OUG 17/2026: people counting becomes a legal obligation
OUG no. 17/2026, published in the Official Gazette on 13 March 2026, requires clubs, bars, discos, crowded halls and stadiums in Romania to stay within their maximum capacity by permanently monitoring and counting people. Below is what the law says, who it covers and what to do about it - short and in plain words.
Completely anonymous counting.
OUG 17/2026 in 30 seconds
What it is
A Romanian government emergency ordinance amending several laws - among them Law no. 307/2006 on fire protection.
Since when
Published in the Official Gazette no. 199 on 13 March 2026 - the obligation exists since then. Sanctions did not apply from day one, though: enforcement in practice is coming, and the window to prepare is now.
What it requires
Staying within user capacity through permanent monitoring and counting of people, plus staff responsible for access.
Who it covers
Clubs, bars and discos, buildings classed as crowded halls, and stadiums hosting shows or festivals with large audiences.
What the law says, word for word
OUG no. 17/2026 adds a new obligation to Article 19 of Law no. 307/2006 for those operating venues open to the public:
„să asigure respectarea capacității de utilizatori prin monitorizarea și contorizarea permanentă a acestora prin intermediul unor echipamente mecanice sau sisteme electronice automate” art. 19 let. r⁵) of Law no. 307/2006, introduced by OUG no. 17/2026
In plain English: you must know at any moment how many people are inside - through an automatic count, not estimates - and stay within your venue's maximum capacity. (Our translation of the Romanian text above.)
The law also requires the counting equipment to be placed so evacuation routes keep their full dimensions, and one or more staff members to be designated as responsible for user access.
The ordinance covers more ground - fire-safety permits and authorisations, deadlines, sanctions - but for venues and halls open to the public, the counting obligation is the big change.
The venues covered by the counting obligation
Three categories are named explicitly. If you are not sure where your venue falls, check with a fire-safety specialist.
Clubs, bars and discos
Every venue of this kind - this is where capacity is easiest to exceed, at exactly the busiest hours.
Lenzia for clubs and bars →Crowded halls
Buildings classed as „săli aglomerate” (crowded halls) under the Romanian technical regulations - performance halls, sports halls, conference venues and other spaces gathering large crowds.
See all solutions →Stadiums with shows and festivals
Stadiums hosting concerts, shows or festivals with large audiences - where keeping count at every gate matters most.
Lenzia for events and festivals →What you risk by ignoring the new obligations
The same ordinance visibly toughens the sanctions in the fire-safety domain.
Fines up to 100,000 lei
For serious breaches of fire-safety rules, fines now go up to 100,000 lei.
No more warnings
For offences carrying fines above 2,500 lei, a warning can no longer replace the fine.
Activity can be stopped
The fire-safety authorisation can be suspended or withdrawn, and for serious breaches the venue's activity can be suspended.
The exact amount depends on the specific offence. The full text, with all sanctions, is on the official legislation portal: Law no. 307/2006, consolidated, on legislatie.just.ro ↗
The permanent count, as a complete service
At its core, the law asks for a permanent, accurate count of the people inside. That is exactly what Lenzia does: we discreetly monitor every entrance, you see live how many people are inside, you get an alert before the limit, and the history stays saved in your statistics.
No paper lists and nothing to manage on your side: the number is always there - at the door, in the office or on your phone.
Questions about OUG 17/2026
What is OUG 17/2026?
Since when does the people counting obligation apply?
Which venues must count people?
What does «permanent monitoring and counting» mean?
Is manual counting with a clicker still enough?
What fines do venues risk?
This page is an informative guide, not legal advice. We summarised the provisions in good faith as of 5 July 2026; the text that counts is the official one: Law no. 307/2006, consolidated, on legislatie.just.ro ↗
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