From December 15, 2025, stricter rules on the use of pyrotechnic devices are coming into effect based on a decree by the General Assembly of Budapest, which will particularly affect the New Year’s Eve period. 

This new regulation essentially prohibits the use of pyrotechnic devices (fireworks) in the categories 2 and 3 during the New Year’s Eve period. The possession and use of firecrackers was already considered a violation of the law!

Violators of the regulation will be subject to official proceedings, which may result in a fine of up to 200,000 HUF. The proceedings may be initiated by the police and the Józsefváros public space surveillance authority. 

If you notice illegal fireworks or firecrackers being used, call the police (112) or the Józsefváros public space surveillance hotline (+36 80/204-618)!

You can read more about the ban on the budapest.hu website at this link. 

By clicking here you can zoom in to see which areas of Józsefváros are affected by the ban.

The areas marked in blue on the map are those where the use of category 2 and 3 pyrotechnic devices is prohibited throughout the year. The areas marked in yellow are those where the use of fireworks is prohibited on New Year’s Eve.

Click on this link to see a closer view of the highly protected and protected zones.  Source: budapest.hu 

What can we do to ensure the general safety of animals during the New Year’s Eve period? 

• Pay extra attention to the animals in your environment! Do not leave them alone in the apartment during the New Year’s Eve period, as fireworks may be set off despite the ban. If possible, avoid walking your pets during this time; instead, take them for a long, tiring walk in the morning or early afternoon.
• During the New Year’s Eve period, it is advisable to distract animals with music, radio, television, games, or even household appliances. For animals that are particularly sensitive to these noises, it is worth consulting a veterinarian and giving them appropriate sedatives.

What can we do if our pet runs away or if we see an unattended pet on the street?

If, despite precautions, your pet runs away while out walking or you see an animal wandering the streets unattended, be sure to take the following steps, as you may be that animal’s last chance of getting home:

• During the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s period, in addition to the FÖRI Municipal Animal Protection Guard Service, several civil and official animal protection organizations are on duty. Check social media sites to see if anyone has already found your beloved pet, and if you find another dog, take pictures of it, try to catch it, take it to a safe place (such as a closed dog run or your own home), and upload the photo along with a description of the incident to local dog groups, thus helping the animal return home as soon as possible. 
• You can find up-to-date information about dogs caught in the capital and taken to the Municipal Animal Protection Service’s facility on Illatos út on the website www.ebtelep.hu and on the social media pages www.instagram.com/allatvedelmiorszolgalat/. In addition, the staff of the FÖRI Municipal Animal Protection Service are also available at +36-1-347-0830. Please also notify the staff of the Municipal Animal Protection Service if you are unable to catch a stray dog on the street.

Thank you for your cooperation!