Ibiza approves nightlife regulations with fines of up to 86,000 euros

The Plenary of the Insular Council of Ibiza, in its session on October 30, 2026, has definitively approved the Regulation for the protection of the nocturnal environment of the island of Ibiza, the regulation that implements Law 3/2005 within the insular territory. The text has been published in full in Catalan and Spanish in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands, BOIB no. 140, of November 3, 2026, within Section I (general provisions), under reference provision 11012 and page 61015. The agreement exhausts the administrative route and enters into force twenty days after publication, meaning it will be fully applicable from the second half of November.

The regulation specifies and develops the autonomous law for the area of Ibiza with the objective of making artificial nocturnal lighting and the safety of people compatible with the protection of biodiversity, the nocturnal environment, and the starry sky. The approval comes after the public information, hearing, and consultation process, with partial or full acceptance or rejection of the allegations presented, as recorded in the regulatory impact assessment report, and with the prior report of the Consultative Council of the Balearic Islands (Opinion no. 39/2026). The final text consists of the identifiers csv 16336451156666110715 (Catalan version) and csv 16336450702047003173 (Spanish version), and the agreement is signed by the head of the Environment section, Ana Belén Planells Tur.

Four protection zones and reference points

The regulation divides the island into four zones according to the admissible brightness. The most restrictive is zone E1, where only minimum brightness is accepted and which includes:

• High-level protection areas, natural areas of special interest, and rural areas of landscape interest under Law 1/1991.
• Natura 2000 Network spaces (SCI, SPA, and SAC) and spaces protected by Law 5/2005 (natural parks, sites, reserves, and monuments).
• Coastal territorial protection areas of the Insular Territorial Plan of Ibiza and the maritime-terrestrial public domain, except for sections in contact with urban land.
• The special plans for ses Feixes del Prat de ses Monges and Prat de Vila, and the surroundings of the Puig des Molins Observatory.

Zone E2 corresponds to rustic land not included in E1 and developable land that has not been urbanized; zone E3 covers urban land and developable land that has already been urbanized, and zone E4 is reserved for areas of intensive nocturnal use due to high mobility or commercial and leisure activity. Additionally, reference points of maximum protection are declared: the Astronomical Observatory of the Cala d’Hort Telescope (approx. 83,000 m²), the Natural Park of ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera, the coastline between Cap Nonó and punta de s’Aguila, and several islets such as Tagomago, es Vedrà, es Vedranell, or the island of en Calders.

Schedules, shop windows, and tourist establishments

Outdoor lighting must reduce light levels during the restricted nighttime schedule, which in winter begins at 21:00 UTC (22:00 official time) and in summer at 22:00 UTC (00:00 official time), and lasts until sunrise. Luminous signs, screens, and billboards are only permitted in E3 and E4 zones and during normal hours; if they are on the building or establishment or serve an informative function, they may remain lit during restricted hours while the premises are open, and LED screens may only display static images.

Ornamental lighting linked to tourist residential or accommodation uses must be turned off during restricted hours. Swimming pools must turn off underwater lighting during this period, except while in use, and the lighting of buildings and facilities must remain off except during the authorized hours of the activity. Direct light intrusion over the sea and the coastline is also prohibited, with the exception of lighthouses and maritime signals.

Sanctions from 215 to 86,000 euros

The sanctioning regime is fixed based on severity:

• Minor infractions: fines from 215 to 860 euros, for example, violating the time regime by up to two hours or exceeding the upper hemisphere flux by up to 20%.
• Serious infractions: from 860 to 4,300 euros, such as exceeding the schedule by more than two hours, installing non-compliant devices, or obstructing inspection, the latter of which is punished with 4,300 euros.
• Very serious infractions: from 4,300 to 86,000 euros, with specific aggravation when the serious infraction is committed in an E1 zone or causes significant harm to the environment.

Inspection and sanctioning competence corresponds to the city councils when the installation only affects their municipality and to the Insular Council of Ibiza when it affects more than one. Precautionary measures may not exceed three months, and sanctions may be reduced by up to 50% if the infringing person admits the facts before the imposition.

Adaptation period and aid lines

Existing installations must adjust their on and off schedules within a maximum of three months and fully adapt to the regulation within four years, with specific deadlines of up to eight years for certain renovations of lights with a color temperature higher than 3,000 K and 4,000 K. New lighting systems starting processing after six months must already comply with the regulation, and each municipality must approve a public lighting adequacy plan. The Insular Council may open a line of aid, especially during the four years following the entry into force, with preference for actions in E1 zones and reference points.

The regulation affects hotels, businesses, sports facilities, administrations, and individuals across the entire island, who will have to review equipment, light orientation, and schedules. Against the agreement, which exhausts the administrative route, a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed before the High Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands within a period of two months.

Source: Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands, no. 140, of November 3, 2026, Section I. General provisions, p. 61015 (official reference: provision 11012).