Guadalajara approves coexistence ordinance with fines of up to 3,000 euros

The Plenary of the Guadalajara City Council initially approved, in an ordinary session held on July 31, 2026, the modification of the Ordinance on Measures to Promote and Guarantee Civic Coexistence in the Public Space of Guadalajara. The agreement was published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Guadalajara, No. 157, dated August 18, 2026, under reference BOP-GU-2026-2193. The regulation subjects the modification to a public information period of 30 business days from its publication in the BOP, so that interested parties may consult the file and submit claims or suggestions.

Regulatory framework and background

The ordinance is based on the municipal power to classify infractions and sanctions established in Articles 139 and following of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of Local Government. Its purpose is to preserve public space as a place of coexistence and civility, where all people may exercise their freedom of movement, leisure, and recreation with full respect for the rights of others. The modification updates and consolidates previous municipal ordinances, including the 1985 Ordinance on the Use of Parks and Gardens, the 1993 Ordinance on Protection against Noise and Vibrations, and the 2004 Ordinance on Street Cleaning. The regulation was signed by the Mayor-President, Ana Cristina Guarinos López, on August 14, 2026.

Prohibited conduct and scope of application

The ordinance covers a broad catalog of conduct that disrupts coexistence in public spaces. These include:

• Graffiti, paintings, and visual degradation: total prohibition of inscriptions on visible public and private property, with the exception of authorized artistic murals.
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces, regulated with restriction measures to avoid disturbing the neighborhood.
• Organized or aggressive begging: prohibits harassing conduct under the guise of begging, including that which uses minors as a lure.
• Noise and disruptive behavior: regulation of the use of public space to avoid unnecessary annoyance to residents.
• Vandalism and deterioration of urban furniture: active protection of heritage and public services.
• Harassment and attacks on dignity: discriminatory conduct based on racist, sexist, homophobic, or any other grounds.

Sanctioning regime: fines of up to 3,000 euros

The modification introduces a tiered system of economic sanctions, organized into three levels:

• Minor infractions: fine of up to 750 euros, applicable to most uncivil behavior in public spaces.
• Serious infractions: fine of 750.01 to 1,500 euros, in cases such as graffiti on public transport, adjoining facades, or harassment of minors by groups.
• Very serious infractions: fine of 1,500.01 to 3,000 euros, reserved for conduct that attacks monuments or listed or protected buildings.

Access to the file and public consultation

The complete file of the amendment is available to interested parties at the Citizen Service Office of the Guadalajara City Council, located at Plaza Mayor No. 7, open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Likewise, the full text is available on the notice board of the municipal website. Once the 30 business days have elapsed without claims, the agreement shall be deemed definitively approved without the need for a new plenary agreement. Once it becomes final, the full amended text will be published in the BOP, entering into force after the period provided for in Article 65.2 of Law 7/1985.

Relevance for citizens

The approval of this ordinance entails a comprehensive review of the rules of coexistence in Guadalajara, adapting them to the new urban realities affecting any major European city. Its cross-cutting scope directly affects all residents, traders, and visitors of the municipal area, establishing a clearer framework of rights and duties in public space, with reinforced sanctioning tools to address conduct that degrades the quality of urban life.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Guadalajara, No. 157, August 18, 2026, Municipalities section (official reference: BOP-GU-2026-2193).