Barcelona City Council has issued 937 fines for owners walking dogs without a lead in unauthorised areas since 1 January 2024. The figures show a clear shift in how the city is enforcing its rules, after almost a decade when the sanctioning system was not fully applied.

In 2025, the Urban Guard issued 440 penalties for unleashed dogs, almost 100 more than in 2024. Between January and May 2026, another 156 fines were handed out. Standard penalties are €100 if there is no danger involved, rising to €300 if the animal poses a risk to people or itself. For potentially dangerous dogs, fines range from €300 to €2,400 in serious cases.

Barcelona has also widened the places where dogs can be off the lead. The city introduced 114 Shared Use Zones, known as ZUCs, in late 2023, and six more have been added since then. In at least 13 existing locations, the hours for off-lead use have also been extended. These zones sit alongside Barcelona’s 108 dog recreation areas, often called pipicanes. Some are smaller than 400 square metres, while larger ones are over 400 square metres. Unlike ZUCs, these areas are usually fenced.

The change in enforcement came after the City Council ended its previous leniency in late 2023. The aim is to give dog owners clearer rules while keeping streets, parks and promenades cleaner and safer for everyone. For readers following wider city issues, see our Community coverage and Sport updates.

The council says complaints about dog waste have fallen as the new approach has taken hold. In 2023, when the sanctioning regime was active for only a few days, it received 11,039 complaints about excrement and urine on the street. By 2025, that figure had dropped to 7,539, a fall of 31.7% over two years.

There was some early friction in places such as Estació del Nord Park, the Rambla de Sants gardens, Can Batlló and Turó Park. The Federation of Neighbourhood Associations of Barcelona, FAVB, said complaints centred on dirt, noise and damage in green areas, while some dog owners said the reserved spaces were too dark or too narrow. The FAVB says that conflict has now eased, and the council continues to monitor how the system works across the city.

Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article. FAVB. Bizcelona.