DKI Regional Parliament: Negligent Permit Approval by Jakarta Provincial Government Triggers Padel Court Controversy
JAKARTA – A member of the DKI Jakarta Regional Parliament (DPRD) from the PSI faction, August Hamonangan, has stated that the lax licensing procedures for padel courts by the DKI Provincial Government have triggered controversy amongst residents. Several courts in densely populated areas have faced community opposition due to noise disturbance concerns.
“When licensing ease is granted carelessly, negligence occurs that puts us in our current situation. The DKI Provincial Government’s oversight in regulating padel courts has disturbed residents and now they are taking issue with the sport itself,” August said in a written statement on Monday, 2 March 2026.
August revealed that he has spent months reminding the DKI Provincial Government to improve the management of padel court licensing procedures in the capital.
“Several months ago, Bapemda explained that padel had become a revenue source for DKI. The simplified licensing through OSS allowed permits to be obtained without field inspections,” August said.
August added that whilst the relaxed licensing eases the burden for padel entrepreneurs, it is vulnerable to causing public disturbance.
“Especially if the easily obtained permits are not verified again by colleagues at the Dinas Citata (Public Works, Spatial Planning and Land Agency) who go to the field and check whether the location is suitable for building a padel court,” he said.
According to August, this governance problem must be addressed immediately. The padel court controversy that has disturbed communities must serve as a lesson that resident voices need to be considered when issuing business permits.
The DKI Regional Parliament’s warning emerges amid a series of padel court controversies in several areas. In Cilandak, the Fourthwall padel court on Jalan Haji Nawi faced community protests due to noise pollution. Following mediation, the operator suspended operations temporarily for 30 days starting 21 February 2026 and promised to install soundproofing.
“So from the 21st, which was a Saturday, we temporarily suspended operations. After mediation, we tried to comply by installing soundproof materials in our court area so the noise would not escape,” said Fajar Ediputra, the operator.
The operator also acknowledged that the building permit (PBG) had not yet been issued.