Can I make noise during quiet hours?
Not during quiet hours: excessive noise is banned. Under Police Decree 3/1996, quiet hours are: summer (1 Apr–30 Sep) 15:00–17:30 and 23:00–07:00; winter (1 Oct–31 Mar) 15:30–17:30 and 22:00–07:30. During these hours, loud music/TV, shouting, instruments, noisy works, machinery and continuous dog barking are banned. Important: the old petty-offence form (Article 417 PC) was abolished by the new Penal Code (2019); serious noise pollution is now a misdemeanour. In short: respect the quiet hours, especially at midday and at night.
📋 The rules
- Summer: 15:00–17:30 and 23:00–07:00
- Winter: 15:30–17:30 and 22:00–07:30
- Banned: loud music, works, shouting, barking
- Article 417 PC abolished (2019); serious noise = misdemeanour
- Pets: €500 per animal for a quiet-hours breach
🔓 Exceptions
- Urgent works/repairs: tolerated, with care
- Events with authority permits: a special regime
- Ordinary noise outside quiet hours: allowed
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Serious noise disturbance is now a misdemeanour: imprisonment up to 5 months or a monetary penalty up to 150 daily units, after the old petty-offence form of Article 417 PC was abolished. For pets specifically, breaching the quiet-hours rules brings an administrative fine of €500 per animal (Law 4830/2021). There's no fixed "noise fine" set by Decree 3/1996 itself. To avoid trouble: respect the quiet hours, turn down music, postpone noisy works to the allowed hours and, if you have an event, warn your neighbours. If neighbours disturb you, you can call the police.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
What are the quiet hours in Greece?
In summer (1 April–30 September), quiet hours are 15:00–17:30 and 23:00–07:00. In winter (1 October–31 March), they are 15:30–17:30 and 22:00–07:30. During these hours, any excessive noise that disturbs neighbours is banned.
What noise is banned?
During quiet hours, loud music and TV, shouting, instruments, noisy works, machinery and continuous dog barking are banned. It covers any sound that disturbs residents' peace during the protected hours.
Is there a fixed noise fine?
Not a fixed one from Decree 3/1996 itself. The old petty-offence form of Article 417 PC was abolished in 2019. Serious noise pollution is now a misdemeanour, with imprisonment up to 5 months or a monetary penalty up to 150 daily units, depending on the case.
What about dog barking?
Continuous barking that disturbs the quiet is banned. For pets specifically, breaching the quiet-hours rules brings an administrative fine of €500 per animal, under Law 4830/2021. The owner must control the noise their animal makes.
What do I do if neighbours are noisy?
You can call the police to report the disturbance of quiet, especially during the protected hours. It helps to note the time and, if possible, have other neighbours confirm it. Serious noise pollution can bring criminal sanctions.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “quiet hours greece”
- “police decree 3/1996”
- “neighbour noise fine”
- “dog barking quiet hours”
- “noise pollution misdemeanour”
- “article 417 pc abolished”