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If you have a plot and do not know whether you can build a property on it, we recommend that you contact the Town Planning Department at the local council. They will inform you about the type of land you own and the possibilities for converting it into building land, an option which involves submitting a plan modification to the council and completing various formalities before the Autonomous Region approves the reclassification of the land as fit for building. 

If your plot is already urban, things are easier. The first step is to apply for the licence. You must contact the Town Planning and Housing Department of the council in the town where the plot is situated, or the council of the corresponding district, if it is located in a large city. They will inform you of the procedure in accordance with your application, since there are different procedures depending on the location of the plot, its urban impact, the environmental repercussions and the type of building you wish to construct. This department will check whether the project complies with the regulations in force or whether you must make some changes to it. Once it has been placed in the correct category, they will tell you the documentation that is required, the taxes that must be paid, and the self-settlement forms which you must complete. This type of issue must be resolved within a period of around a month (some regions take longer), from the date that the procedure was started. Many councils allow you to consult the status of the licence procedure via Internet.  

The design 

In order to get started, you must have a design of the building work which has been drawn up by an architect. The best thing to do is to ask for a quote from three or four professionals and if there is a big price difference between them, it would be advisable to select the one in the middle. If you have an architect that you know or who is recommended by third parties, this is without doubt the best option. Their fees include: the design, including plans of the location, elevations, floors, materials and project management; a topographical study of the plot; geotechnical study; and health and safety study. These documents must be submitted to the Architects’ Association, the body which will approve them and to whom the tax associated with this procedure must also be paid. 

Documentation to present to the council 

Although the Town Planning Department will explain which documents you must provide, depending on the type of plot and the specific project, some of them are common to virtually all applications for urban licences. An information form detailing the work that is to be carried out is always required, along with a more detailed report specifying the different actions, plans of the plot location, scaled plans of the current sections and future installations, budget for the work, and self-settlement tax forms. However, depending on the building, it is likely that the formalities will be more complicated and require photographs and authorisations from the pertinent bodies when the work may affect the urban landscape or environment. The architect will inform you of all the steps to follow and will draw up the main design. He will also be responsible for requesting the additional documents and coordinating the work.
 
When all of the documentation has been submitted, The District Technical Services (architect and quantity surveyor), will issue a compulsory technical report in order to grant the licence. If it is positive, the licence will be awarded and the council secretary will communicate this indicting the cost of the fees, the time limits and the resources. If it is negative, you will also be notified. With regard to the taxes that you must pay to the council, they fall into three different categories: Urban Services Tax; Construction, Installation and Work Tax; Tax for private use of the public domain. 

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