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Residents in Lorca may soon need to think twice before hanging out the washing, after the Ayuntamiento approved new rules that could see fines reach as high as €1,500.

 

The updated Municipal Ordinance on the Protection of Citizen Coexistence and Prevention of Antisocial Actions has now been given the green light, with support from PP and VOX and abstentions from IU and PSOE. The changes are expected to come into force within 30 days.

 

At the stricter end of the scale, fines ranging from €751 to €1,500 will apply to those who install clotheslines on the main façade of buildings, unless they are properly concealed or designed to blend in. The same level of penalty can also be issued where air conditioning units or chimneys are left in poor condition on exterior walls.

 

But it is not just major alterations that are being targeted. More everyday habits will also fall under the new rules. Hanging laundry over balcony railings or lower window ledges could lead to fines of between €151 and €750. The same applies to residents who store items on balconies that are considered unrelated to their intended use, as well as businesses that fail to remove signs, awnings or banners after closing.

 

Mayor Fulgencio Gil said the update reflects growing concern locally. “This regulatory update responds to a growing demand from residents, social groups and citizens’ associations,” he explained, adding that many have called for clearer rules to tackle situations that “damage the urban image and create a sense of neglect.”

 

The ordinance itself is not new. It was first introduced in 2010 as what the Ayuntamiento described as a pioneering step to address antisocial behaviour and protect public spaces. According to Gil, its purpose remains the same today. “The goal is to raise awareness, bring order, and improve coexistence,” he said, noting that the appearance of façades and balconies plays a role in how the town is perceived overall.

 

Plans to tighten the rules had already been floated last year, when the Ayuntamiento signalled its intention to crack down on the visible build-up of items such as furniture, gas bottles and clotheslines on balconies. The latest update now formalises those concerns into enforceable measures, with the aim of improving both the look of the town and day-to-day community life.

 

 

Image. AXP photography/Pexels