Thizy-les-Bourgs mayor bans visible laundry, sparking controversy

Rémi Berthoux, the mayor of Thizy-les-Bourgs, France, has issued an ordinance banning the hanging of laundry and other objects on balconies and windows if they are visible from public streets. The measure aims to preserve urban decorum and environmental quality. In announcing the decision on social media, Berthoux remarked, “No, we are not in Naples!”

The comment sparked a response from Carlo Puca, an official from the city of Naples, who criticized the comparison. Puca argued that using Naples as a negative benchmark trivializes the city's complex history and culture. He noted that sun-drying laundry is an environmentally friendly practice with zero cost.

Under the new regulations in Thizy-les-Bourgs, drying racks on balconies are permitted as long as they do not exceed the height of the railing. Violations of the ordinance regarding visible laundry or protruding objects may be identified by police and authorized agents.