Casar sanctions repeated ringing of doorbells and knocking on doors

The Casar de Cáceres City Council has finalized the amendment to the Municipal Ordinance on Coexistence and Citizen Security in Public Spaces, which classifies repeated ringing of doorbells, automatic entry systems, and intercoms, as well as knocking on residential doors when intended to disturb the peace of residents, as an infraction. The announcement, signed by the Mayor-President Marta Jordán Ordiales on August 25, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Cáceres on August 31, 2026 (reference BOP-2026-4090).

The amendment stems from the provisional plenary agreement approved in the ordinary session held on April 24, 2026. As no claims were filed during the public exhibition period, the agreement was automatically finalized, in compliance with Article 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime, and Article 17.4 of the Recast Text of the Law Regulating Local Treasuries (Royal Legislative Decree 2/2004).

An uncivil behavior spreading across the municipality

The council justifies the reform based on the detection, in various areas of the municipality, of uncivil behaviors consisting of repeatedly ringing doorbells, automatic entry systems, or knocking on private residential doors with the purpose of annoying or disturbing the peace of residents. These behaviors, which often occur as acts of vandalism or uncivil pranks, generate alarm and anxiety, especially among elderly people living alone.

The current ordinance already regulated various uncivil behaviors in public spaces, but did not expressly classify this practice, which hindered its prosecution and sanctioning by municipal services and the Local Police. The reform is issued under the authority of Articles 4, 25, 84, and 139 et seq. of Law 7/1985, which recognize the regulatory and sanctioning powers of local entities.

The new Article 36 bis

The amendment incorporates a new Article 36 bis in Chapter V of Title II “Inappropriate use of public space for games and other unauthorized activities,” which prohibits repeatedly or unjustifiably ringing doorbells, automatic entry systems, intercoms, or knocking on private residential doors when the purpose is to disturb the peace or disrupt neighborhood coexistence.

The behavior is considered especially reprehensible when any of these circumstances occur:

• It occurs repeatedly or systematically.
• It is carried out during rest or nighttime hours.
• It is directed toward elderly people, people living alone, or other vulnerable groups.
• It generates situations of alarm, fear, or anxiety in residents.

Sanctioning regime

The described behaviors are classified as a minor infringement, except in cases of repetition or special gravity, in which case they may be elevated to a serious infringement, in accordance with the sanctioning regime of the ordinance. When the infringing person is a minor, or when deemed appropriate for its educational or restorative nature, the financial penalty may be substituted, in whole or in part, by community service or activities of a civic nature.

The amendment will enter into force once published in full in the Official Gazette of the Province and after the period provided for in the local government legislation has elapsed. An administrative appeal may be filed against the agreement before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Extremadura, based in Cáceres, within two months of publication.

The new regulation reinforces the protection of neighborhood tranquility and provides the Local Police with an express instrument to prosecute a nuisance that directly affects the right to rest and coexistence, with special attention to the elderly and those who live alone, a group particularly exposed to this type of behavior.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Cáceres, August 31, 2026, Section I - Local Administration (official reference: BOP-2026-4090).