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Date Published: 06/05/2026

Balcony laundry ban returns as new rules come into force in Puerto Lumbreras

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Updated ordinance introduces fines, noise controls and stricter rules on public behaviour

Balcony laundry ban returns as new rules come into force in Puerto Lumbreras Residents in Puerto Lumbreras are being warned that a new set of local rules will soon come into force, bringing tighter controls on everyday habits including hanging laundry outside.

From Thursday May 8, a new municipal ordinance on Citizen Security and Coexistence will replace the previous 2012 regulation, with the Ayuntamiento saying the updated rules are “adapted to social needs and the improvement of legal certainty for all residents.”

Among the most eye-catching changes is a ban on hanging washing from balconies and windows, something that may feel familiar to many readers. Similar restrictions in nearby Lorca have already sparked debate over how far councils can go in regulating everyday domestic life.

The new rules in Puerto Lumbreras go further, covering a wide range of behaviour in both public and private spaces that affect neighbours. These include:

A ban on noise that disturbs others, including televisions, music or other sound devices at inappropriate times
Prohibition of scarecrow cannons unless specifically authorised
Restrictions on neglecting vacant plots, gardens or shared spaces
Rules aimed at preventing damage to street furniture, green areas and children’s play zones

Mayor María Ángeles Túnez said the aim is to protect shared spaces and ensure respectful coexistence. “Public space must be a place for meeting, coexistence and civic responsibility, where all people can carry out their activities freely, with full respect for the dignity and rights of others,” she said.

The ordinance also introduces the concept of Special Protection Zones. These could include areas near schools, playgrounds, health centres or residences for older people, where stricter penalties may apply.

There is also a stronger focus on behaviour at events and in leisure settings. Organisers will be expected to ensure there is no uncivil behaviour and that spaces are left in their original condition afterwards. Alcohol consumption by minors is explicitly prohibited, and responsibility for underage offences will fall to parents or legal guardians.

One notable addition is the introduction of “restorative justice”, which could allow some offenders to take part in community or educational activities instead of immediately facing a fine.

For those who do fall foul of the rules, penalties can be significant. Minor offences carry fines of up to €750, serious breaches range from €750 to €1,500, and very serious offences can reach up to €3,000.

With the new ordinance about to take effect, residents are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with the changes, particularly those affecting day-to-day routines at home.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Puerto Lumbreras

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Address

Avenida Juan Carlos I. Salida Autovia hacia Parador, 109 30890 PUERTO LUMBRERAS

Tel: 968 436 153
Mobile: 652902268

Oficina de Turismo de Puerto Lumbreras

The municipality of Puerto Lumbreras lies in the south-west of the Region of Murcia on the border with Andalucía, and features a landscape which alternates between mountains such as the Cabezo de la Jara (1,242 metres) and the fertile lowlands of the Guadalentín valley, where leaf vegetables and flowers are among the crops grown.

The location of the town on the main route between Murcia and the Andalucían cities of Granada and Seville Puerto Lumbreras Tourist Office has made it a logical stopping point for travellers for many centuries. Visitors are attracted by the castle, the restored cave homes below it which have been converted into exhibition rooms and the astronomical observatory in the Cabezo de la Jara.

The Tourist Information Office of Puerto Lumbreras is unusual in that it is located not in the town centre, close to the castle and the cave houses, but on the edge of the built-up area. This may seem strange, but it is also logical, as its location is on the roundabout of the exit from the motorway as it rings the town to the north, and the office is thus easy to find for visitors to Puerto Lumbreras.

Make sure you're in the right hand slip lane as the entrance to the tourist office is immediately to the right hand side.

The tourist office contains a full selection of maps and leaflets about the municipality and its points of interest.

Standard opening hours:

Monday to Friday 08:00 to 14:00 and Friday evening from 16:00 to 18:00

Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00

Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 and 18:00 to 20:00 in the installations of the Medina Nogalte Complex

Friday evenings from 18:00 to 20:00 in the installations of the Medina Nogalte Complex

Address:

Avenida Juan Carlos I, 30890 Puerto Lumbreras

Come off the motorway at junction 649

Click for information about places of interest and what to visit in Puerto Lumbreras