Cyprus to introduce a single €85 fine — for loud dogs, horse-drawn carts and even drying carpets over the road

Cyprus is preparing to update old public order laws: now 22 types of minor violations will carry a fixed €85 fine. The bill, developed by the Ministry of Justice at the proposal of the Union of Municipalities, has already been submitted to parliament. The cabinet approved the initiative on 29 October 2025.

The fine will apply to a wide range of violations — from unregistered dogs to nuisance carts and objects placed on the road.

Under the “Dog Law” (€85):

• keeping a dog without registration and microchip;

• fraud during registration of the animal;

• walking in a prohibited area;

• loud and prolonged barking disturbing neighbours.

Urban and public violations (€85):

• trading without a licence;

• operating entertainment venues without a permit;

• animals roaming freely in the street;

• pouring water onto the road;

• riding a horse or carriage at dangerous speed;

• obstructing the road with a vehicle, cart, animal or furniture;

• hanging laundry, advertisements or ropes over the roadway;

• shaking carpets or throwing rubbish off balconies;

• storing objects on pavements, roofs or in public areas;

• leaving open pits or manholes in urban areas.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the document aims to simplify the system of administrative fines and align outdated rules that had been in place for decades. These are minor but widespread offences that often went unpunished due to the lack of uniform rules.

Now any such case — whether it is a loud dog, a carriage on the road, or laundry drying over the pavement — will cost the offender exactly €85.