ZBE Palma Environmental Zone: Everything about the low-emission zone, ORA and parking zones in Mallorca
Since 1 January 2025, the ZBE Palma Low Emission Zone (Zona de Bajas Emisiones) – and it affects not only tourists with hire cars, but also second-home owners, new residents, and anyone who has brought their German or Austrian vehicle to the island. This guide explains exactly which area is affected, which emissions-class stickers are permitted to enter and when, what the three-stage tightening up to 2030 looks like, what rules apply when parking in the blue and green zones, what is changing for Sóller from 2026 – and how to avoid common mistakes and fines.
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- Registering a car in Spain – the complete guide
What is the ZBE Palma – and why does it exist?
The legal basis for the ZBE is the Spanish Climate Change and Energy Transition Act (Ley 7/2021 de Cambio Climático y Transición Energética). It requires all cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants to establish a low emission zone. Palma met this obligation on 1 January 2025 – after years of preparation and a definitive approval in November 2024.
The basic principle: within the defined area, only vehicles meeting a certain emissions standard are permitted to drive. Compliance is not enforced through physical barriers, but through 16 number-plate recognition cameras at the entry points. Number plates are automatically cross-referenced with the DGT database (the Spanish vehicle registration authority).
Please note: In addition to the ZBE, Palma also has older ACIRE zones (Áreas de Circulación Restringida) – traffic-calmed areas reserved exclusively for residents. A ZBE sticker does not entitle you to enter ACIRE areas. Always pay attention to signs with a red border bearing the label "ACIRE".
The exact area: which streets form the ZBE boundary?
The ZBE covers the entire area within the Avenidas (the inner-city ring road system) and the Paseo Marítimo (harbour promenade). The outer boundary runs – starting at the mouth of the Riera stream – along the following axes:
| Section | Street / Square |
|---|---|
| Harbour–Riera | Avinguda Gabriel Roca (Paseo Marítimo) |
| Riera–North | Passeig Mallorca → Avinguda Portugal |
| Northern Ring Road | Avinguda d'Alemanya → Avinguda Comte de Sallent → Avinguda Gran i General Consell |
| Plaça d'Espanya | Junction; continues along Avinguda Alexandre Rosselló |
| Eastern Ring Road | Avinguda Gabriel Alomar → Avinguda Adolfo Suárez |
| Return leg | Avinguda Gabriel Roca (back to the Riera mouth) |
Please note: Many car parks within or directly on this boundary – including the large Parc de la Mar beneath the Cathedral – are technically outside the entry restriction or may still be accessed. Entry into public car parks is explicitly provided for as an exemption.
The three phases of the ZBE Palma up to 2030
Palma is implementing the low-emission zone in stages. Each phase tightens the requirements:
| Phase | From date | Permitted sticker categories | Excluded from that point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 1. Januar 2025 | B, C, ECO, 0 Emisiones + bicycles, e-scooters | No sticker, sticker A |
| Phase 2 | 1. Januar 2027 | C, ECO, 0 Emisiones + bicycles, e-scooters | Badge B additionally |
| Phase 3 | 1 January 2030 | ECO, 0 Emisiones + bicycles, e-scooters | Badge C additionally |
This means: From 2030 onwards, only plug-in hybrids (range > 40 km), electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles will be permitted to enter the city centre of Palma – all conventional combustion-engine vehicles, including newer Euro-6 diesels, will be excluded from that point.
Which badge does my vehicle have?
The DGT assigns the environmental badge (Distintivo Ambiental) automatically upon vehicle registration in Spain. There is no separate application process. For vehicles registered in Spain, the category can be checked directly on the DGT website. Physically affixing the badge sticker to the vehicle is not mandatory – the camera reads the number plate, not the sticker.
| Badge | Colour | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 0 Emisiones | Blue | Fully electric, fuel cell, plug-in hybrid (> 40 km on electric power alone) |
| ECO | Green-blue | Mild hybrids, CNG/LPG, certain plug-in hybrids |
| C | Green | Petrol vehicles first registered from 01/2006 (Euro IV+), diesel from 09/2015 (Euro VI) |
| B | Yellow | Petrol vehicles from 01/2001 (Euro III), diesel from 01/2006 (Euro IV–V) |
| A | Red Label | Petrol vehicles before 2001, diesel before 2006 – no ZBE access |
| No badge | – | Very old vehicles – no ZBE access |
Foreign number plates: the U-turn of März 2026
This is the sticking point for many German-speaking residents on Mallorca. Initially, the control cameras were unable to link foreign number plates (D, A, CH) to an emissions category, as the DGT database only contains vehicles registered in Spain.
In März 2026 the city council of Palma reversed course after months of criticism: vehicles with foreign number plates are now permitted to enter the low-emission zone – under certain conditions. According to Mallorca Magazin (24.03.2026), this applies to holidaymakers and second-home owners, provided that certain requirements are met.
Please note: The precise rules for foreign number plates (which documents are required, applicable deadlines, which portal to use) were still being finalised at the time of research. If you use a non-Spanish vehicle on Mallorca permanently or seasonally, it is advisable to check the current version with the city council of Palma or via mobipalma.mobi – or ask us directly.
Anyone who uses their vehicle permanently on Mallorca and is a resident should re-register it in Spain – this resolves the badge-assignment issue once and for all. More on this in our guide Registering a Car in Spain.
Fines and Enforcement
Enforcement is fully automated via 16 camera systems at the entry points to the ZBE. Number plates are read in real time and checked against the vehicle database.
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Entry without authorisation (base amount) | up to 200 € |
| Repeat offence within 12 months | Base amount + 30 % surcharge |
After an initial transitional phase at the start of 2025, fines are now being issued as standard. Anyone whose vehicle is registered in Spain but holds the wrong badge category therefore risks receiving a notice by post with every single entry.
Further fines on Mallorca – for example for parking violations, using a mobile phone while driving, or speeding – are set out in detail in our guide Fines in Spain.
ORA and Blue Parking Zone in Palma
Beyond the actual ZBE entry restrictions, a large part of Palma operates under the ORA system (Ordenanza Reguladora de Aparcamiento) – the paid parking zone. The zones are identifiable by the colour of the road markings:
| Zone colour | Meaning | Typical charging hours |
|---|---|---|
| Blue (Zona Azul) | Paid parking, time limit (often 1–2 h) | Mon–Fri 9–14:00 and 16–20:00; Sat mornings depending on the municipality |
| Green (Zona Verde) | Priority for residents with a permit | Short-stay parking for non-residents often very restricted or prohibited |
| White | Generally free, no time limit | Always check – signage takes precedence |
Payment is made at parking machines (parquímetros) by coin or card. Many municipalities also support apps such as Telpark or EasyPark, which allow you to extend or end your parking session early – without having to return to the machine.
Please note: Outside charging hours – generally after 20:00, on Sundays and public holidays, and on Saturday afternoons – parking in the blue zone is often free of charge. Always double-check the signage, as exceptions vary from street to street.
Free parking in Palma: where it's still possible
If you have the time and don't mind a few minutes' walk, free parking spaces can be found:
- Son Armadams (area near Bellver Castle): larger free parking areas, walkable distance to the city centre
- Son Moix Stadium area: often free outside peak times
- Ciudad Jardín: a longer walk along the seafront promenade, but free of charge
The large underground car parks (e.g. Parc de la Mar, Paseo Marítimo area) are pay car parks, but reliable and situated — as described above — in such a way that access is possible independently of the ZBE sticker requirement.
Sóller: New ZBE from February 2026
It is not only Palma that is tightening entry rules. The town of Sóller introduced its own low-emission zone in the historic town centre on 27 February 2026 (from 11 pm).
| Sóller regulations | Details |
|---|---|
| Zone covered | Historic centre of Sóller |
| Permitted | Residents, electric vehicles, bicycles, e-scooters, taxis, emergency vehicles, certain delivery vehicles, hotel guests, permit holders with special authorisation |
| Not permitted | Day visitors without an exemption permit travelling by private car |
| Fine for violations | up to 200 € |
Anyone wishing to visit Sóller by hire car is best advised to use the car parks on the outskirts and switch to the bus, the historic tram, or a bicycle. Enforcement of the new zone is, according to observers, still being refined — however, the basic rule is already in effect.
Hire cars and the ZBE: what applies?
Hire cars in Spain are generally registered in Spain and therefore automatically receive a DGT sticker. Modern hire car fleets predominantly consist of vehicles in category C or higher, which are permitted to enter without any issues during Phase 1 (until 2027).
That said: Before hiring, quickly check which emissions-sticker category the vehicle falls into – especially if you're choosing an older diesel or a vehicle from a cheaper category. Responsibility for a ZBE violation lies with the driver, not the hire company.
Most common mistakes
- Confusing an ACIRE zone with ZBE – ACIRE areas are even stricter and apply regardless of the sticker. ACIRE cameras operate separately from ZBE cameras.
- Foreign number plate = automatically exempt – This has only been partially true since the policy reversal in March 2026. Check the exact conditions carefully.
- Ignoring the parking meter – Parking in the blue zone outside charging hours is free, but parking within charging hours without a ticket will quickly result in a fine.
- Not knowing your sticker category – Particularly relevant for vehicles imported from Germany: anyone registering their car in Spain should find out their DGT classification in advance.
- Using a green zone without a resident's permit – Green zones are primarily reserved for residents. Short-term parking for non-residents is often not possible or very strictly limited in time.
- Ignoring fines – Spanish penalty notices are sent to the registered address for residents; for non-residents, the authorities can trace you via the European number-plate register.
What comes next? ZBE phases and vehicle planning
Anyone living on Mallorca permanently or using a second vehicle here should keep an eye on the 2027 and 2030 phases. From 2027, sticker B will be excluded – this affects all petrol vehicles first registered before 2006 and diesels with Euro IV/V. From 2030, sticker C will no longer be permitted to enter.
This has practical implications:
- Anyone driving a well-maintained Euro 6 diesel today (sticker C) will need to switch to ECO or 0-Emisiones by 2030 at the latest in order to continue driving in the city centre.
- When buying or importing a luxury or sports car, it is worth factoring in the future sticker category at the point of purchase. More on this in the guide Luxusauto importieren Mallorca.
- The ITV (Spanish MOT) is unaffected by this – it checks the vehicle's technical condition, not ZBE eligibility. Everything about the ITV: ITV Mallorca.
Checklist: ZBE Palma and Parking in Mallorca
- Checked my vehicle's DGT emissions label class (Sede DGT website)
- For foreign number plates: checked the current City of Palma regulations for 2026
- Will the vehicle still be ZBE-eligible from 2027 onwards? (Label C is valid until 2030, B only until 2027)
- ACIRE zones marked on the map – not to be confused with the ZBE
- Parking zone colour (blue/green/white) and charging hours noted for destination
- Pay-and-display machine or app (Telpark/EasyPark) ready for the destination
- For Sóller: peripheral parking or public transport option planned
- Fine delivery address up to date (Empadronamiento current)?
Conclusion
The ZBE Palma low-emission zone is not a bureaucratic footnote – it is a permanent structural change that will tighten in three stages through to 2030. Those currently driving with label B or C still have a little time, but planning for a vehicle change should begin now. Foreign number plates find themselves in a grey area following the U-turn of March 2026, which is yet to be fully resolved. And the new rules in Sóller show that Palma is not alone – municipalities across the island are following suit.
The good news: those who know the rules can drive without stress. If you have questions about your specific vehicle, re-registration, or the tax implications of purchasing a vehicle in Mallorca – we are happy to help.
Official Sources
- Ajuntament de Palma – Mobilitat (mobipalma.mobi): Official ZBE information page of the City of Palma — https://mobipalma.mobi/informacion-zona-bajas-emisiones-zbe
- DGT – Distintivo Ambiental (emissions label lookup): Check your vehicle's category online — https://sede.dgt.gob.es/en/vehiculos/informacion-de-vehiculos/distintivo-ambiental/
- Ley 7/2021 de Cambio Climático y Transición Energética: Legal basis for the ZBE requirement — https://www.boe.es/eli/es/l/2021/05/20/7
- Ajuntament de Sóller: Official information on the ZBE Sóller (via the municipal website)