A new list of fines has officially been issued by Beirut’s Municipal Guard, and if you’ve been blasting Saint Levant at 3AM, parking on the sidewalk like it’s your grandfather’s property, or driving the wrong way “just for a second”… it’s time to reconsider.
We’d like to start this post by saying that while keeping order in the city is important, targeting lower-income individuals for minor violations while the Ministry of Public Works records 1,068 unauthorized uses of the coastline, including 333 beach resorts covering a total of 1.5 million m², all of whom go unpunished, seems unfair. This shows that enforcement often hits those who can least afford it, while bigger violations by influential actors go unchecked.
Here are the highlights from the new violations, and how much they’ll set you back:
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Playing loud music without an official permit | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Failing to pick up after your pet | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Throwing trash outside designated bins or areas | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Parking in a way that blocks traffic or access to public places | 30,000,000 LBP |
| Writing, drawing, or anything in their equivalent on the walls of public places without a license | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Placing commercial stickers and advertisements on the walls of public places without a license | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Using a Tuk Tuk in public streets within the city of Beirut | 30,000,000 LBP |
| Placing obstacles on roads and public sidewalks without a license | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Digging through trash and dispersing it | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Selling goods on sidewalks without a license | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Cutting trees in an illegal way or without a license | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Engaging in behavior that violates public morals | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Displaying slogans or messages that incite racism | 20,000,000 LBP |
| Driving motorcycles 3aks el seir or on sidewalks | 30,000,000 LBP |
These steep fines might be an important step toward reducing the everyday chaos we deal with. Less noise, less sidewalk blocking, and fewer messes in public spaces is something everyone wants.
At the same time, the state has a role too. People can only follow the rules if public infrastructure supports them. That means cleaner streets, better roads, more trash cans, and proper spaces for parking and pedestrian movement.