Prior notification of works: when it is used and what documentation you need

What prior notification is

The comunicación previa (prior notification) is a simplified procedure by which certain works are notified to the town hall, providing the documentation required by the municipal ordinance. It is more agile than a licence, but it is not available for every work.

Not every small work is prior notification

It is a frequent mistake to assume that 'minor works' are always processed by prior notification. The classification of each work depends on each municipality's ordinance and on the type of work: whether it affects the structure, the façade or the layout, among other factors. The correct approach is to check which procedure applies before filing anything.

What technical documentation is usually needed

Depending on the case and the ordinance, the notification may require:

• 01A descriptive report of the works.
• 02Plans or measurement of the current and the intended state.
• 03The works execution budget.
• 04Property documentation: cadastral reference and basic registry data.

And if the works need a licence

If the check determines that the works require a works licence, the corresponding procedure must be prepared, including the technical project when the works require it. Knowing this from the start avoids beginning with the wrong procedure.