Bulgaria: Around 1,000 illegal campers face removal at Kara Dere beach

Experts from RIOSV-Varna took part in a joint inspection of the sea beach 'Byala-Karadere', which falls within the protected area BG0000100 'Shkorpilovtsi Beach' of the Natura 2000 network. The inspection was prompted by reports of unauthorized placement of tents, campers, and caravans. During the inspection, vehicles and caravans were found parked on the coastal strip and dunes, damaging natural vegetation. RIOSV will request information about the owners of the vehicles to initiate administrative proceedings under the Biodiversity Act. The inspection is part of coordinated efforts to curb violations along the Black Sea coast.

Despite a ban, hundreds of tents, caravans and campers have been set up on Kara Dere beach in Bulgaria. An inspection found numerous illegal structures. According to Milen Iliev, chief expert at the Varna Regional Administration, tents occupy about 50% of the beach area, and setting up on sand dunes is also prohibited. Offenders were given warnings to remove their property, otherwise vehicles would be towed and fines imposed. Fines range from 500 to 1000 leva, and from 1500 to 3000 leva for repeat offenses. Inspections will continue until the end of the season.

A large-scale operation against illegal camping on Kara Dere beach on Bulgaria's northern Black Sea coast found hundreds of tents, caravans and campers set up in a prohibited area. Violators received official warnings; fines range from 500 to 1000 leva for a first offence and 1500 to 3000 leva for repeat offences. Inspections will continue through the end of the season.

A large-scale joint inspection against illegal camping was conducted at Kara Dere beach near Byala. Authorities found hundreds of tents, caravans, campers, and vehicles placed outside designated camping areas. Owners were given notices to voluntarily vacate the site by August 7. The beach is state property and lies in a nature-friendly tourism zone, where placing structures on sand dunes is prohibited. Fines for illegal camping range from 500 to 1,000 leva for a first offense and 1,500 to 3,000 leva for repeat offenses, with fines for damaging dunes reaching 10,000 to 30,000 leva.

Bulgarian authorities have launched an operation to remove illegally placed tents, caravans and campers from Kara Dere beach. The action involves the municipality of Byala, police, the forestry agency and the environmental inspectorate. Fines for illegal camping range from 500 to 1,000 leva, with repeat offences up to 3,000 leva; damaging dunes carries fines of 10,000 to 30,000 leva. Owners were given a deadline to remove their property voluntarily, otherwise it will be forcibly relocated.

The Varna Regional Administration has started an inspection at Kara Dere beach, where hundreds of tents, caravans and campers have occupied nearly half the beach and dunes. First-time fines for illegal placement range from 500 to 1000 leva, repeat offences from 1500 to 3000 leva. Owners have been given a deadline to voluntarily remove their property, otherwise it will be forcibly towed to an impound lot.

Nearly 1000 caravans, motorhomes and tents were found in violation on Karadere Beach near Byala during a large-scale joint operation by the Varna regional administration, police, environmental inspectorate, fire department and local forestry and land services. Official notices requiring immediate removal have been affixed to all illegally placed units. If owners do not clear their structures by August 7, a forced removal procedure will be initiated at their expense. The operation is the first of a planned series of mass inspections initiated by regional governor Mario Smarkov, which will continue uncompromisingly until the end of the summer season. Fines for violators in protected zone A range from 500 to 3000 leva.

In Bulgaria, an inspection on Byala-Karadere beach near Varna found about 1,000 caravans, campers, and tents. The area is state property and a nature-friendly tourism zone, where temporary structures must be at least 500 meters from the shoreline. Owners have until August 7 to voluntarily remove them, after which the municipality will remove them at the owners' expense. Fines range from 500 to 3,000 leva.

On July 28, 2026, a joint inspection by state and local authorities found nearly 1,000 caravans, campers, tents and dozens of vehicles along the four-kilometer stretch of Byala-Karadere beach. The area is designated as a nature-friendly tourism zone, where temporary structures must be at least 500 meters from the shoreline. Owners have until August 7 to voluntarily remove the items, otherwise they will be dismantled at the violators' expense. Fines for violations in zone A range from 500 to 3,000 leva.

A large-scale inspection at Kara Dere beach near Byala found hundreds of illegally placed caravans, campers, and other structures. Owners have been ordered to voluntarily vacate the occupied areas by August 7, after which forced removal will begin at their expense. The operation was organized by the Varna regional administration with police, environmental inspectors, and other agencies. This is the first in a series of checks along the Black Sea coast during the summer season.

Authorities launched a large-scale inspection on Byala-Karadere beach, finding nearly 1,000 illegally placed caravans, campers, and tents. Owners have until August 7 to voluntarily remove them; otherwise, forced removal will be carried out at their expense. Fines range from 500 to 3,000 leva.

Employees of several institutions have started warning owners of tents, caravans and campers on the beach in the Kara Dere area near Byala, Varna region. The operation involves representatives of Byala municipality, police, the Forestry Agency and the Regional Environment and Water Inspectorate. According to a mayoral order from April 2025, placing tents and caravans in Kara Dere is banned, yet about 50% of the beach is occupied by such objects. Fines range from 500 to 1,000 leva, with repeat offences from 1,500 to 3,000 leva, and damage to dunes carries fines of 10,000 to 30,000 leva.

Officials from several institutions started warning owners of tents, caravans and campers on the beach at Kara Dere near Byala, Varna region. The operation involves representatives of Byala municipality, police, the Forestry Agency and the Regional Environment and Water Inspectorate. Under a regulation adopted last September, placing caravans and tents in zone A (500 metres from the sea) is prohibited. Fines range from 500 to 1,000 leva, with repeat offences from 1,500 to 3,000 leva, and damaging dunes carries fines of 10,000 to 30,000 leva.

Bulgarian authorities have warned owners of caravans, campers and tents at Karadere beach to remove them, despite a regulation already in force. The beach strip is littered with these objects, violating the rules.

Authorities in Bulgaria launched a joint operation today to warn owners of tents, caravans and motorhomes on Kara Dere beach near Byala. Officials from the municipality, police, forestry agency and environmental inspectorate are taking part. A regulation adopted in September 2024 bans temporary placement of tents, caravans and campsites in zones A and B under the Black Sea Coast Development Act. Fines for illegal camping range from 500 to 1,000 leva, with repeat offences from 1,500 to 3,000 leva, and damage to dunes carries fines of 10,000 to 30,000 leva. Owners have been given a deadline to remove their vehicles voluntarily, otherwise they will be forcibly towed.