Air quality in Montenegro is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency at nine measuring stations, and its website shows an air quality index with five levels, from very low to very high pollution. The daily limit for PM10 particles is 50 µg/m³ and may be exceeded no more than 35 times a year. In December 2025 alone, the station at the roundabout in Podgorica exceeded it on 24 days, and Pljevlja and the Blok V station in Podgorica on 20 days each. The new Air Protection Law (Official Gazette 117/2026) entered into force in August 2026; it requires the Agency to publish an hourly index and gives people the right to compensation for harm to their health when the authorities breach the rules on air quality plans.
This guide explains where to check air quality, what the limits are, how many days the air was polluted and what the new law brings.
Where can you check air quality?
- The Environmental Protection Agency's website publishes an air quality index with five levels: very low, low, medium, high and very high.
- The state network consists of the stations Podgorica roundabout, Podgorica Blok V, Nikšić, Bar, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje, Kotor, Gornje Mrke and Gradina.
- Every month the Agency publishes an air quality report with the number of exceedances at each station.
- Data on the website are saved automatically and may be corrected later, and the official reports are authoritative.
What are the limits?
| Pollutant | Period | Limit or target value |
| PM10 | day | 50 µg/m³, no more than 35 exceedances a year |
| PM10 | year | 40 µg/m³ |
| PM2.5 | year | 20 µg/m³ |
| Nitrogen dioxide | hour | 200 µg/m³, no more than 18 exceedances a year |
| Nitrogen dioxide | year | 40 µg/m³ |
| Sulphur dioxide | day | 125 µg/m³, no more than 3 exceedances a year |
| Ozone | maximum daily eight-hour mean | 120 µg/m³, target value |
How many days was the air polluted?
| Station | Days above the PM10 limit, December 2025 | Days above the PM10 limit, August 2026 |
| Podgorica, roundabout | 24 | 3 |
| Pljevlja, Gagovića imanje | 20 | 4 |
| Podgorica, Blok V | 20 | 3 |
| Bijelo Polje | 15 | 2 |
| Nikšić | 15 | 4 |
| Kotor | 0 | 2 |
| Bar | 0 | 1 |
- In winter pollution is highest in Podgorica, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje and Nikšić, while the air on the coast is mostly clean.
- In December 2025 Pljevlja also recorded 10 exceedances of the daily and 47 of the hourly limit for sulphur dioxide.
- According to the Agency, numerous wildfires in Montenegro and the region may have raised concentrations in August 2026.
What does the new Air Protection Law bring?
- The law was published on 7 August 2026, entered into force on the eighth day after publication and replaced the 2010 law.
- The Agency must publish on its website an easy-to-understand air quality index with hourly data for at least sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, PM10, PM2.5 and ozone.
- The Institute of Public Health publishes information on symptoms and recommendations for protecting health during episodes of high pollution.
- Individuals whose health is harmed by an intentional or negligent breach of the rules on air quality plans and short-term action plans are entitled to compensation.
- The limitation period for that claim cannot start before the breach ends and before the injured person learns of the harm.
- Short-term action plans may provide for traffic restrictions, cheaper or free public transport, suspension of construction work, street cleaning and flexible working.
- Secondary legislation is adopted within two years, and until then the old rules apply, so the limit values stay the same.
- The national strategy and the initial air pollution control programme must be adopted by 31 December 2027 at the latest.
Pellet and firewood prices are explained in our guide to pellets and firewood, and city transport in Podgorica in our guide to city buses. Weather by month is covered in our guide to the weather in Montenegro, and the electricity price in our guide to the electricity price. Pellet stove prices are explained by Glatko.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I check air quality? On the Environmental Protection Agency's website, which shows the air quality index for nine measuring stations.
What is the limit for PM10? The daily limit is 50 µg/m³ and may be exceeded no more than 35 times a year, and the annual limit is 40 µg/m³.
Which towns have the most polluted air? In winter Podgorica, Pljevlja, Bijelo Polje and Nikšić record the most exceedances, and in December 2025 the station at the Podgorica roundabout had the most, 24 days.
What does the new Air Protection Law bring? An hourly air quality index, information for sensitive groups, short-term action plans and the right to compensation for harm to health.
Can I claim compensation for pollution? You can if your health was harmed by an intentional or negligent breach of the rules on air quality plans, under the law on obligations.
Do the limit values change with the new law? Not for now, because the old secondary legislation applies until new rules are adopted within two years.
Sources
The new framework is set by the Air Protection Law (Official Gazette 117/2026, Articles 29, 48, 56 and 64 to 69). The index and measuring stations are on the Environmental Protection Agency's air quality monitoring page, and the exceedances and limit values come from the monthly reports for December 2025 and August 2026. The information was checked on 26 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this article is not medical advice.