Tourist Rental Licences in Mallorca
How to verify an ETV, authorised places, zoning, planning compliance and whether holiday-rental activity can continue after purchase.
Holiday letting of residential property in Mallorca is regulated by Balearic tourism law and related island and municipal rules. The commonly used expression “ETV licence” refers to authorisation or registration for tourist stays in a dwelling, but the legal position depends on the property type, location, applicable category and administrative history.
Obtain the registration number, administrative documents and authorised capacity. Do not rely only on a portal listing or plaque.
Match the address, cadastral reference, Registry description and authorised dwelling.
Tourist letting can be restricted by zone, dwelling type, building regime and planning status.
Establish whether ownership change requires a declaration, notification, new procedure or other action and whether the authorisation has a time limit.
Confirm the number, status and any acquisition or surrender conditions attached to tourist places.
Request information on inspection files, sanctions, complaints and any order affecting the activity.
For properties in a building or residential complex, examine the community statutes and resolutions as well as the public-law tourism position.
A registration entry alone may not answer whether the activity can lawfully continue after sale. The lawyer should review the underlying declaration or authorisation, zoning applicable to the property, planning legality of the dwelling and compliance with current operational obligations.
If bedrooms, annexes, terraces or other areas used by guests are not legally recognised, the property may not match the basis on which the tourism activity was declared. Compare authorised plans, actual layout and advertised capacity.
If the value depends on holiday-rental income, the private contract should define precisely what is being transferred and what happens if the activity cannot continue. Depending on the case, protections may include seller warranties, documentary conditions, administrative confirmation, price allocation, retention or a right to withdraw.
Do not assume that a licence can be obtained after completion. Availability may be restricted by current policy, zoning, moratoria, caps or property characteristics. If rental income is essential, treat the absence of confirmed authorisation as a fundamental investment risk.
Do not assume automatic transfer. The applicable category and current procedure must be reviewed, and ownership change may require specific steps.
No. Property type alone is insufficient; zoning, planning legality, availability of tourist places and current regulation also matter.
Eligibility can be more restrictive and may also be affected by community rules. Obtain property-specific advice.
No. Online advertising does not prove a valid, transferable or fully compliant tourism authorisation.
Ask an independent English-speaking property lawyer to verify the title, planning position, debts and contracts before you pay a deposit.