Ten Municipalities Unite Against Housing Limits
Ten town councils in the Girona region, including Begur, Pals, Roses and Llançà, have joined a joint manifesto opposing Decree 3/2023 on tourist accommodation regulation. The move follows growing concern that the decree’s cap of 10 tourist flats per 100 residents will severely reduce available housing stock and damage local economies on the Costa Brava. The municipalities argue the decree lacks sufficient data, proportionality and legal justification. Among them, Calonge i Sant Antoni; Castell d’Aro, Platja d’Aro i S’Agaró; Castelló d’Empúries; El Port de la Selva; Llançà; L’Escala; Pals; Roses and Sant Pere Pescador have all formally backed the appeal.
Economic Impact Feared
At a recent working meeting hosted by the Association of Tourist Apartments (ATA) in Pals, officials warned the policy could lead to the loss of 17,700 licensed tourist flats across the region by 2028. Many councils say this would force a cut of at least half their current tourist housing supply.
The legally authorised tourist housing forms part of the accommodation offer and contributes to maintaining the destination’s competitiveness,
, Llançà Council motion, approved 3 August 2026 Local leaders stress that regulated tourist flats have been a core part of the Costa Brava economy since the 1960s. The Port de la Selva council, which approved its motion on 13 August, called these homes "the cornerstone of many municipalities" and warned thousands of local businesses depend on them.
Demand for Dialogue and Autonomy
All ten councils are calling on the Generalitat to revise the decree and open a formal dialogue. Pals unanimously approved its motion on 24 July, demanding greater municipal autonomy in managing tourist housing. Sant Pere Pescador, which joined the campaign on 5 August, stated that tourism models must reflect each town’s social reality and specific needs. The towns advocate for a balanced, regulated system that supports economic sustainability and off-season tourism. Decree 3/2023, adopted on 7 November 2023, requires municipalities to operate under a prior urban planning licence regime for tourist housing. A full list of affected towns is published in the official annex by the Generalitat here.
Primary sources: Entitat Autonoma del Diari Oficial i de Publicacions de la Generalitat de Catalunya (EADOP), govern.cat, patrimonifestiu.cultura.gencat.cat. Reported by revistabaixemporda.cat, 3CatInfo, alcaldes.eu, santpere.cat, Parlament de Catalunya, Revista del Baix Empordà.
