On 3 November the Council of Ministers amended the decree on low-emission zones: moratoriums come to an end and town halls will have to prove that the restrictions work. What changes and who is affected.
On Tuesday 3 November 2026 the Council of Ministers approved an amendment to Royal Decree 1052/2022 of 27 December, which regulates low-emission zones. The government wants these zones to work in practice and not remain a line drawn on the city map.
The reform responds to problems detected in the first few years: very long moratoriums before penalties began, zones with no access restrictions based on how much each vehicle pollutes, and areas so small that they coincide with streets where traffic was already limited.
What changes
Local authorities required to have a low-emission zone will have to prove in writing that they meet the requirements. They will have to report the entry into force of bans or restrictions on access, traffic and parking according to vehicles’ polluting potential, and the effective use of access control, monitoring and follow-up systems.
Municipal bylaws will have to provide for and apply the penalty regime in state traffic rules, with no transitional systems that delay its effect. That proof will also be used to check how effective each zone is and may serve as a reference for funds intended for the digital and sustainable transformation of urban transport.
In other words, funding may end up being tied to whether the zone works. The government also argues that the reform gives town halls greater legal certainty in exercising their powers over traffic and mobility.
Who is affected
The obligation to set up a low-emission zone is not new: it comes from Law 7/2021 on climate change and energy transition. It covers municipalities of more than 50,000 inhabitants, island territories and those of more than 20,000 inhabitants that exceed air quality limit values.
The amendment does not in itself create a general fine for all drivers: it is addressed to town halls, and the specific conditions will continue to depend on each municipality’s bylaw. What changes is that it will be harder to keep a zone on paper, with no controls or penalties.
What is worth reviewing
For companies with fleets, deliveries or client visits in several cities, the practical step is to check each vehicle’s environmental label and read the bylaw of each municipality where they work. Not all cities apply the same rules, the same hours or the same exceptions.
It is also worth reviewing transport and distribution contracts: who bears the penalties, which vehicles may provide the service and what happens if a route stops being viable. And businesses located inside a zone should know which access permits their suppliers and customers need.
Individuals who use a car daily in a large city should expect moratoriums to end and check the rules of their municipality.
The rule already existed; what changes is that it will now have to be followed.
This article is general information. It is not legal, tax or investment advice, and it does not take anyone’s particular circumstances into account.
