The Málaga City Council extends the declaration of Acoustically Saturated Zone in the Historic Centre and the neighbourhood of El Romeral, in effect since 2020, after noting a 92.5% reduction in noise at night.
The Málaga City Council has decided to maintain the declaration of Acoustically Saturated Zone (ZAS) in the Historic Centre and in the neighbourhood of El Romeral, in Teatinos, as reported this Thursday through a statement. The measure, which came into effect in January 2020, is being extended after the initial five-year period, with the aim of continuing to monitor noise levels in these areas of the city.
The Sustainability Area, led by Councillor Miguel Ángel Díaz, has hired a specialised company to conduct an acoustic study to assess the current situation. Preliminary results, based on long-term measurements taken over a week, show a significant improvement: 92.5% of the night-time measurement stations recorded a decrease in noise, compared to 75% during the day and 52% in the afternoon.
The council highlights that the time and activity restrictions, applied in accordance with municipal regulations, have been key to this gradual reduction. However, it warns that levels still require maintaining current measures, although possible specific modifications will be studied to avoid harming local businesses.
New Hours for Terraces
The declaration of ZAS implies an earlier closing time for terraces compared to the current one, set at 02:00 hours. During autumn and winter, terraces must be cleared by 00:30 hours from Monday to Friday and by 01:00 hours on weekends. In spring and summer, the hours are slightly extended: until 01:00 hours on weekdays and until 01:30 hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
The City Council has planned exceptions for festive periods such as Holy Week, Christmas, Carnival, or the Málaga Fair, as well as for those dates that, for justified reasons, the Local Government Board agrees at the beginning of each year. These exceptions aim to balance neighbourhood rest with hospitality and tourism activities.
The ZAS in the Historic Centre covers streets such as Larios, Granada, Alcazabilla and their surroundings, while that of El Romeral focuses on the Teatinos area, where the concentration of bars and terraces has generated complaints from residents for years. The extension of the declaration represents support for resident associations, which have long been requesting stricter measures.
From the opposition, the municipal group Por Málaga has positively evaluated the continuation of the ZAS, although they have requested that controls be strengthened and the affected areas expanded. For its part, the hoteliers' association Mahos has expressed concern about the impact on businesses, especially in a city that relies on tourism.
The complete study, which will include detailed data by streets and hours, will be presented in the coming weeks at the Sustainability commission. The City Council has committed to reviewing the restrictions annually and to maintaining an open dialogue with residents and hoteliers to adjust measures if necessary.
The ZAS is an urban planning tool that allows for limiting hours, capacities, and activities in areas with high noise levels. In Málaga, its application has been pioneering in Andalusia and has served as a model for other cities such as Seville or Granada. With this extension, the council seeks to consolidate acoustic improvement without renouncing economic activity.
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