Processing a building permit in Valencia is the first step before starting any refurbishment or construction. Below, we explain everything you need to know.
Procedures with the Ayuntamiento to refurbish your dwelling
Refurbishing a dwelling in Valencia requires, without exception, processing a municipal permit. However, not all works require the same type of licence.
The Ayuntamiento distinguishes three main pathways, and choosing the correct one avoids delays, penalties, and unnecessary costs.
1 – Prior Communication of Works
2 – Responsible Declaration
3 – Major Works Licence
At BTTEstudio Arquitectura, we manage dozens of refurbishments each year, and this is the definitive guide to understand what permit you need according to the work you wish to carry out.
1. Prior Communication of Works (CPO)
The simplest option for small refurbishments that do not affect structure or façade.
The Prior Communication applies when the action is for maintenance or interior renewal. To use it, the work must meet three mandatory conditions:
- Does not alter structural elements.
- Does not affect the façade of the building.
- Is not carried out in a listed property or one undergoing listing.
What works can be done with Prior Communication in a dwelling?
In kitchens
- Replacement of flooring, tiling, and false ceilings.
- Change of kitchen furniture that involves work.
- Renewal of plumbing.
- Interior electrical installation.
In bathrooms and toilets
- New flooring and coverings.
- Replacement of sanitary ware with work.
- Improvement of electrical installation.
- Renewal of plumbing.
In the rest of the dwelling
- Plastering, chipping, and painting.
- Replacement of flooring when there is no overlap or increase in loads.
- Internal joinery.
- False ceilings.
In common areas: lobbies and staircases
- Change of flooring.
- Tiling.
- Maintenance of existing installations.
2. Responsible Declaration (DR)
For more significant refurbishments, but without touching structure or altering volume.
The Responsible Declaration is used for actions that go beyond maintenance, but do not involve structure or substantial modification of the building.
It is used for refurbishments where partitions are modified, the entire layout is altered, integral installations are changed, or interventions on façades are made as long as there is no protection and it does not affect structural elements.
This is a more technical procedure and requires:
- Plan of the current and refurbished state.
- Technical project or validated technical report (depending on scope).
- Health and Safety Study if there is work with risk.
- Execution budget.
- In the case of a façade, photographic study and aesthetic justification.
Key advantage:
The DR is very quick: it allows the work to start upon presenting the documentation, although the Ayuntamiento may require additional information.
For typical full refurbishments of dwellings (kitchen, bathroom, installations, new layout), this is usually the most common route.
3. Major Works Licence
Mandatory for structural refurbishments or large-scale interventions.
The Major Works Licence is required when the refurbishment:
- Modifies structure (floors, columns, beams).
- Increases usable or built area.
- Changes the use of the property (from commercial to residential, for example).
- Affects protected elements or the PEC (Cabañal, Ciutat Vella…).
- Incorporates complete rehabilitation actions.
- Involves new-build or demolition.
Required documentation
- Preliminary design + execution project.
- Health and Safety Study.
- Site supervision (Architect + Surveyor).
- Urban planning fees.
- In protected buildings: specific heritage reports.
Real timelines
- Between 12 and 24 months, depending on administrative load and project complexity.
All official information regarding licences is available on the Ayuntamiento de Valencia portal.
You may also be interested in: new-build in Valencia and errors in full refurbishments.
