Beaches: fines from 2,000 to 60,000 euros – what applies to umbrellas and sunbeds

“Heavy” fines of up to 60 thousand euros will be faced by those who prevent the public's freedom of access to the sea, coast and beach.

By decision of the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis published in the Official Gazette, cases of obstruction of the public’s free access to the sea, coast and beach include:

• Any structures (such as buildings, walls, plantings and fences of all types, including windbreaks and reeds).

For these violations, a fine of 500 euros per cubic meter is imposed in proportion to the volume of construction. If removing these structures requires the use of mechanical equipment, the fine shall be quadrupled.

• Placing a moving item that cannot be easily moved (such as cars, motorcycles, other heavy wheeled vehicles, awnings) in a way that obstructs public access to the sea.

For these violations, a fine of 500 euros is imposed for each meter corresponding to the width of the lane that has been obstructed. If the use of mechanical equipment is necessary to remove obstacles, a fine of 500 euros per cubic meter is imposed proportional to the volume of objects obstructing passage.

• – Throwing rubble, building materials, and any type of waste at public outlets towards the sea.

For these violations, a fine of 500 euros is imposed per meter corresponding to the width of the blocked passage. If removing moving items requires the use of mechanical devices, the fine will be doubled.

• Events, individual or collective, professional or non-professional, permanent or temporary, that limit the public's direct access to the sea.

For these violations, a fine of 500 euros is imposed per meter corresponding to the width of the blocked passage.

• Any type of physical or verbal disability that prevents the public from passing towards the sea.

A fine of 2,000 euros will be imposed for these violations.

Beaches: Law compliance hours

In addition, failure of the violator to remove any obstacles within the deadlines is considered a new independent penalty.

Regarding the deadlines, for removing structures the deadline is 30 days, for removing rubbish, waste, etc. the deadline is 1 day, for any events the deadline is 3 hours, as for physical or verbal obstruction the deadline is 1 hour.

If the offender commits more than one violation, a single fine will be imposed on him, calculated according to the violation.

However, fines cannot be less than 2,000 euros and more than 60,000 euros.

Finally, it should be noted that the decisions of the Ministry of Finance also relate to preventing public access to banks, river areas, the water element, the bottom and subsoil of the seabed, lakes, and the bottom of navigable rivers.