Madrid 360 low emissions zone 2025

Improving public health by reducing pollution- related illnesses and premature deaths.Minimizing economic losses from health- related absenteeism and reduced tourism.Encouraging sustainable transport, including public transit, walking, cycling and electric vehicles.Aligning with EU Green Deal goals and national mandates, such as Spain’s Law 7/2021, requiring LEZs in cities with over 50,000 inhabitants.6As part of this strategy, the LEZ restricts access for high-emission vehicles to improve air quality, addresses chronic pollution issues and aims to enable Madrid to meet EU air quality standards. The LEZ also supports broader economic, social and environmental objectives:5 Madrid’s first LEZ, Madrid Central, came into effect in late 2018 under the city’s Air Quality and Climate Change Plan, with the goal of reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in line with EU air quality standards. While early data suggested emissions reductions, exceedances of the hourly NO2 limit were still recorded in early 2019, notably at Plaza Elíptica. In July 2020, Madrid’s Superior Court of Justice (TSJM) annulled the measure on procedural grounds, citing deficiencies in its regulatory approval process.7Today, Madrid’s LEZ policy is embedded in the Madrid 360 Strategy for Environmental Sustainability and backed by a more robust legal framework through the Sustainable Mobility Ordinance (Ordenanza 10/2021), which mandates the creation and expansion of low-emission zones across the city. Since January 2025, the LEZ strategy encompasses the entire municipality of Madrid, prohibiting the most polluting vehicles (Label A) from circulating within the municipality. Moreover, special protected LEZs, in areas that have experienced significant amounts of pollution, impose even stricter requirements. 1 2 3 4 The city embedded the LEZ within the comprehensive Madrid 360 Strategy for Environmental Sustainability rather than treating it as standalone policy. Madrid combined phased rollouts, grace periods and online access-check tools to ensure compliance and continuous support from the public.