HOW TO SET UP B&B – CAMPING – HOTEL IN RUSTIC LAND AREAS
Rural land is the one in which only farming, forest and nature activity may be developed. So, purely, touristic activity is not approved. So, when a Casa Rural, or B&B, or Camping is projected in this land it is required to get the special approval at the local and regional administration where specifically allow to that land an use different of the agricultural. In this cases, the plot must have a size of minimum 5.000 m2, with proper parking areas, etc. DIC may be avoided in Casa Rural when the project do not requires extend of buildings in more than 20 % of the existence, by express exemption from the Town Hall of the areas.
The most rapid way to obtain a business for accommodation/food is obtaining a «Casa Rural» license. Click here to know more about how to obtain a license for Casa Rural in Spain
- Electric: If the electric power obtained from the current line is not enough to give service to the business projected, then you will be forced to pay for the necessary increase, which passes sometimes to create a new line to connect with another point of electric with more power (sometimes this passes to pay infrastructure to bring the electric from a very long distance, paying installation, projects of installation, installation works, and even authorisation of the owners from plots where the points and pylons are installed, etc. ), and, if it is necessary, even paying a new transformer to get more electric.
- Water: Potable water is essential for the business. So, you must be secured that the property is connected to MAINS water, and, if it is not the case, you need to pay for the works to connect to the closest point of connection.
- To detect if there is water in the sub-soil, and that this water does not belong to someone else (maybe this is a declared sub-soil conduction who owns another owner or company).
- To check the quality of the water to see if it fulfils with the quality standards.
- That in the area is not forbidden getting water from sub-soil
- To prepare a technical project signed and certified by an engineer
- To present the project to the Spanish local administration to obtain authorisation from the Town Hall
- To pay the expenses of the Well’s works
- To install the necessary elements to guaranty the potable quality of water, as depuration systems, etc, and all of them using materials certified and authorised by the European Community.
- Roads: The Spanish administration may require from you to improve the roads and access in the area, sometimes even asphalting surrounding roads out of your property.
- Depuration and wasted water treatment: Treatment of Residual water will be essential to get permission, sometimes passing by installation of collection and depuration systems and plants.
- Others like:
- Enough parking space adequate to the maximum guest’s capacity
- Security and Health programs (in case of Fire, Inundation, accidents, etc.
- To register yourself as self-employed or creating a legal registered company in Spain.
- If you serve food in the business you need to get a license for manipulation of food (“food handler”). Even in case you have obtained this license in your country of origin, then, you need to legalised it in Spain, and or passing an exam (in Spanish) to get it.
STEP 1.- OBTAINING THE DIC (“Declaración de Interés Communitario”)
Average of time to get pre-project prepared from an architect: 1-3 months
Average of time to get an answer from the Town Hall: 1-3 months
Average of time to get definitive project prepared from an architect: 3-9 months
Approval by the Town Hall. Approval of the project by the municipality.
Average of time to get definitive project approved by the Town Hall 6-12 months
Average of time to get final answer from the Regional Gov: 1-3 years
So, as total, process to obtain DIC may take 2-6 years depending on the project and of the area.
This license may take 1-4 years depending on the project and of the area.
STEP 3.- REGISTRATION AS A BUSINESS
This registration may take 1-6 months.
- Above information is focused if you decided to set up the business in rustic land. When you are setting up the business in “urban” land, then, if the Town Hall already accepts the use of B&B in the plot, then, you do not need to obtain the DIC (Step 1), and then you go directly to steps 2 and 3.
- This article is not an official guide, so, it cannot be used without the proper advice of specialists.
- This article has been produced by a solicitor and the original can be found here