The Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya) has just approved a Decree-Law that aims to regulate the legal regime of tourist dwellings. This Decree-Law (number 3/2023, of 7 November, on urgent measures on the urban regime of tourist accommodation) will have to be validated by the Parliament of Catalonia, so it is possible that the regulation will undergo changes during the parliamentary process.

The new legal regime (which is characterized by the temporary nature of tourist licenses, the obligation to obtain a municipal license and its dependence on municipal regulations, which establish the requirements for obtaining the license) will be applied in numerous municipalities, including Barcelona, its metropolitan area and important tourist areas in Catalonia.

Moreover, the new regime will apply to both new and pre-existing licenses.

OBLIGATIONS OF CITY COUNCILS:

The city councils of the affected municipalities will have to modify their urban planning to expressly allow compatibility between the tourist and residential use of the apartments, having previously demonstrated that they have sufficient land for dwellings intended for the habitual and permanent residence of the resident population.

No more licenses may be granted than those resulting from applying a maximum of ten (10) dwellings for tourist licenses per one hundred (100) inhabitants.

NEW TOURIST APARTMENTS:

In order to use new apartments for tourist use, a municipal planning license and a tourist authorization (the latter has been mandatory for years) must be requested, which will be valid for five (5) renewable years.

EXISTING TOURIST APARTMENTS:

Owners of existing tourist apartments must apply for a new urban license within five years from the entry into force of the Decree-Law. Otherwise, they will have to cease the activity. During this period, municipalities must have modified their municipal planning in order to attend such applications.

However, owners may request a single extension of five (5) years if they can prove that they are unable to compensate the patrimonial loss. The five-year (5) transitional regime and its eventual extension will operate as a compensation mechanism for those owners who are unable to continue the activity as a result of the new regulation.

MUNICIPALITIES WHERE TOURIST APARTMENTS WILL NEED A PRIOR PLANNING LICENCE:

Abrera, Àger, Albons, Alcanar, Alella, Alins, Alòs de Balaguer, Alp, Alt Àneu, Altafulla, Amposta, Arbolí, Arenys de Mar, Arenys de Munt, Argentona, Arres, Arsèguel, Badalona, Badia del Vallès, Baix Pallars, Balaguer, Banyoles, Barberà del Vallès, Barcelona, Begur, Bellcaire d’Empordà, Bellver de Cerdanya, Berga, Blanes, Bolvir, Cabanelles, Cabrera de Mar, Cabrils, Cadaqués, Calafell, Caldes de Montbui, Caldes d’Estrac, Calella, Calldetenes, Calonge i Sant Antoni, Cambrils, Campelles, Camprodon, Canet de Mar, Canovelles, Cantallops, Capafonts, Cardedeu, Castell de l’Areny, Castell de Mur, Castellar de n’Hug, Castellar del Riu, Castellar del Vallès, Castellbisbal, Castelldefels, Castelló d’Empúries, Castell-Platja d’Aro, Cava, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Cervelló, Cervera, Colera, Corbera de Llobregat, Cornellà de Llobregat, Cornudella de Montsant, Cruïlles, MOnells i Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, Cubelles, Das, Deltebre, El Masnou, El Papiol, El Perelló, El Port de la Selva, El Prat de Llobregat, El Vendrell, Es Bòrdes, Esparreguera, Esplugues de Llobregat, Espot Esterri d’Àneu, Falset, Farrera, Figueres, Foixà, Fontanals de Cerdanya, Foradada, Garrigoles, Gavà, Ger, Girona, Gisclareny, Gósol, Granollers, Gualta, Guils de Cerdanya, Guissona, Igualada, Isòvol, Josa i Tuixén, La Baronia de Rialb, La Bisbal d’Empordà, La Canonja, La Coma i la Pedra, La Garriga, La Guingueta d’Àneu, La Llagosta, La Morera de Montsant, La Roca del Vallès, La Selva de Mar, La Seu d'Urgell, La Torre de Cabdella, La Vall de Boí, La Vilella Baixa, L'Ametlla de Mar, L'Ampolla, Les Franqueses del Vallès, L'Escala, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Llançà, Llavorsí, Lleida, Llinars del Vallès, Llívia, Lloret de Mar, Madremanya, Malgrat de Mar, Manlleu, Manresa, Margalef, Matadepera, Mataró, Molins de Rei, Mollerussa, Mollet del Vallès, Molló, Montcada i Reixac, Montellà i Martinet, Montgat, Montmeló, Montornès del Vallès, Mont-roig del Camp, Móra la Nova, Naut Aran, Olesa de Montserrat, Olot, Palafolls, Palafrugell, Palamós, Palau-sator, Palau-saverdera, Palau-solità i Plegamans, Pals, Pardines, Parets del Vallès, Pau, Pineda de Mar, Planoles, Poboleda, Polinyà, Porqueres, Prades, Pratdip, Prats i Sansor, Premià de Dalt, Premià de Mar, Puigcerdà, Queralbs, Rabós, Regencós, Reus, Rialp, Riner, Ripoll, Ripollet, Riu de Cerdanya, Roda de Berà, Roquetes, Roses, Rubí, Rupià, Rupit i Pruit, Sabadell, Salou, Salt, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Andreu de Llavaneres, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Celoni, Sant Climent de Llobregat, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Sant Fruitós de Bages, Sant Jaume de Frontanyà, Sant Joan Despí, Sant Just Desvern, Sant Mori, Sant Pere de Ribes, Sant Pere Pescador, Sant Pol de Mar, Sant Quirze del Vallès, Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Sant Vicenç de Montalt, Sant Vicenç dels Horts, Santa Coloma de Cervelló, Santa Coloma de Farners, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Santa Cristina d'Aro, Santa Margarida de Montbui, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Santa Susanna, Sarrià de Ter, Senterada, Setcases, Sitges, Siurana, Solsona, Sort, Susqueda, Tarragona, Tàrrega, Tavertet, Teià, Terrassa, Tiana, Tiurana, Tona, Torelló, Torredembarra, Torrelles de Llobregat, Torrent, Torroella de Fluvià, Torroella de Montgrí, Tortosa, Toses, Tossa de Mar, Tremp, Ullastret, Urús, Vall de Cardós, Vallirana, Vall-llobrega, Valls, Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, Ventalló, Vic, Vielha e Mijaran, Viladecans, Vilafranca del Penedès, Vilallonga de Ter, Vilamaniscle, Vilamòs, Vilanova del Camí, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Vila-seca, Vilassar de Dalt, Vilassar de Mar, Vilaür, Vilopriu, Vinyols i els Arcs.

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Juan Ignacio Alonso | Andersen Partner

jignacio.alonso@es.Andersen.com