On the night of March 14, 2025, the LEZ of San Sebastián (Low Emission Zone) moved from education to enforcement. After months of public information campaigns and system trials, the city officially began issuing fines to vehicles violating the new restrictions in its historic center. This shift marks a significant step in the city’s urban mobility strategy, intended to reduce air pollution, change transportation habits, and align with broader European sustainability goals.
Covering 1.2 square kilometers—including the Boulevard, Old Town, and the Romantic Area—the low emission zone has sparked both hope and controversy. It’s a space where traffic control, environmental science, tourism, and social justice collide. And, just two months into its full enforcement, the LEZ of San Sebastián is already shaping policy discussions at local, national, and even European levels.
From Paper to Practice: How San Sebastián Implemented Its LEZ
The origins of the LEZ of San Sebastián go back to Spain’s national Law 7/2021, which made LEZs mandatory in all cities with more than 50,000 residents. The law was tied to the reception of European recovery funds, pushing municipalities to act swiftly.
San Sebastián did not hesitate. By December 2024, it launched an online registry for vehicles lacking an official Spanish environmental label. In January 2025, surveillance cameras were installed at access points. February saw an aggressive public awareness campaign. And by March, the city flipped the enforcement switch.
Unlike other cities such as Oviedo, Avilés or Gijón—which postponed or canceled their LEZ plans fearing public backlash—San Sebastián opted for speed and gradual refinement. This accelerated rollout follows the roadmap outlined in the city’s 2024–2029 Urban Sustainable Mobility Plan (PMUS), which already anticipates more restrictive measures by 2028 and 2030.
According to the plan, vehicles with category B stickers will be banned in 2028, and partial restrictions will apply to category C vehicles by 2030. The LEZ is not just a traffic policy; it is the cornerstone of the city’s future mobility model.
LEZ of San Sebastián by the Numbers: 50,000 Registrations and Hundreds of Fines
Initial data highlights the scope of the LEZ of San Sebastián. Since December, nearly 50,000 access requests have been submitted. Of these, 46,106 came from foreign vehicles—85% of them French, underscoring the strong commercial and tourist ties between northern Basque Country and San Sebastián.
Enforcement has been steady and significant. On weekdays, the local police issue an average of 23 fines per day, while on weekends the number spikes to around 72. Each fine amounts to €200 and may take up to six months to be delivered. Repeat offenders who reside in the city face a 30% surcharge.
Interestingly, many violations result not from intentional disregard but from small registration errors. A typo on the city’s website (donostia.eus/lez) is enough to leave a vehicle off the approved list, resulting in an automatic fine. On March 14—the first day of full enforcement—the city’s 010 helpline and in-person support offices were overwhelmed, processing over 8,300 inquiries before the dedicated office on Arroka Street closed its doors.
Is the Air Cleaner? First Environmental Indicators from the LEZ of San Sebastián
At the heart of the LEZ of San Sebastián lies a simple promise: cleaner air. And early indicators suggest that the promise may be holding.
In April, the Loyola monitoring station recorded a 9% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels compared to the same month in the previous year. Meanwhile, the Easo station reported fine particulate matter (PM2.5) below 15 µg/m³—a concentration classified as “Good” by the Basque air quality network.
However, the city acknowledges that two months of data are not enough to confirm a long-term impact. Variables such as weather and seasonal traffic changes must be accounted for. To that end, San Sebastián plans to release a 12-month report in December, which will provide a more complete picture of the LEZ’s effectiveness.
Public perception is already shifting. Residents in the city center have reported a noticeable reduction in diesel odors on Hernani Street. But logistics drivers argue that traffic and emissions have simply shifted to neighborhoods like Amara and Riberas. The success of the policy, then, may depend as much on lived experience as on air quality metrics.
Equity and Access: The Social Debate Around the LEZ of San Sebastián
The LEZ is not just about emissions—it’s about ethics. And in San Sebastián, the policy has triggered a broader debate about social equity and urban inclusion.
On one side are residents and environmental groups who view the LEZ as a necessary public health measure. Some even advocate expanding pedestrian zones throughout the Boulevard.
On the other side are small business owners, construction workers, and working-class families, many of whom own older diesel vehicles and cannot afford replacements. For them, the policy feels like a financial penalty disguised as environmental reform. They argue that access to the city is becoming a privilege reserved for those who can afford cleaner cars.
This tension has been heightened by developments in France, where the National Assembly recently voted—by 26 to 11—to abolish low emission zones (ZFE) nationwide, citing their disproportionate impact on low-income households. Although the measure still requires full legislative approval, it has already fueled skepticism in San Sebastián: If Paris is pulling back, why should San Sebastián push forward?
Legal Uncertainty and the Madrid Precedent
The legal dimension of the LEZ of San Sebastián is also evolving. The Royal Automobile Club of Spain (RACE) is offering legal support to sanctioned drivers and points to a precedent set in Madrid, where the Superior Court annulled the capital’s LEZ in 2024 due to the lack of an adequate economic impact study.
San Sebastián’s city council insists that its LEZ is legally sound. It cites its own economic assessment and the legal framework provided by Royal Decree 1052/2022, which outlines national technical requirements for LEZs. But legal proceedings are slow, and final rulings could take years.
Meanwhile, a new European directive (EU 2024/3237), adopted in December, facilitates cross-border cooperation for fine collection, meaning foreign drivers can no longer rely on jurisdictional loopholes to avoid penalties. In practice, fines issued in San Sebastián will now follow French drivers home with increasing ease.
A European Case Study in the Making
Whether San Sebastián intended it or not, its LEZ is becoming a case study for other cities in Spain and across Europe. Bilbao, Valencia, and Burgos are closely monitoring the city’s experience as they prepare their own LEZ policies.
At the same time, the European Commission is evaluating whether local initiatives like this meet the requirements for funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The equation is simple: if the LEZ of San Sebastián can prove environmental and economic success, it will strengthen the case for expanding LEZs across the continent. If not, it could become a cautionary tale.
Next Steps: What Happens in 2028 and Beyond
Despite ongoing controversy, San Sebastián is committed to its roadmap. The next major milestone comes in 2028, when vehicles with a category B label (gasoline before 2001, diesel before 2006) will be banned from the LEZ—except for residents with specific exemptions.
By 2030, vehicles with category C labels could face access restrictions during peak hours, unless they are part of car-sharing programs or park in public garages. These limitations will be accompanied by sustainable investments, including the acquisition of 13 new electric buses and the expansion of the city’s bike lane network toward Amara, Morlans, and Egia.
Practical Tips for Visitors to the LEZ of San Sebastián
To avoid confusion or penalties, visitors should keep the following in mind:
– If your vehicle is registered abroad, register it online before entering the LEZ.
– Check for eligibility under exceptions such as private garage use, essential services, or transporting people with reduced mobility.
– If visiting for leisure, consider leaving your car at the Illunbe or Miramón parking facilities and taking a bus to the city center. It’s more affordable than a €200 fine—and contributes to cleaner air.
Conclusion: A New Urban Model in Progress
The LEZ of San Sebastián is no longer just a proposal or a headline—it’s a functioning policy that fines, regulates, and gradually reshapes daily habits. Its future will depend on its ability to balance public health objectives with social and economic fairness.
Early data on air quality are promising, but community trust and equitable access remain critical. The success or failure of this policy will resonate beyond city limits, influencing how other European cities navigate the complex transition to sustainable urban mobility.
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