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Days are getting longer and the weather is warming. As Czechia enters outdoor concert and festival season, the City of Prague is revisiting a proposal to regulate noise from outdoor events after 10 p.m., with the possibility of granting exceptions for certain areas.
The municipality says it wants to better regulate noise levels while granting venues the chance to extend some events by one hour. The draft decree has sparked debate among city officials and residents, who are concerned about potential noise disturbances.
City councilor Adam Zábranský is leading the renewed effort to establish clearer rules for outdoor musical performances. He noted that the proposal would apply across Prague and include specific provisions for exceptions where noise is less of a concern.
"The decree would directly mention music; operators would no longer be able to argue that music does not constitute noise," Zábranský said, referring to a legal loophole that has allowed some venues to bypass noise restrictions since 2015.
Under the new draft, event organizers expecting more than 300 attendees would be required to notify authorities in advance. The decree would also introduce specific exceptions that allow music to continue beyond the standard 10 p.m. noise curfew, potentially extending performances to 11 p.m. in designated areas. Conversely, it also provides for the possibility of shortening musical events in areas with heightened noise concerns.
Do you think open-air music events in Prague should run past 10 p.m.?
The issue of concert noise regulation first gained traction around four years ago, when the Covid-19 pandemic forced concerts to move from the Lucerna Music Bar to the open-air Ledárny Braník venue in Prague 4 due to protective measures. Local residents lodged complaints about recurring loud music, prompting then-councilor for legislation Hana Kordová Marvanová to draft a decree focused solely on the area. However, it did not pass.
Kordová Marvanová, who previously handled noise complaints as a councilor for legislation, has voiced strong criticism. “The proposed bill does not contain any provisions to address excessive, noisy, or recurring events,” she said during a recent city council meeting.
The ongoing debate underscores a broader conflict between supporting cultural events and addressing concerns from residents who seek a quieter living environment. A relatively recent example of a venue embroiled in noise issues was that of the now-closed Kasárna Karlín: although the facility was closed due to building code violations, many local residents complained of late-night noise.
The council will review feedback from the comment process in its next meeting, where potential amendments may be introduced.
