Living in Barcelona has its good points (many) and its complicated points (the price of rent, for example). But if there is one thing that neighbors agree on, it is that sometimes coexistence on the streets gets out of hand. That is why the City Council has decided that it was time to renew the “coexistence contract” that we have had for twenty years. The new Coexistence Ordinance (the famous “civility ordinance”) comes into force on February 15, and if you’re someone who lives the city intensely, you’d better get your wallet out because fines have gone up considerably, especially those aimed at tourists.
This is not just a paper update, it is a warning to people to curb behaviors that, although they may seem minor, end up degrading the neighborhood. During this month, you will see informants in the squares explaining the changes, but so that you are not caught off guard, here is a summary of what will hit the pockets of ordinary Barcelona residents the hardest.
The end of optional water bottles for dogs
If you have a dog, your walking routine is about to change legally. Until now, carrying a bottle of water to clean up after your pet was a gesture of goodwill or a recommendation that many of us followed to avoid unpleasant odors. From mid-February, it will become mandatory. Failure to clean up after your pet on public roads will be considered an offense that could cost up to €300.
The only exception is for service dogs, but for the rest of us, the walking kit is now officially: a bag for poop and a bottle for pee.
The price of necessities (physiological and festive) on the street
Another of the city’s major battlehorses is nighttime incivility. While dog urination is monitored, human urination is punished much more harshly. Urinating on the street, especially in those corners of Ciutat Vella or entertainment areas that we all have in mind, can cost you 750 euros.
And if we’re talking about going out at night, be careful with “drinks outside” establishments. Drinking alcohol on the street if there are minors nearby or in areas protected by nighttime quiet hours now carries fines of up to €1,500.
The regulations also focus on noise: if you exceed the decibel limit in acoustically sensitive areas (those where residents can no longer cope), the fine can rise to €3,000. Basically, the aim is to ensure that one person’s party does not cause insomnia for others .
The same applies to cleanliness: throwing paper or gum wrappers, or any other litter that dirties the street, can result in fines of up to €750.
Finally, another common practice in the city center, buying cans of beer or something to eat from street vendors in nightlife areas, also increases the fine: up to €600 for buying a can or a samosa when you go out partying.
The aim of this new text, which has been drawn up with the participation of municipal entities and groups in an attempt to make it “everyone’s”, is to make the street feel like an extension of our home. For this reason, graffiti and tagging in unauthorized places are also being pursued more vigorously. The novelty here is that not only will you be fined, but the offender will also have to pay out of pocket for the cost of cleaning and repairing the damage.
The idea is to make Barcelona a more pleasant city to walk around in, but also a more responsible one. The City Council has made it clear that, although it will take a hard line on anti-social behavior, it will also promote alternative measures for those who cannot pay or want to make up for their mistake by doing community service. In any case, starting in February, it’s better to bring a bottle for your dog and look for a public restroom, because coexistence in Barcelona now comes with a price tag.