Residential areaDenmark
1. Residential area
A residential area is a street or group of streets where housing and access to local properties are the main functions. Drivers should expect pedestrians, cyclists, children, parked vehicles and vehicles entering or leaving driveways.
Some countries identify particular residential areas with traffic signs and apply special low-speed and residential-area rules. The speed limit, pedestrian rights, parking rules and permitted road users therefore depend on local signs and regulations.
How do people refer to a residential area in Denmark?
The specially signposted Danish category is opholds- og legeområde. It allows people to use the whole road area and children to play there; the entrance sign starts the special rules.
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Denmark, Road Traffic Act, LBK 118/2026 — signing order 27, E51–E52; Act 26
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Danish signing order BEK 425/2023 — operative sign and marking descriptions
Start of a residential area.
English • Traffic sign E 51 • Residential area for staying and playing. Special rules apply: 1) People may stay and play across the road's full width. 2) Driving is permitted only at very low speed, normally below 15 km/h. 3) Drivers must show particular care and consideration towards pedestrians and give way where their paths cross. 4) If people staying or playing on the road could come dangerously close to the passing vehicle, the driver must ensure they are aware of it and have made room before proceeding; they must not unnecessarily obstruct drivers. 5) Parking is permitted only in specially marked places, except for bicycles, mopeds and two-wheeled motorcycles. 6) Drivers must give way when leaving the area. May be used with plates U 1, U 2 or U 6 for advance warning.
Dansk • Tavle E 51 • Opholds- og legeområde. Tavlen angiver et område, hvor følgende særlige færdselsregler gælder: 1) Det er tilladt at opholde sig og lege på vejen i hele dens bredde. 2) Kørsel i området må kun ske med meget lav hastighed (normalt under 15 km/h). 3) De kørende skal udvise særlig agtpågivenhed og hensynsfuldhed over for gående. Hvor kørendes færdselsretning skærer gåendes, skal de kørende holde tilbage for de gående. 4) Når der på vejen opholder sig eller leger personer, der kan komme i farlig nærhed af køretøjet under dettes passage, må kørslen ikke fortsættes, forinden føreren har sikret sig, at disse personer er opmærksomme på køretøjet og har givet plads for passage. Sådanne personer må dog ikke unødigt hindre de kørende i at komme frem. 5) Parkering i opholds- og legeområder må ikke ske uden for særligt afmærkede pladser. Dette gælder dog ikke cykler, knallerter og tohjulede motorcykler. 6) Kørende har ubetinget vigepligt ved udkørsel fra et opholds- og legeområde. Tavlen kan anvendes med undertavlerne U 1, U 2 eller U 6 til forvarsling.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Retsinformation.dk • Bekendtgørelse nr. 425/2023, § 27
SVG source: Gigillo83, drawn by original of Vejdirektoratet • Public domain • Original revision 2022-11-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.
End of the residential area.
English • Traffic sign E 52 • End of residential area for staying and playing.
Dansk • Tavle E 52 • Ophør af opholds- og legeområde.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Retsinformation.dk • Bekendtgørelse nr. 425/2023, § 27
SVG source: Gigillo83, drawn by original of Vejdirektoratet • Public domain • Original revision 2022-11-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.
What speed limit applies in a residential area in Denmark?
Vehicles in this signed category must travel at very low speed, normally below 15 km/h. That wording is different from a blanket 15 km/h maximum for every residential street.
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Denmark, Road Traffic Act, LBK 118/2026 — signing order 27, E51–E52; Act 26
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Danish signing order BEK 425/2023 — operative sign and marking descriptions
What rights do pedestrians have in a signposted residential area in Denmark?
People may use the whole width and play in the area. Give way where your path crosses theirs. Before passing close to people, wait until they are aware of the vehicle and have made room. They must not hinder vehicles unnecessarily.
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Denmark, Road Traffic Act, LBK 118/2026 — signing order 27, E51–E52; Act 26
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Danish signing order BEK 425/2023 — operative sign and marking descriptions
Where may I park in a residential area in Denmark?
Ordinary cars may park in this category only in specially marked parking places. The regulation exempts bicycles, mopeds and two-wheeled motorcycles from that particular restriction.
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Denmark, Road Traffic Act, LBK 118/2026 — signing order 27, E51–E52; Act 26
🔗 retsinformation.dk • Danish signing order BEK 425/2023 — operative sign and marking descriptions

Traffic rules
Denmark