Palma Announces Full Ban on New Tourist Rental Accommodation
Immediate Freeze on Tourist Apartment Growth
Palma’s Town Planning Department will implement an immediate ban on new tourist rental accommodation approvals across the entire municipality starting Tuesday. The municipal government confirmed this significant policy shift through an official statement, marking one of Europe’s strictest regulations on vacation rentals in an urban center.
Urban Planning Amendment Details
Technicians from the Urban Planning Department have drafted a specific modification to Palma’s 2023 General Plan that declares all residential zones unsuitable for new tourist stays in homes (ETVs). This unprecedented measure prevents any increase beyond the current 4,473 legally authorized tourist accommodation places distributed across 632 properties:
- 381 properties in central Palma
- 76 in Playa de Palma/Can Pastilla
- 175 in rural areas
Long-Term Reduction Strategy
The amendment establishes mechanisms for gradual reduction of existing tourist rentals through non-renewal of temporary licenses and elimination of relocation rights. City officials confirmed the cancellation of 374 planned new tourist rental places, including 231 in urban zones and 143 in rural areas that were previously approved.
Comprehensive Tourism Management Approach
Mayor Jaime Martínez Llabrés emphasized this initiative fulfills his commitment to address Palma’s housing challenges and tourism saturation. “This forms part of our destination quality improvement strategy,” stated the mayor. “We’re simultaneously combating illegal accommodations while preserving residential neighborhood character.”
The policy aligns with Palma’s broader urban regeneration efforts including:
- Suspension of new hostel licenses
- Proposed ban on “party boats” in port areas
- Enhanced civic coexistence ordinances
- Expanded tourist police presence in Playa de Palma
Implementation Timeline and Next Steps
Following initial approval by the Town Planning Department, the amendment will proceed to Palma’s Governing Board for ratification before final consideration by the full City Council. Urban planning experts from the Universitat de les Illes Balears note this represents Mallorca’s strongest regulatory action since the 2017 tourism law.
The municipality’s Demographic and Tourist Control Center will monitor impacts using real-time data analytics, part of Palma’s smart city infrastructure developed through collaboration with Spanish tourism sustainability experts.
For official documentation and implementation details, reference the original government announcement.
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