Is it legal to have barbecues on terraces and in gardens in Spain?
Local regulations and community rules on outdoor grilling differ across Spain
There are few aromas that evoke the feeling of summer more than tender meat sizzling over barbecue coals, and a relaxing day in sunny Spain is hardly complete without someone firing up the grill. Outdoor living – and dining – is a quintessential element of the Spanish lifestyle but it's wise to check the regulations where you live before lighting the barbie on your balcony or terrace.
While there’s no national Spanish law that prohibits barbecues in private spaces, certain local town hall rules or community regulations place limits on where and when people can use grills. For example, some municipalities ban gas BBQs during the summer because they pose a fire risk while in Madrid, lit grills must be at least five metres from the façade of the nearest neighbour.
If you live in an urbanisation or gated community, your neighbourhood will likely have its own statute of dos and don’ts, which could include a ban on balcony or roof terrace barbecues. If in doubt, it's safer to request a copy of the local ordinance from your community president.
It's also important to know that if you opt for a built-in BBQ on your property rather than a portable one, a permit must be sought from the local council and the residents' association should be informed.
The overarching consideration, though, must be the Spanish Property Law, which prohibits homeowners and tenants from carrying out any activity that could be considered “annoying, unhealthy, harmful, dangerous or illegal.” When applied to garden grilling, the legislation explains that for the activity to be considered annoying, its use must be continuous and excessive, or causing damage to property or neighbours.
Given the broad interpretation of the term, it’s worth noting that a homeowner can file a formal complaint at any time if the smoke from the BBQ is bothering them.
For most residential communities, barbecuing is a socially accepted part of living in Spain and is widely tolerated as long as it doesn't become a nuisance.
Image: Freepik
Address
Avenida de la Libertad, 301, Edificio Europa 2º1, 30710, Los Alcazares, MurciaTel: +34 968 104 710 / +34 965 06 36 13
Trusted multilingual community administrator for solving resident and property owner issues on real estate developments on the Costa Cálida and Costa Blanca
Resortalia is an established community property administration company based in Los Alcázares, Murcia and in Orihuela Costa, Alicante that handles the management of numerous multilingual residential complexes, developments and urbanisations.When you live on an urbanisation or have a house on a real estate development in Spain with lots of other property owners, you need external help to mediate and control the financial, technical and legal issues of the community. That’s where Resortalia comes in.
Resortalia includes a great human team of community administration experts who specialise in managing multilingual communities and solving any problems that may arise among the community of owners, wherever they’re from and whatever language they speak.
Their community property management service involves ensuring the correct running of the installations, as well as controlling the financial, technical and legal issues necessary for optimal maintenance and economic management.The company’s motto is “We Care”, a value statement that reflects their philosophy for caring about their clients and the communities they administrate. This includes:
- Commitment to helping clients achieve their goals in the most cost-effective way possible.
- Transparency of communication with owners regarding information about the community’s accounts and contracts.
- Quality when it comes to implementing advanced management systems for the property administration.
Whether your community needs to adapt to meet changing urban planning regulations and health & safety laws or you need to organise payment and debt collection from owners or debtors, or you wish to change the suppliers and contractors the community is associated with, Resortalia is on hand to help.
They are also able to handle multiple issues surrounding building codes and problems with the communitys facilities or installations, as well as undertake resolution of conflicts between neighbours or between the community of owners and an outside body.
All of this is carried out by an experienced and qualified team of professional accountants, architects and engineers who are experts in the latest updates in accounting and financial matters and are trained in helping committees and presidents to achieve their objectives, improve on their planning strategies and optimise the direction and smooth running of the entire community.
What’s more, the whole team of staff at Resortalia are on the best of working terms with both public and private entities related to the daily running a community, including everyone from Town Councils to water companies, builders, painters, landscapers and electricians.
Not only can this aid communities of property owners to resolve their fiscal and legal issues, but it can save money in the long run by implementing customised solutions that help the daily activity of clients, offering effective and real support with a human-face.
For more information on how to help your community meet its goals, contact the Resortalia team today.
