Tough new Alicante noise pollution rules ban music on the beach and watching footy outside a bar

The Costa Blanca resort popular with British and other holidaymakers has announced its strictest-ever crackdown on noise pollution

Here are some of the aspects that stand out:

• Events in open spaces of a neighbourhood or festive/traditional nature must have express authorisation to establish, among other details, the timetable. Where appropriate, sound tests will be required. Conditions will be placed on the holding of open-air festivals, parades and other public shows and open-air recreational activities that involve noise emissions that exceed the maximum levels of disturbance established in the ordinance.
• Music and the use of musical instruments is not permitted on beaches.
• Fireworks. Depending on the type of display, there will be time restrictions ranging from seven to 60 minutes.
• Image and/or sound reproduction equipment may not be installed on terraces, in the open air or inside premises for use outside.
• In order to dampen the noise and vibrations derived from the daily assembly and dismantling of bar and restaurant terraces, management must muffle the sounds with pads on hte bottom of table and chair legs.
• Terrace opening hours may be modified from time to time in specific areas of the city or certain periods of the year.
• The loading, unloading and distribution of goods on public highways must be carried out adopting "the necessary measures and precautions to reduce noise pollution to a minimum". It is forbidden to carry out loading and unloading operations between 10pm and 8am, seven days a week, "unless they have the appropriate authorisation".
• Night-time public rubbish collection and cleaning services will adopt the necessary measures and precautions to reduce noise levels to a minimum, both with regard to waste collection vehicles and collection and cleaning machinery, as well as in the execution of work on the public highway. Public highway maintenance work must be carried out between 10pm and 8am.
• Construction. No machinery with a sound pressure level exceeding 90 decibels measured at a distance of five metres from the perimeter of the work site is permitted for work on public roads and buildings. Work on public roads and buildings may not be carried out on public holidays and on other days, only between 10pm and 8am.
• All mechanical traction vehicles or mopeds must have the engine, transmission, bodywork and other elements capable of producing noise and vibrations in good working order.
• Except for in emergency situations, the use of public address systems or any other sound device for propaganda, advertising, warning, distraction or similar purposes, is prohibited.

• Animals causing a noise nuisance between 10pm and 8am
• Shouting (speaking with a louder tone of voice than is considered normal)
• Causing impact noise due to repairs, installation of domestic elements or similar actions both during daylight hours and, in particular, between 10pm and 8am.
• Carrying out removals, moving furniture or carrying out works inside dwellings or premises from Sunday to Thursday, from 10pm to 8am, and on Fridays and Saturdays and the eve of public holidays between 10pm and 9.30am, except for those strictly necessary for emergency reasons.
• Holding parties in premises or private homes that exceed the maximum permitted transmission values, or other behaviour that generates impact noise during the day or at night every day of the week.
• Musical rehearsals or performances or the use of music broadcasting, exceeding the noise transmission values.
• The use of radios, televisions, stereos or any other electrical appliances or musical instruments that exceed the maximum sound transmission values on all days of the week, both during the day and, in particular, at night.
• Air conditioning equipment or any domestic noise source that does not comply with the limitations established in the ordinance.

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