Where clients get caught out
Owners often answer a town hall's first letter themselves or ignore it. The first stage of a planning procedure is where the strongest arguments are made, and missing it narrows the defence.
Planning cases we handle in Mallorca
| Matter | What we do |
|---|---|
| Building and renovation licences | Coordinate with the architect, file and follow |
| Legalisation of illegal works | Assess whether it is possible and how |
| Planning sanctions | Allegations and appeals against fines |
| Demolition orders | Defence and court challenge |
| Rustic and protected land | Uses, limits and licences |
| Coastal law | Easements and authorisations near the shore |
Planning checks before buying
A planning check before buying prevents most problems. See property due diligence and buying a finca.
Legalising existing works
We review the works, the date they were built and the current rules to decide whether legalisation is viable, and coordinate the technical project with your architect.
Disputes with the authorities
We defend you in sanctioning and restoration procedures and challenge decisions in the administrative courts. See administrative lawyer.
Example: planning and building licences in Mallorca
Based on situations we commonly see; not a specific client. An Austrian owner in Calvià received a restoration order for a covered terrace built twenty years earlier on urban land. We proved the age of the works with aerial photographs, and the town hall closed the procedure.
Our collaborators for planning and building licences in Mallorca
For every service we work with trusted collaborators when a matter needs them: notaries, architects and surveyors, tax advisers at Castell.tax, sworn translators, banks and mortgage brokers, property managers and specialist lawyers in other parts of Spain. You keep one lawyer as your single point of contact, and we coordinate everyone else.
Castell.law is the English and German-speaking practice of Castell Abogados, a law firm in Palma de Mallorca. This page is general information, not advice on a specific case: laws and procedures change, so check your situation with us before acting.
Not sure where you stand? Ask before you sign
Tell us about your matter or send us the documents you have. A lawyer will explain the risks, the options and the cost before you commit to anything.
Questions about planning and building licences in Mallorca
Can illegal works be legalised in Mallorca?
Only if they comply with current planning rules; we assess each case.
Do illegal works become legal with time?
On urban land the authority's action may lapse; on protected rustic land it does not.
How long does a building licence take?
Several months, depending on the town hall and the project.
Can I challenge a demolition order?
Yes, within the deadlines stated in the decision.