A Clean Transport Zone is being created in Katowice, the third in Poland

On June 29, 2026, the center of Katowice will be closed to cars that do not meet European emission standards. The Clean Transport Zone in the Silesian metropolis has sparked controversy, but it has been designed to minimize inconvenience for residents. The bonus is expected to be healthier air for everyone.

Clean Transport Zone as an EU requirement

The Act on Electromobility and Alternative Fuels introduced an obligation to create Clean Transport Zones (CTZ) in all cities with a population of more than 100,000 where nitrogen dioxide concentration limits in the air are exceeded. This requirement also stems from goals adopted by the EU under the Green Deal policy aimed at reducing concentrations of harmful nitrogen compounds and particulate matter in European cities.

In Katowice, measurements conducted until March 2025 at a monitoring station of the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection, located by the A4 motorway, showed clear exceedances of permissible NO2 concentration levels. The use of these results was indeed questioned as being poorly representative for the entire agglomeration, but under current regulations the obligation to establish a CTZ remained.

Katowice will gradually tighten emission standards

The Katowice CTZ will cover the central part of the city, bounded by ks. Piotra Skargi Street, Stanisława Moniuszki Street, prof. Waleriana Pańki Street, Jerzego Dudy-Gracza Street, Warszawska Street, Francuska Street, Mariacka Tylna Street, Dworcowa Street and Juliusza Słowackiego Street.

The scope of the Zone has been designated so that public institutions remain easily accessible and residents are not forced to make urgent expenses such as buying new cars, says Bogumił Sobula, deputy mayor of Katowice.

Vehicles that meet the adopted emission standards will be allowed to enter the CTZ. In the first period of the zone’s operation, from June 29, 2026 to June 30, 2029, the criteria for Katowice residents include at least the Euro3 standard for petrol engines (or a production year after 2000) or the Euro4 standard for diesel engines (or a production year after 2005). Over time these requirements will be tightened and from 2034 they will include the Euro4 and Euro6 standards respectively. City authorities emphasize, however, that all cars belonging to residents of Katowice and the Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis purchased before the introduction of the CTZ will not be subject to the traffic ban, just like motorcycles, historic vehicles and public transport.

Importantly, entering the Katowice CTZ will not require any special permit or sticker on the car. Alternative routes have been planned for drivers of vehicles that do not meet the standards, allowing them to reach their destination while bypassing the strict city center. Unauthorized entry into the CTZ may result in a fine of 500 PLN.

From March 16 to April 7 this year, the authorities of Katowice will conduct public consultations concerning the Clean Transport Zone.

More and more clean metropolises?

There are already two Clean Transport Zones operating in Poland. The Warsaw one, with emission standards gradually tightened until 2032, was introduced on July 1, 2024 and covers about 7 percent of the city’s area. The Kraków CTZ has been in force since January 1, 2026 and covers 60 percent of the city’s area, making it one of the largest in Europe. In this case as well, cars owned by residents of the metropolis and purchased before 2025 are not subject to entry restrictions.

Further zones are planned in Szczecin, Rzeszów and Wrocław. Similar solutions are also being considered by the authorities of Łódź. In other large Polish cities, different methods of improving air quality are preferred so far. Unofficially, many local government representatives fear the impact of CTZs on the logistical comfort of residents and on tourism development.