Municipalities today

The Municipality of Pernik will invest in purchasing devices for measuring noise levels, the administration announced during a meeting attended by village mayors, legal experts, and representatives of the Municipal Police.

The reason for the meeting was the need to amend an existing ordinance.

The regulatory framework was adopted by the Municipal Council back in 2000 and has not been updated since, the administration told BTA.

The discussion focused on the need to limit noise pollution. The trigger was a citizens’ petition submitted to the Municipal Council, the municipality, and the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Pernik, demanding regulation of noise levels within the city.

The proposal suggests keeping the already established quiet hours (2:00 PM–4:00 PM and 11:00 PM–6:00 AM in the summer) but adding new time ranges: 4:00 PM–8:00 PM and 6:00 AM–2:00 PM. During these hours, harmful and unwanted noise produced by mechanical, electronic, and audio devices, construction activities and machinery, as well as air conditioners, would be subject to control. For this purpose, noise threshold values set out in another ordinance from 2006 would be applied.

Another component of the discussion, still in draft form and to be reviewed further, is the regulation of fireworks use within the territory of the Municipality of Pernik.

An analysis of citizens’ proposals will follow to determine which can be regulated locally and which fall under national legislation. Measures will then be taken to adjust local rules accordingly for those not covered by national law.