Municipal ordinance (OZV)

A municipal ordinance (OZV, „obecně závazná vyhláška“) is a legal regulation of a Czech municipality. It is issued by the elected municipal council in the municipality's own competence and applies in its territory. The municipality may impose obligations in it only to the extent allowed by the Municipalities Act or another specific act. The Ministry of the Interior oversees the legality of ordinances.

What a municipality can regulate by ordinance

• local matters of public order, for example where and when disruptive activities are allowed
• conditions for publicly accessible sports and cultural events
• cleanliness of streets and public spaces and protection of public greenery
• local fees such as the municipal waste fee and the dog fee
• the local property tax coefficient
• exceptions from night-time quiet, for example for festivities
• a ban on setting off consumer fireworks in the whole municipality or in specified places and times
• school districts of catchment schools, until they are entered in the RÚIAN register

Where to find ordinances and when they apply

Since 2022 ordinances have been published in the official Collection of legal regulations of municipalities and regions, searchable by municipality. An ordinance becomes valid on publication in the Collection and normally takes effect on the fifteenth day after publication, unless a later date is set; earlier effect is possible only exceptionally.

What to watch out for

Ordinances are amended, repealed and replaced, so always look for the current version. The summary on a property website is for orientation only and does not replace the text of the ordinance. By law, night-time quiet runs from 10 pm to 6 am; a municipality may set exceptional cases by ordinance when it is shorter or need not be observed. Dog owners and buyers of a cottage or a flat to let will also find the fees that concern them in the ordinances.

Frequently asked questions

Do all municipalities have the same ordinances?

No. A municipality does not have to introduce local fees or most rules. That is why fees, quiet hours and fireworks rules differ between municipalities.

Is an ordinance the same as a municipal regulation („nařízení“)?

No. An ordinance is issued by the council in the municipality's own competence. A regulation is issued when the municipality performs delegated state administration, and only where an act empowers it to. General information on property tax is in a separate entry.