In short. The Spanish Coastal Law (Ley de Costas) restricts works on land close to the shoreline. Before buying a frontline property, it is worth knowing where the coastal boundary (deslinde) lies and whether the home falls within the protection easement.

Public domain and the protection easement

Maritime-terrestrial public domain cannot be privately owned. The protection easement generally extends one hundred metres inland, and twenty metres on land that was already urban when the law came into force. For existing buildings, repair and improvement works that do not increase volume, height or floor area are generally permitted.

How to find out whether your home is affected

Information on the coastal boundary can be obtained from the regional Coastal Authority office (Demarcación de Costas) and checked against the cadastral maps. Where the home is affected, due diligence shows which works can be carried out and whether a certificate should be requested before the purchase.

Questions about a specific property? Write to us from the contact page or call us on +34 956 76 99 03 and we will tell you which checks your case requires.