After numerous complaints from citizens about the noise from cafes and bars, at the end of 2022 the Municipality of Prishtina approved a regulation to determine their working hours and acceptable noise levels.

From March 2023, the municipality has opened a call for such businesses to apply to be equipped with tools for noise measurement, a process expected to last until the end of April – with the possibility of an extension.

The regulation includes businesses such as cafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs, while the schedule is determined based on whether they are in an urban, residential or rural area.

Working hours in cafes and restaurants, according to this regulation, must operate within a time frame of 7 am to midnight.

The working hours for these businesses will be determined with summer and winter periods. The summer period starts from April 1 to September 30, while the winter period runs from October 1 to March 31.

By special order, the Mayor may allow an extension of the schedule for two additional hours during the periods July 15-August 15 and December 20-January 10.

The working hours in nightclubs are to be regulated according to urban, residential and rural areas.

The summer period in urban areas runs from midnight to 3am, except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it is from midnight to 5am. In industrial and rural areas, it runs from midnight to 5am, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 8am.

The winter period in urban areas will be from 11pm to 2am, except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it is from midnight to 4am, meanwhile in rural and industrial areas it is from midnight to 5am.

For hotels, wedding halls and entertainment centres, the winter period is from 7pm to midnight and the summer period is from 6pm to midnight.

Nightclubs that have the right to work after midnight, according to this regulation, must pay a tax to the municipality of 10,950 euros per year.

The municipality has already purchased 1.000 devices for measuring noise decibels, for which the restaurants will apply and pay 180 euros to be supplied.

The noise measuring device is monitored by software whose data remains the property of the municipality.

This software will contain data such as: exceeded noise level, the date and time when the exceedance occurred, and the place and data of the subject.

Exceeding the noise level is to be considered a violation if it occurs within five minutes without interruption.

Likewise, if there is a violation three times within five hours, at intervals of more than two minutes, it is considered also a violation.

The fines for violation of the regulation on working hours and permitted level of decibels  range from 500 to 5,000 euros.

The representative of the Association of Kosovo Gastronoms, Arian Vranica, told Prishtina Insight that so far 200 businesses have applied for devices to measure the noise levels.

Currently, the deadline to be supplied with the tool has been postponed  till  the end of April, which will also be a time of awareness, before the imposition of fines.

According to Vranica, businesses, based on the space they occupy, may be equipped with more than one noise sensor.

“There are no objections from businesses about receiving these devices. We’ve had a public discussion with representatives of the municipality where we have been informed about the details and entire process,” Vranica stated.

At the end of 2022, the municipality of Prishtina held three public discussions with citizens, business owners and police to discuss this regulation.