Limassol municipality is rolling out a tougher enforcement policy against noise pollution in the city centre, introducing a stepped system of fines that could see repeat offenders hit with administrative penalties of up to €3,400.
Residents say the situation has become unbearable, accusing bars and nightspots of operating without proper licences and ignoring existing limits on noise and opening hours.
Crackdown on nightlife ‘anarchy’
For at least a decade, the historic centre has been at the heart of a growing clash between nightlife and residents. A number of bars have opened in premises that were previously used for other purposes, often without the required permits and, in many cases, with no realistic prospect of securing a licence.
Municipal officials say this has created a planning as well as a public-order problem, with unlicensed venues and non-compliance fuelling complaints over noise and nuisance. Owners of leisure venues, for their part, argue that the current framework does not allow for a clear and viable coexistence between residents and entertainment businesses.
Residents resort to legal action
Residents of the historic centre insist the situation has “reached breaking point” and have called for immediate and drastic measures. According to information obtained by Politis, the Association of Residents and Friends of the Historic Centre has already taken legal action, filing a lawsuit against Limassol municipality.
The association has also criticised the police, arguing that cases which fall under police competence are not handled consistently and that the law is interpreted differently by the municipality and the force, particularly when it comes to premises operating without any licence at all.
One detail that has not gone unnoticed is that the lawyers representing the Residents’ Association include the office of the current justice minister, Marios Hartsiotis. The case is now moving forward and is expected to be heard soon in court.
Sound checks confirm residents’ complaints
Complaints from residents were recently backed up by sound measurements carried out by the municipality’s services at various premises in the city centre.
Between 29 September and 8 November 2025, officials organised sound checks on at least 30 establishments on five separate occasions, to see whether they were respecting the legal framework and the sound permits issued by the local authority.
Although Limassol municipality has set a maximum noise limit of 60 decibels, the measurements showed that more than half of the venues in the centre were playing music well above that level, including after midnight, which is the cut-off time imposed on all of them.
An even more serious issue, municipal officials say, is that a number of establishments have no operating licence at all, raising questions that require police intervention. Most of the premises inspected were those that have attracted repeated complaints.
New stepped system of fines
In light of the findings, the municipal council has decided to change its enforcement policy. Until now, offenders were reported either by the municipality or by the police and, if they failed to comply, external legal advisers were instructed to file a case in court.
Under the new approach, there will be a clear escalation mechanism. For the first two violations, offenders will receive out-of-court fines of €85. If they still fail to comply within a week, the municipality will be able to impose an administrative fine of up to €3,400, significantly increasing the pressure on venues to respect the rules.
City officials hope the tougher framework will send a clear signal that the days of uncontrolled noise and licensing “grey zones” in the historic centre are coming to an end.