A Hair of the Dog that Bit You: Ubud Hotel Finds Itself in a Legal Conundrum

NusaBali reports that a noise complaint filed by a hotel in Ubud, Bali, against a noisy bar on Jalan Bisma may have backfired, placing the complaining hotel and Ubud and Regency Administrators in a legal conundrum.

​During a “mediation session” held at the Ubud Urban Village Office on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, regarding the hotel’s noise complaint against the noisy bar, the Gianyar Regency Regional Regulation Violation Prevention Team discovered that the disruptive bar lacks the necessary licenses and permits.

​Attending the mediation session were representatives from the Gianyar Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the Bali Provincial Satpol PP, the military, the police, local urban village and customary village officials, and both the complaining hotel and bar that was the object of the complaint.

​And, to borrow freely from the words of Hamlet. There’s the rub.

​In processing the complaint made by the legal counsel on behalf of the hotel against the bar, it was discovered that while the bar management could not produce business licensing documents when requested by Satpol PP Chief Putu Yuda Negara, it was also discovered that the complaining hotel could not produce a Certificate of Building Functionality (SLF) – a fundamental requirement for legal hotel operations.

​In light of these findings, Yuda urged both the bar and hotel management to complete their licensing documentation in accordance with applicable regulations. According to the findings of the Gianyar Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), both the hotel and the bar are operating illegally. They are now open to facing a series of graduated sanctions, in the form of a first, second, and third formal warning, that culminate in the final closure of both businesses.

​As a result, Yuda said he had asked both parties to resolve the noise complaint against the bar amicably. Yuda added: “We prioritize amicable resolutions. Neighbors are our closest kin. If the issue can still be resolved through dialogue, that is certainly what we encourage. However, if that fails, the government steps in through mediation mechanisms and regulatory enforcement.”

​Also attending the mediation session was the Babinsa – the Village Supervisory Officer), the “Peltu” I Made Agus Artawan, and Bhabinkamtibmas (Community Police Officer), the local police representative Aiptu I Nyoman Sedana acting in a security and support capacity. Their combined presence all aimed to facilitate a constructive resolution while maintaining order in the Ubud tourist area.

​The Ubud Community is now left with the resulting conundrum: Will the hotel continue to pursue its noise complaint against the bar? And, will the Gianyar Satpol PP issue warnings to both the complaining hotel and the noisy bar for lacking the proper licensing documents?