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Local Authorities (Environmental Enforcement – Inspectors' Powers) Law, 5768-2008

חוק הרשויות המקומיות (אכיפה סביבתית - סמכויות פקחים), תשס"ח-2008

Published: 2008-06-11Last amended 2026-07-27✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Local Authorities (Environmental Enforcement – Inspectors' Powers) Law, 5768-2008*

Definitions§

1.

In this Law –

"Criminal Procedure Law" – the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982;

"environmental enactment" – a provision under a enactment listed in the Schedule;

"inspector" – an employee of a local authority who has been authorised in accordance with the provisions of this Law to supervise the implementation of environmental enactments, all or some of them;

"Arrest and Search Ordinance" – the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Arrest and Search) [New Version], 5729-1969;

"local authority" – a municipality, a local council, or an association of towns whose principal activity is the protection of the environment;

"large local authority" – a municipality or local council whose number of residents registered in the population registry exceeds 20,000;

"small local authority" – a municipality or local council whose number of residents registered in the population registry does not exceed 20,000;

"the Minister" – the Minister of the Interior.

Authority of a Local Authority§

2.
(a)A large local authority or an association of towns whose principal activity is the protection of the environment, as the case may be, shall act within their jurisdiction to enforce environmental enactments in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
(b)A small local authority may act within its jurisdiction to enforce environmental enactments, all or some of them, in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Authorisation of Inspectors§

3.
(a)The head of a local authority may authorise, from among the employees of the local authority, inspectors with powers under this Law, all or some of them, provided that an inspector shall not be authorised unless all of the following conditions are met:
(1)The Israel Police has notified, no later than three months from the date of the head of the local authority's approach to it, that it does not object to the authorisation on grounds of public safety, including on account of the person's criminal record;
(2)The person has received appropriate training in the field of the powers that will be vested in him under this Law, as the Minister has directed with the consent of the Minister for Public Security, and in accordance with the enactment the implementation of which he will supervise, as the Minister has directed with the consent of the Minister responsible for that enactment;
(3)The person meets additional eligibility conditions as the Minister has directed, with the consent of the Minister responsible for that enactment and the Minister for Public Security.
(b)Notice of the authorisation of an inspector under this section shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Powers of an Inspector§

4.
(a)For the purpose of supervising the implementation of an environmental enactment, an inspector who has been authorised to supervise its implementation within the area of the local authority in which he is employed, after having identified himself in accordance with section 6, may –
(1)require any person to provide his name and address and to present to him an identity card or other official document identifying that person;
(2)require any person involved in the matter to provide him with any information or document that may ensure or facilitate the implementation of an environmental enactment; in this paragraph, "document" – includes a printout, as defined in the Computers Law, 5755-1995;
(3)conduct examinations or measurements or take samples for examination, and also direct that samples be submitted for laboratory testing or that they be kept for a period he directs, or to deal with them in another manner;
(4)enter a place, including an aircraft or a vehicle, provided that he shall not enter a place used as a dwelling except pursuant to an order of a court.
(b)Where suspicion has arisen of the commission of an offence against an environmental enactment, an inspector who has been authorised to supervise its implementation, within the area of the local authority in which he is employed, may –
(1)investigate any person connected to such an offence, or who may have knowledge relating to such an offence; the provisions of sections 2 and 3 of the Criminal Procedure Ordinance (Testimony) shall apply to an investigation under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications;
(2)seize any object connected to such an offence; the provisions of Chapter IV of the Arrest and Search Ordinance shall apply to a seizure under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications;
(3)apply to a court for a search warrant under section 23 of the Arrest and Search Ordinance, and execute it; the provisions of sections 24(a)(1), 26 to 28 and 45 of the Arrest and Search Ordinance shall apply to a search under this paragraph, with the necessary modifications.
(c)Where a person has refused to comply with the demands of an inspector, pursuant to his authority in accordance with the provisions of this section, and there is concern that the person will flee or that his identity is unknown, the inspector may detain him until the arrival of a police officer, and the provisions of section 75(b) and (c) of the Criminal Procedure Law (Enforcement Powers – Arrests), 5756-1996, shall apply to such detention, with the necessary modifications.
(d)Nothing in the powers of an inspector under this Law shall derogate from supervisory powers vested in him under any other law; however, an inspector authorised under this Law shall not be authorised under any other law in respect of the environmental enactment the implementation of which he has been authorised to supervise.
(e)In performing his functions under this section, with respect to an environmental enactment the implementation of which is under the responsibility of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, an inspector shall act in accordance with the directions of an authorised employee.

Fine Offence§

5.

Where an offence against an environmental enactment has been designated as a fine offence under section 221(a) of the Criminal Procedure Law, the head of a local authority shall not exercise his power to authorise a local authority employee to issue a fine payment notice under section 228(b) of that Law in relation to that offence, unless that employee has been authorised as an inspector in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

Identification of an Inspector§

6.

An inspector shall not exercise the powers vested in him under this Law unless all of the following conditions are met:

(1)He is in the performance of his duties;
(2)He is wearing inspector's uniform, in the colour and form directed for this purpose by the head of the local authority, provided that it shall not be such as to mislead, as appearing to be police uniform, and he is visibly wearing a badge identifying him and his role;
(3)He is in possession of a certificate signed by the head of the local authority attesting to his role and powers, which he shall present upon request.

Designation of Fines§

7.

Notwithstanding anything provided in any law, a fine imposed by an inspector or imposed by a court as a result of the exercise of an inspector's powers shall be paid into the treasury of the local authority.

Reporting to an Authorised Employee§

8.
(a)The Minister responsible for the implementation of an environmental enactment shall authorise, from among the employees of his ministry, a senior employee for the purposes of this Law (in this Law – authorised employee); an authorised employee shall be appointed generally or in respect of a particular local authority; notice of such authorisation shall be published in Reshumot (Official Gazette) and shall be delivered to the relevant local authority.
(b)A local authority shall notify the relevant authorised employee of the opening of an investigation into an offence against an environmental enactment and of an indictment filed as a result of such an investigation, no later than 14 days from the date of the opening of the investigation or the filing of the indictment, as the case may be; for the purposes of this section, "indictment" – excluding a fine payment notice under section 228(b) of the Criminal Procedure Law.
(c)An authorised employee may exempt a local authority from the reporting obligation under subsection (b), generally or in respect of a particular offence, on his own initiative or upon the request of the local authority.
(d)The Minister may direct the form of the notice under this section and the particulars to be included therein.

Investigation and Indictment by Another Authority§

9.
(a)An authorised employee may direct, generally or in respect of a particular matter, that an investigation shall not be opened by a local authority, and if an investigation as aforesaid has commenced, he may direct its cessation and its transfer to another authority he designates, which is competent to investigate the offence.
(b)A senior police officer as defined in the Police Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971, authorised for this purpose by the Inspector General of the Police (in this section – authorised officer), may notify a local authority that a particular matter or category of matters specified in his notice is being investigated or handled by the police; where an authorised officer has so notified, the local authority shall not open an investigation into that matter or the category of matters specified in the notice, and if an investigation has been opened – the investigation shall be discontinued.
(c)The Attorney General, or a person he has authorised for this purpose, may direct the transfer of the handling of an indictment as referred to in section 8(b) to another prosecutor as that term is understood in the Criminal Procedure Law.

Restriction on Inspector's Powers§

10.

An inspector shall not exercise his powers under this Law in respect of the following:

(1)A State institution, except a Government hospital;
(2)A local authority;
(3)Suppliers and plants that develop or manufacture defence equipment for the defence forces, designated for this purpose, on grounds of State security, by the Prime Minister or the Minister of Defence, in consultation with the Minister for Environmental Protection and the Minister of the Interior; for this purpose, "defence forces", "defence equipment" – as defined in the Defence Corporations Law (Protection of Security Interests), 5766-2006.

Enforcement by Means of By-Laws§

11.
(a)A large local authority shall not apply a by-law establishing an offence whose elements are similar to the elements of an offence against an environmental enactment; nothing in this provision shall prevent the application of a by-law establishing other or additional offences.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the council of a large local authority may determine, on the proposal of the head of that local authority and with the consent of its legal adviser, that the local authority shall apply the provisions of the by-law referred to in that subsection, and may establish a different provision for different areas within its jurisdiction; where a local authority has so determined, its powers under this Law shall not apply in respect of the environmental enactment referred to in subsection (a).
(c)Where a small local authority has decided to act as referred to in section 2(b), the provisions of subsection (a) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in respect of the environmental enactment in relation to which it has so decided.
(d)A decision of a local authority under subsection (b) or (c) shall enter into force on the date of its publication in Reshumot (Official Gazette).

Amendment of the Schedule§

12.

The Minister, with the consent of the person responsible for the enactment in respect of which the amendment is sought and the Minister for Public Security, and with the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, may, by Order, amend the Schedule.

Savings Provisions§

13.

The provisions of this Law are intended to add to the provisions of any law and not to derogate therefrom, unless expressly provided otherwise.

Implementation§

14.

The Minister is responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this Law, and may, in consultation with the Minister for Environmental Protection and the Minister for Public Security and with the approval of the Interior and Environmental Protection Committee of the Knesset, make Regulations on any matter relating to its implementation.

Amendment of the Keep Israel Tidy Law – No. 10§

15.

In the Keep Israel Tidy Law, 5744-1984, in section 12(a), the words "associations of towns, municipalities, local councils," shall be deleted.

Amendment of the Courts Law – No. 50§

16.

In the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984, in the Third Schedule, at its end the following shall be inserted:

"32. Roads (Signposting) Law, 5726-1966.

33.§

Hazardous Substances Law, 5753-1993, in respect of offences under sections 15 and 16b.

34.§

Animal Welfare (Protection of Animals) Law, 5754-1994.

35.§

Beverage Container Deposit Law, 5759-1999, in respect of offences under section 18(a)(3).

36.§

Tyre Disposal and Recycling Law, 5767-2007, in respect of offences under section 15(a)(1) and (3) to (5).".

Amendment of the Recyclable Waste Collection and Removal Law§

17.

In the Recyclable Waste Collection and Removal Law, 5753-1993, in section 8(a), the introductory passage up to and including the word "may" shall be replaced by "the Minister may".

Amendment of the Animal Welfare (Protection of Animals) Law – No. 6§

18.

In the Animal Welfare (Protection of Animals) Law, 5754-1994 –

(1)in section 5, the words "and employees of local authorities" shall be deleted;
(2)in section 8(a), after "inspector" there shall come "and also an inspector within the meaning of the Local Authorities (Environmental Enforcement – Inspectors' Powers) Law, 5768-2008,".

Amendment of the Prohibition of Driving a Vehicle on the Seashore Law§

19.

In the Prohibition of Driving a Vehicle on the Seashore Law, 5757-1997, in section 4(a), the concluding passage beginning with the words "and from the lists of inspectors" shall be deleted.

Amendment of the Coastal Environment Protection Law – No. 3§

20.

In the Coastal Environment Protection Law, 5764-2004, in section 12(a), the words "and also from among the employees of a local authority with the consent of the head of that authority," shall be deleted.

Amendment of the Tyre Disposal and Recycling Law§

21.

In the Tyre Disposal and Recycling Law, 5767-2007, in section 10(a), the words "or an employee of a local authority" shall be deleted.

Commencement§

22.

This Law shall commence 18 months from the day of its publication; however, item 10(b) of the Schedule shall commence two years from the day of publication of this Law.

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Schedule

(Environmental enactments)

1.§

The Forests Ordinance.

2.§

Offences under sections 111, 111a and 111b of the Mines Ordinance.

3.§
(a)Offences under sections 71a and 71d of the Public Health Ordinance, 1940.
(b)The Public Health (Treatment of Waste in Medical Institutions) Regulations, 5757-1997.
4.§

Offences under section 20u of the Water Law, 5719-1959, except for the offences prescribed in the Water (Prevention of Water Pollution) (Disposal of Sewage from Watercraft) Regulations, 5759-1998.

5.§

The Plant Protection Law, 5716-1956.

6.§

Offences under the Nuisance Prevention Law, 5721-1961, except for an offence under section 11(a)(2).

7.§

The Roads (Signposting) Law, 5726-1966.

8.§

Offences under section 13(a)(2) and (3), (b)(1), (3a), (4c), (4d), (4h), (4o), (4p), (4r), (4s), and (c)(1), (1a) and (3), and section 15 of the Maintenance of Cleanliness Law, 5744-1984.

9.§

The Recyclable Waste Collection and Removal Law, 5753-1993.

10.§
(a)Offences under section 15(a) of the Hazardous Substances Law, 5753-1993, and also offences under section 16b of that Law in respect of the said offences.
(b)Offences under section 15(b) and (c) of the Hazardous Substances Law, 5753-1993, and also offences under section 16b of that Law in respect of the said offences.
(c)(Repealed).
11.§

The Animal Welfare (Protection of Animals) Law, 5754-1994, and Regulations made thereunder.

12.§

The Prohibition of Driving a Vehicle on the Seashore Law, 5757-1997.

13.§

Offences under section 18(a)(3) of the Deposit on Beverage Containers Law, 5759-1999, and also offences under section 19 of that Law in respect of the said offences.

14.§

Coastal Environment Protection Law, 5764-2004.

15.§

Non-Ionising Radiation Law, 5766-2006.

16.§

Offences under section 15(a)(1), (3) and (4) of the Tyre Removal and Recycling Law, 5767-2007, and under section 15(a)(5) of that Law, in respect of reporting under section 9(b) of that Law, as well as offences under section 16 of that Law in respect of the said offences.

17.§

Clean Air Law, 5768-2008; however, in performing his duties in respect of an emission source requiring a permit as defined in that Law, an inspector shall act in accordance with the instructions of an authorised employee.

18.§

Offences under section 31(a)(1) or (2), (b)(2) and (c)(2) of the Packaging Treatment Regulation Law, 5771-2011, as well as offences under section 32 of that Law in respect of the said offences.

19.§

Offences under section 43(a)(1) and (2), (b)(13), (15) and (17) and (c)(8) of the Environmental Treatment of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Batteries Law, 5772-2012, as well as an offence under section 44 of that Law in respect of the said offences.

Ehud Olmert Meir Sheetrit

Prime Minister Minister of the Interior

Shimon Peres Dalia Itzik

President of the State Speaker of the Knesset

Gafni

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