The key points of Barcelona's new coexistence ordinance

BarcelonaMore than twenty years later, Barcelona has a new coexistence ordinance in effect since Sunday. The new text toughens penalties for drinking and urinating in the street, declares war on graffiti, and also includes measures against pub crawls, stag/hen parties, and dog urine in the street. These are its main changes.

Mandatory to clean up dog urine

Starting this Sunday, people in Barcelona who fail to clean up their dogs' urine with water risk fines of up to 300 euros. Not doing so will be considered a "serious offense." However, the regulation ultimately exempts assistance animals, such as guide dogs, from cleaning up their urine.

Aggravating circumstances for urinating in the street

Regarding the section that penalizes public urination, the new ordinance establishes three conditions that can increase the fine. Urinating in the street will be more expensive if it occurs near public restrooms or places with free access; around bars or nightclubs; or on narrow streets less than four meters wide. In these cases, the fines can reach 750 euros. In all other cases, the maximum fine will remain at 300 euros, except in particularly serious cases—in especially crowded places, places frequented by minors, or places that are listed or protected—where the fine will continue to range between 750 and 1,500 euros.

Alcohol routes, in the spotlight

Regarding drinking in the street, the new ordinance maintains the penalty system, which ranges from €100 to €600 for minor offenses and from €750 to €1,500 when it occurs in particularly crowded places or in the presence of minors. However, among the new features is the focus on "drinking routes," that is, tourist itineraries that visit several bars with the primary objective of drinking alcohol. This activity, prohibited throughout the city since October, can now be punished with fines ranging from €1,500 to €3,000.

Graffiti War

The law also includes increased prosecution of graffiti artists, both small and large-scale. On the one hand, the punishment for anyone responsible for graffiti is toughened—the new law stipulates that they will not only face a fine of up to 600 euros but will also have to cover the cost of cleaning the graffiti and may even have to participate in the cleanup; on the other hand, promoting or collaborating in the creation of graffiti in unauthorized areas such as subways, trains, or stations is explicitly included among the prohibited behaviors.

Bachelor parties under scrutiny

Another practice that may now be punishable is certain bachelor/bachelorette parties. The ordinance prohibits being in public with "clothing, accessories, or objects that explicitly represent human genitalia or have an obviously sexual character." The regulation also stipulates that, beyond cases requiring criminal prosecution, acts that violate "sexual freedom and integrity in public spaces," such as exhibitionism and masturbation in public; verbal expressions that may be degrading or humiliating; touching or rubbing—including simulated accidental touching—; stalking; maintaining sexual conduct or sending specific messages without threats or coercion; and persistent touching, hugging, or any other conduct considered to violate sexual freedom and integrity, will be punishable by fines of between 750 and 1,500 euros.

Less discount and police with card readers

Another objective of the municipal government is to improve the collection rate of fines, since currently the vast majority go unpaid. One of the new measures is that, in the case of minor infractions or for people living abroad, officers of the Guardia Urbana (municipal police) – equipped with card payment terminals – will offer the option of paying the fine on the spot with a discount. However, the discount will be less than the current one. While previously it was possible to pay 50% or 65% of the fine if done promptly, now the discount will be a maximum of 50% if paid within the first ten days of notification, and 40% if paid after those ten days but before the administrative decision.