Another prohibition to be introduced in the center of Almaty from 2027

Tengrinews.kz — Starting January 8, 2027, the use of fireworks, firecrackers, and other pyrotechnics will be prohibited in central Almaty, according to the city's Department of Ecology and Environment. Tengrinews.kz explores the specific boundaries of the ban and other upcoming changes within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ).
Fireworks and firecrackers to be banned
The Department of Ecology announced that the "Atmospheric Air Protection Rules," which restrict the use of pyrotechnics within the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), will take effect on January 8, 2027.
The ban applies to firecrackers, fireworks, Roman candles, and all other commercially available pyrotechnics.
The restriction will not cover the entirety of Almaty but will be limited to the LEZ boundaries. Currently, the pilot zone is defined by the area south of Bogenbay Batyr Street, north of Abay Avenue, east of Zheltoksan Street, and west of Dostyk Avenue.
However, the final boundaries of the LEZ are subject to official approval following the conclusion of the pilot phase.

"The enactment of this requirement does not mean the ban will automatically apply to all of Almaty. For practical enforcement, the specific boundaries of the Low Emission Zone must be established. These boundaries will be finalized by a separate decree from the Almaty Akimat," the department stated.

The Almaty LEZ Zone
As a reminder, Kazakhstan's first LEZ zone began operating in pilot mode on April 28, 2024, in central Almaty — within the area south of Bogenbai Batyr Street, north of Abai Avenue, east of Zheltoksan Street, and west of Dostyk Avenue. The pilot project will run until December 31, 2026.
Map of the LEZ zone in Almaty / Photo: almaty-parking.kz
The system operator is Almaty Parking. It was noted that during the pilot stage, there will be no restrictions, fines, or entry fees.
Note:It is worth noting that the current pilot boundaries are not necessarily final. To ensure the LEZ is fully operational, the Akimat must formally designate its territory.
Other LEZ restrictions and regulations
The Atmospheric Air Protection Rules extend beyond pyrotechnics.
The Almaty Maslikhat has approved a document encompassing four key policy areas:

special environmental requirements for motor vehicles;
special environmental requirements for Category III stationary sources;
monitoring and detection of violations;
establishment of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Current changes in the LEZ
The first phase is already underway. Vehicles in Almaty are being checked for compliance with environmental standards during routine scheduled technical inspections. To facilitate this, a mandatory environmental technical audit has been introduced.
Gasoline and gas-powered vehicles are tested for exhaust toxicity, while diesel vehicles are checked for smoke levels. There is no need to undergo this check separately or in advance.
Moving forward, the results of these environmental checks are expected to be used to regulate vehicle entry into the LEZ.
The new rules will apply to vehicles whose next scheduled inspection falls after September 1, 2026. If a vehicle passed inspection before this date, the certificate remains valid until its expiration. There is no requirement to repeat the procedure or check emission levels prematurely. Inspections can still be conducted at any authorized center, but emission testing will only be performed by accredited stations using certified equipment linked to a unified system.
How violations will be recorded
Emission levels will be determined at service stations during the vehicle's technical inspection.
It was previously established that entry into the LEZ zone will be monitored automatically via cameras. These will scan license plates to automatically verify whether a vehicle has passed its environmental screening and what the results were.
There will be no physical checkpoints or barriers at the zone's borders. Authorities plan to send SMS notifications to owners upon entry; failure to pass the required technical audit may result in a fine.
It was also previously reported that the proposal to buy back aging vehicles from residents remains under review—the budget will only be allocated following the conclusion of the pilot project.