A series of regulatory and operational changes take effect in Switzerland this September, spanning local ordinances, federal policy updates and corporate service adjustments.
In the canton of Schwyz, a dog ban will be enforced in administrative offices starting September 1, with service animals exempted. The restriction follows an incident in which a cleaning staff member was bitten by a dachshund at the Schwyz government building. While the canton’s administration had prohibited pets since 2010, exceptions had proliferated in recent years.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office will implement a revised organizational ordinance on September 1, aiming to streamline procedures and prioritize cybercrime investigations. The changes formalize efficiency improvements and reallocate resources toward digital offenses.
Basel-Stadt will raise wages for municipal employees, effective September 1, under a package approved by the cantonal parliament. The measures include higher entry-level salaries, wage adjustments for cantonal police officers, and a 25% increase in premiums for night shifts, weekend work, holiday duty and on-call services. A new field allowance for police personnel has also been approved, though implementation details and timing remain pending. A full cost-of-living adjustment will take effect January 1, 2027.
The canton of Bern will adopt a revised data protection law on September 1, centralizing oversight under the cantonal authority for over 1,000 municipalities and public bodies. The four largest municipalities—Bern, Biel, Köniz and Thun—will retain their own oversight units.
Travel bookings through Ebookers.ch and its app will cease on September 2 as the platform redirects to Hotels.com, both owned by Expedia Group. Existing bookings made between June 12 and September 2 must be completed by November 1, 2026, covering hotels, flights, car rentals, packages and activities. Earlier reservations remain unaffected. The Ebookers.ch website will redirect to Hotels.com from September 2 onward.
Night closures are scheduled for the Gotthard road tunnel in September due to maintenance and cleaning. The Swiss Touring Club (TCS) has outlined four closure windows, each running from Monday evening to Friday morning: September 7–11 (22:00–05:00), September 14–18 (20:00–05:00), September 21–25 (20:00–05:00) and September 28–October 2 (20:00–05:00). The TCS advises using the Gotthard Pass as an alternative route during closures. Several cantons have recently lifted fire restrictions imposed during prolonged heat and drought, though local rules vary.
