Prague’s Controversial New Noise Law: Will Late-Night Concerts Finally Make a Comeback?
The city of Prague is currently developing a new regulation to manage noise levels from outdoor concerts, which may permit musical events to extend later than the standard 10 PM limit.
As per details shared on the Prague City Council’s official website, this new regulation is intended to establish clear guidelines for outdoor music performances. It will specify circumstances under which these events can be allowed to continue beyond the 10 PM cutoff or, conversely, be restricted.
The draft of this regulation is presently being reviewed, and city districts have been encouraged to provide their input and feedback.
This topic first gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when concerts held at the former Braník ice cream factory raised discussions regarding noise management.
At that time, the council chose not to pass the decree, as it was focused solely on that one location. Now, Pirate Party councilor Adam Zábranský has updated the proposal, broadening its applicability.
New Guidelines for Music Events
“The proposed regulation outlines mandatory conditions for the organization, management, and conclusion of public cultural events,” the draft explains.
One of the significant requirements is that events hosting over 300 attendees must be officially reported. Additionally, the regulation creates exceptions that could allow performances to go past 10 PM in certain unique situations.
On the other hand, Councilor Hana Kordová Marvanová has voiced her concerns about the proposal, claiming it does not adequately tackle issues regarding loud and repetitive noise. “The decree does not provide any measures to manage excessively loud or recurring events,” she expressed during a city council meeting last Thursday.
Push for More Stringent Noise Control
Marvanová suggested that the city expand its noise regulation commission by including representatives from various city districts, but her suggestion was voted down. The city council plans to revisit this topic at their next meeting after they have considered the feedback from the comment period.
In defense of the proposed regulation, Councilor Zábranský emphasized that it would create a clear legal framework for managing noise related to musical events, a currently ambiguous area of law. Following a 2015 amendment to the Public Health Protection Act, which excluded music from the regulations, hygiene officials have been unable to address noise complaints connected to concerts. This new decree aims to close that loophole, ensuring that venue operators cannot claim that music does not qualify as noise.
