At a glance
- Noisy works: Monday to Saturday, 7:00am–8:00pm
- Hydraulic hammers (breakers) and pneumatic drills: 7:30am–4:00pm only
- No construction work on Sundays or public holidays
- Tourist zones: no demolition or excavation from 15 June to 30 September
- Rules set by S.L. 623.08, the Construction Management Site Regulations
- Report breaches to the BCA on 138
The rules in short
Working hours on Maltese building sites are set by the Construction Management Site Regulations (S.L. 623.08), which came into force on 16 December 2022 and replaced the older site rules. They're enforced by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
- Monday to Saturday: works that create noise can be carried out between 7:00am and 8:00pm. Saturday has the same hours as a weekday.
- Breakers and pneumatic drills: hydraulic hammers and pneumatic drills, the loudest tools on site, may only be used between 7:30am and 4:00pm.
- Sundays and public holidays: no construction works at all.
- Summer in tourist zones: demolition and excavation are not allowed in designated tourism zones from 15 June to 30 September. See our summer ban guide.
Exceptions
These limits don't apply where the nearest home or other habitable space is more than 1km away. Emergency works, for example to make a dangerous structure safe, are allowed outside these hours, but the BCA must be informed within its first business hour. Any other exemption needs the BCA's approval, and in tourism zones also the clearance of the tourism authority.
Fines for breaking the rules
Under S.L. 623.08, a contractor found working outside the permitted times can be fined:
- €500 to €2,500 for working on a Sunday, a public holiday or outside the permitted hours
- €250 to €1,000 for using a breaker or pneumatic drill outside its hours
- €2,500 to €5,000, plus €500 a day, for demolition or excavation in a tourism zone during the summer stop
Is a site next door breaking the rules?
Call the BCA on 138. The line covers Malta and Gozo, during and after office hours. Note the address, the time and what's happening. A photo or short video helps.
Planning your own project around the hours
For homeowners the hours mostly matter for two things: neighbours and timelines. Breaking out tiles, chasing walls and other heavy work has to fit into the 7:30am–4:00pm window, so we schedule the loud jobs early in the day and the quieter trades later. On a tight street, we also let neighbours know when the noisiest days are coming. It costs nothing, and it prevents most complaints.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check the current regulations with your perit or the BCA.
Frequently asked questions
What time can construction start in Malta?
Noisy works are allowed Monday to Saturday from 7am to 8pm. Breakers and pneumatic drills are limited to 7:30am to 4pm.
Can builders work on Sundays in Malta?
No construction works are allowed on Sundays and public holidays, except where the nearest home is more than 1 km away.
