Environmental Zone Class 3

On 31 December 2024, a class 3 environmental zone will be introduced in an area of the inner city of Stockholm bounded by Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Hamngatan and Sveavägen.

The rules for which vehicles are permitted to circulate in a class 3 environmental zone are regulated in the traffic ordinance and apply throughout Sweden. The City of Stockholm cannot adjust them.

What restrictions apply in a class 3 environmental zone?

A class 3 environmental zone imposes the strictest demands on the vehicles that are permitted to circulate in the designated zone.

The following applies for cars:

  • Fully electric vehicles are permitted.
  • Natural gas vehicles with a Euro 6 emission standard are permitted.
  • Fuel cell electric vehicles are permitted.
  • Plug-in hybrids are prohibited

For light trucks and light buses, the following applies:

  • Fully electric vehicles are permitted.
  • Natural gas vehicles with a Euro 6 emission standard are permitted.
  • Fuel cell electric vehicles are permitted.
  • Plug-in hybrids are prohibited.

For heavy trucks and heavy buses, the following applies:

  • Fully electric vehicles are permitted.
  • Natural gas vehicles with a Euro 6 emission standard are permitted.
  • Fuel cell electric vehicles are permitted.
  • Plug-in hybrids with a Euro 6 emission standard are permitted.

Which vehicles are exempt from the requirements of a class 3 environmental zone?

The rules for which vehicles are exempt in a class 3 environmental zone are regulated in the traffic ordinance and apply throughout Sweden. The City of Stockholm cannot adjust them.

  • road maintenance vehicles, provided that the circumstances involve road maintenance
  • motorcycles and mopeds
  • heavy equipment such as leaf blowers, excavators and wheel loaders
  • vehicles used in official duties by police officers or by any other employees of the Police Authority or by the Security Service, customs officers, coast guard officers, doctors, nurses, midwives, veterinarians or other emergency services
  • vehicles for the transport of patients to doctors or hospitals
  • emergency vehicles
  • vehicles used by the personnel of the Prison and Probation Service when transporting individuals that are being held in custody or in their urgent professional duties
  • vehicles that belong to or used by the Armed Forces, the Defence Materiel Administration, the National Defence Radio Establishment or the Defence Research Agency
  • vehicles used for specially arranged transport services such as mobility services
  • vehicles with drivers or passengers that hold a disabled parking permit
  • any vehicle for which a car allowance or car support has been granted by the Social Insurance Agency.

Designated area

The area for Environmental Zone Class 3 is comprised of

  • Malmskillnadsgatan between the Kungsgatan and Hamngatan bridges.
  • Regeringsgatan between the Kungsgatan bridge and Hamngatan.
  • Norrlandsgatan between Kungsgatan and Hamngatan
  • Biblioteksgatan
  • Oxtorgsgatan
  • Oxtorget
  • Lästmakargatan
  • Jakobsbergsgatan
  • Mäster Samuelsgatan east of the Sveavägen bridge
  • Smålandsgatan
  • Norrmalmstorg.

This also applies to the entrance to and exit from the Klara Tunnel on Mäster Samuelsgatan. The entrances and exits to and from the Klara Tunnel between Sveavägen and Vattugatan/Central Bridge will not be within the scope of the environmental zone.

Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Hamngatan and Sveavägen are not included in the Environmental Zone Class 3.

High resolution version of the map.

Environmental Zone Class 3 - map (png)

Businesses and organisations with an entrance or access on Kungsgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Sveavägen and Hamngatan that do not need to drive into the designated area to reach their premises will not be affected by the rules of the environmental zone.

The designated area is located in a part of the inner city that is of great importance to Stockholm residents and to the city’s tourism industry. Large numbers of pedestrians frequent the area and are exposed to air pollution from motor vehicle exhaust fumes. It is also one of Sweden’s most accessible areas for moving around without a car.

Environmental Zone Class 3 is expected to bring about a safer, more pleasant street environment for visiting, walking and cycling, as well as more space for street life and street activities. It is also expected to help accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, minimise noise and reduce emissions, in other words to contribute to a more attractive inner city for more people.

Implementation schedule

  • Environmental Zone Class 3 will be introduced on 31 December 2024.
  • An enlargement of the zone will be analysed during 2024 and decided upon in the first half of 2025.

Decisions and documentation

For more information, see implementation decision and annexes.

The purpose of the environmental zone

The City of Stockholm’s aim is to improve the air quality for Stockholm’s residents and visitors.

Air pollution from road traffic causes a range of negative health impacts. Increased morbidity and mortality from lung and cardiovascular diseases have the greatest impact on public health. Elderly people, children and people with pre-existing conditions are particularly vulnerable groups. Major new studies have shown that public health is adversely affected by very low levels of even the most common air pollutants. A reduction in the level of the most significant air pollutants brings public health benefits, including in areas with low levels.

Environmental Zone Class 3 is expected to result in a safer, more pleasant street environment for visiting, walking and cycling, as well as more space for life and activities at street level. It is also expected to help accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, minimise noise and reduce emissions, in other words contribute to a more attractive inner city for more people.

The environmental zone will provide positive contributions to several of the City’s goals by:

  • reducing air pollution levels to the guideline values recommended by WHO
  • reducing emissions from the transportation sector by 80 percent by 2030
  • accelerating electrification
  • enabling an emission-free inner city in 2030.

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