Estepona issues interim rules to simplify business opening permits

Estepona's ayuntamiento (town hall) has approved a technical instruction intended to make it simpler and faster to obtain permission to open premises and start an economic activity in the municipality. The council announced the measure on its official website.

The instruction adapts local procedures to Andalucía's new Environmental Management Law, known by its Spanish initials LEGAM (Ley para la Gestión Ambiental de Andalucía). According to the town hall, the regional law has been in force since 20 June and changes the environmental procedures that businesses must follow before they begin trading.

A stopgap until a new ordinance

The council describes the guidance as provisional. It will apply while officials draft a new municipal ordinance (local bylaw) covering these procedures. Once approved, that ordinance will replace the local rules that have been in place since 2012, the town hall said.

In the meantime, the instruction aims to give clearer direction both to entrepreneurs and to the professionals who prepare their paperwork, such as architects, engineers and consultants handling applications.

What the instruction contains

According to the council, the document includes template forms and a catalogue of activities that indicates which procedure applies to each type of business. Applicants should be able to tell more easily which of three routes they need to follow:

• a full environmental licence (licencia ambiental);
• a sworn statement on environmental effects (declaración responsable de efectos ambientales); or
• a simple sworn statement of activity (declaración responsable de actividad), in which the business owner declares that they meet the requirements.

Fewer follow-up requests, the council says

Antonio Montes, Estepona's councillor for commerce, said the initiative is meant to cut red tape for anyone wanting to open a business in the town, and that his department drew up the instruction to set out more clearly what documents applicants must submit and which steps they must take.

Montes added that the main goal is to remove unnecessary administrative obstacles and, as far as possible, to avoid the council later having to ask applicants for missing documents or clarifications, so that files can be processed more efficiently.

The town hall said the measure should help businesses adjust to the new regional legislation and offer guidance and certainty during the transition period.

Why it matters

For residents and newcomers planning to open a shop, restaurant, office or other premises in Estepona, the main practical change is knowing in advance which permit route applies to their activity. The council has not published, in the material available, a date for approval of the new ordinance or any figures on current processing times. Anyone preparing an application may wish to consult the town hall's commerce department or a qualified professional on how the interim rules apply to their case.