Low Emission Zones (LEZ) will have to meet new requirements starting next November 26. The Official State Gazette (BOE) published on November 6 the Royal Decree 953/2026, which modifies the state regulations governing these areas and strengthens the conditions that municipalities must meet to demonstrate their implementation.
The reform introduces a fundamental requirement: it will no longer be enough to define an urban area and approve a municipal ordinance. City councils will have to provide documentary proof that the restrictions are in force, that there are effective mechanisms in place to control access, and that a penalty regime is applied in the event of noncompliance.
The measure affects the local entities required to establish these zones: municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, insular territories, and municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants that exceed the air quality limit values.
Five requirements to certify that an LEZ works
The new royal decree modifies Article 10.3 of Royal Decree 1052/2022 and establishes five elements that city councils must submit to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and to the competent regional body responsible for the environment.
Specifically, they will have to provide:
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The current municipal ordinance: the regulations that establish the operating regime of the low emission zone. It must be submitted within one month of its entry into force.
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Traffic restrictions: documentation proving that prohibitions or access, circulation, and parking limitations are effectively in force and are applied according to the potential pollutant emissions of the vehicles.
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Control systems: accreditation that the access control, monitoring, and tracking mechanisms are working.
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Connection with the DGT: integration with the National Traffic and Mobility Access Point of the Directorate General for Traffic.
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The penalty regime: documentation proving that penalties are applied effectively. The rule expressly excludes temporary warning systems that may have been contemplated previously.
This last point is one of the most relevant changes. City councils will not be able to justify the operation of their LEZs through temporary periods in which drivers are only informed of their noncompliance, without applying the corresponding penalty regime.
In addition, the regulations establish that, while all the required documentation has not been received, the area may not be considered properly implemented.
Does this mean there will be new bans for cars B and C?
No. The reform does not establish a general ban on circulation for vehicles with label B or C starting on 26 November.
Access, circulation, and parking restrictions continue to depend on each municipality’s regulations, on the definition of its low-emission zone, and on the conditions set out in its ordinance. Therefore, not all vehicles with the same environmental label necessarily have the same limitations in all cities.
The new Royal Decree also does not set a single calendar of restrictions for the entire national territory. Its goal is to strengthen the control and verification of the measures that each city council has approved.
How to check the restrictions in your municipality
To find out whether a vehicle can access a low-emission zone, it is necessary to consult the specific regulations of the corresponding locality.
Drivers can check it through three channels:
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The town hall website: consult the mobility, environment, or low-emission zones section, where maps, timetables, and access conditions are usually published.
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The municipal ordinance: review which vehicles may circulate, what restrictions apply, and what exceptions the local regulations provide for.
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The information from the DGT: consult the vehicle’s environmental classification and the information services on mobility and traffic.
It is also advisable to check whether there are exceptions for residents, professional vehicles, people with reduced mobility, or other groups, since these conditions may vary between municipalities.
With the reform entering into force on 26 November, city councils will have to verify that their low-emission zones are not only approved on paper, but also have restrictions, controls, and penalties effectively in place.