Permits and regulations
Works and the community of owners: hours, permissions and how to avoid trouble
· 2 min read
Inside your own property you can renovate without the community's permission, as long as you do not touch common elements or the structure. You do need authorisation to change windows facing outwards, enclose a terrace, alter the façade or modify a communal soil pipe. Usual working hours on the Costa del Sol are Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, but each community can restrict them further in its statutes.
What is yours and what belongs to everyone
| Element | Does it need the community's permission? |
|---|---|
| Non-structural internal partitions | No |
| Kitchen, bathrooms, floors, paint | No |
| Internal electrics and plumbing | No |
| Windows and doors facing outwards | Yes: they affect the appearance of the façade |
| Enclosing a terrace or balcony | Yes, and it usually requires a vote at a meeting |
| Communal soil pipes and risers | Yes: they are common elements |
| Load-bearing walls and floor slabs | Yes, plus a major works permit |
| Air conditioning units on the façade | Yes, in most communities |
How to request it without it dragging on
- Speak to the administrator first, not the president: they are the one who knows what the statutes say and when the next meeting is.
- Send the request in writing with a clear description and, if the façade is affected, a drawing or photomontage. A vague request gets postponed; a specific one gets voted on.
- Ask whether a vote at a meeting is needed or the administrator's authorisation is enough. Many things do not require a meeting.
- Allow time: if there is only one ordinary meeting a year, waiting can cost you months.
Hours and living alongside neighbours
The norm in Costa del Sol municipalities is Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm, with restrictions on Saturdays and a ban on Sundays and public holidays. Many councils additionally limit noise during high season in tourist areas. And above the municipal bylaw sit the community's own statutes, which can be stricter.
Beyond the rules, what avoids conflict is common sense: tell the immediate neighbours before starting, protect the lift and landing, never leave rubble in common areas even for a day, and do the noisiest work — grinder, breaker — mid-morning rather than first thing.
If the neighbour below reports a leak
The first thing is to stop working in that area and check it the same day. Most leaks during works come from an uncapped drain or water from tile cutting, not a structural failure, and they are resolved within hours if dealt with immediately. What turns an incident into a serious problem is taking three days to go and look.
This is where the company's public liability insurance matters: if the damage is real, the policy covers it rather than an argument between neighbours.