Government

Why Lisbon Is Changing Its Nightlife Regulations

Night owls will get to stay out until the sun comes up along the waterfront, while residents in dense, old neighborhoods will get to sleep more easily.
Tram in Lisbon's Bairro Alto, where noise complaints have prompted new rules for bars and clubs.IK's World Trip/Flickr

How do you let your citizens enjoy nightlife while ensuring that other, early-rising residents can get some sleep? This week, Lisbon formalized its own answer to this question, one that many cities are grappling with.

On Wednesday, the city’s government unanimously approved a new set of regulations controlling nighttime activities in the Portuguese capital. The resulting rules contain a fair amount of both carrot and stick.