Barcelona has officially enacted its new Civility Ordinance, a strict update to regulations that have stood for two decades. This move comes as the city grapples with a surge in “uncivil acts”, having recorded 114,528 complaints in 2025 alone. Consequently, the new rules bring significantly higher financial penalties for offences such as street drinking, public urination, and graffiti. Indeed, fines now reach as high as €3,000.
Barcelona Civility Fines Follow Record Complaints
Data from the City Council reveals that one in every four incidents reported to the 112 emergency line relates to neighbourhood complaints about bad behaviour. In 2025, illegal street vending accounted for nearly half of all complaints (47.66%). Specifically, the vast majority of these reports concerned the abandonment of materials in public spaces, particularly beer cans left behind by illegal vendors.
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Consumption of alcohol on the streets, commonly known as botellón, was the second most penalised act, generating over 40,000 complaints. Meanwhile, Mayor Jaume Collboni has taken a firm stance on the issue. He states that the updated regulations are supported by a broad majority of the City Council and the public.
“The only ones who should worry are the shameless people who break the rules, who dirty the streets and do not respect coexistence.”Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona
The New Price of Bad Behaviour Under Barcelona Civility Fines
The updated ordinance, which came into force this Sunday, drastically increases the cost of breaking the rules. Therefore, the adjustments are designed to act as a stronger deterrent for both residents and visitors.
- Street Drinking: Fines for consuming alcohol in the presence of minors or in zones with nighttime restrictions have risen to €1,500. Moreover, so-called “alcohol routes” or organised pub crawls face penalties of up to €3,000.
- Public Urination: The standard fine has jumped from €300 to €750. However, if the act occurs in nightlife areas, narrow streets, near public toilets, or in front of minors, the penalty can soar to €1,500.
- Graffiti: While the fine remains at €600, offenders will now be required to pay for the cleaning costs and participate in the removal of their graffiti.
- Noise Pollution: Making excessive noise in acoustically stressed areas now carries a maximum fine of €1,500.
Instant Payment for Tourists Under Barcelona Civility Fines
To ensure fines are actually collected, particularly from short-term visitors, the Guardia Urbana (Urban Guard) has equipped officers with 50 dataphones. This allows police to collect fines immediately at the scene of the infraction. The measure is intended to prevent tourists who commit serious offences from returning to their home countries without paying the penalty.
For residents, immediate payment via card is available for minor infractions. In addition, the force is currently working to incorporate Bizum (a popular Spanish mobile payment service) as a payment method. Pedro Velázquez, head of the Guardia Urbana, confirmed that operations are already underway in “sensitive points” of the city. These operations combine uniformed and plainclothes officers to detect uncivil acts in squares and parks.
Targeting Illegal Vending with Barcelona Civility Fines
The crackdown also targets the logistics of illegal street vending. Vendors, known locally as lateros, often store beer cans in unsanitary locations such as sewers. Alternatively, they abandon them in the street when fleeing police. Under the new rules, this abandonment of waste is being pursued aggressively. Therefore, it forms part of the wider effort to clean up the city’s public image.
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