementary Sign?

A no-stopping sign without any supplementary sign means:

• Applies 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Applies on the carriageway (not automatically on the road shoulder)
• No exceptions for any type of vehicle

Summary

Sources

• StVO Anlage 2 – Zusatzzeichen
• StVO § 39 – Verkehrszeichen
• Bußgeldkatalog – Zusatzzeichen