Initial Registration of Tourist Activity

Initial Registration of Tourist Activity for Holiday Accommodation in Dwellings (ETV)

Real Estate and Tax Law – Balearic Islands

The tourist rental of homes (ETV – Estancias Turísticas en Viviendas) is one of the most regulated activities in the Balearic Islands. To operate legally, the owner must complete the initial registration of tourist activity by submitting a DRIAT (Declaración Responsable de Inicio de Actividad Turística), which serves as a declaration of compliance with the law and enables immediate commencement of the activity.

At Frau Legal, our real estate lawyers in Mallorca explain the requirements, documentation, and procedure to obtain your ETV license according to the current Balearic tourism regulations.

1. What type of properties can be marketed as ETV in Mallorca?

Single-family detached houses

A single-family detached house is one where only one dwelling exists per plot. However, after preliminary administrative review, exceptions may apply when multiple dwellings on the same plot meet similar conditions to single-family units.

Semi-detached houses

A semi-detached dwelling refers to two single-family houses that share a dividing wall. These are allowed under the ETV system as long as each is considered an independent property with its own utilities and cadastral reference.

Properties not eligible for ETV

Tourist rental is prohibited in:

Multi-family buildings (apartments, flats).
Terraced houses under a community property regime.

Capacity and usage limits

Maximum of six bedrooms per dwelling.
Maximum of 12 guests.
One bathroom per every three beds.
Rental period: cannot exceed two months per year.

2. Documentation required for ETV registration

To begin the activity, the following documents must be presented to the Tourism Department of the Consell de Mallorca:

DRIAT form (Responsible Declaration of Tourist Activity), correctly filled in.
Proof of identity and representation of the applicant.
Descriptive technical report including:
- Property address, name, group, and category.
- Plot size and total surface area.
- Detailed list of accommodation units (bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, terraces).
- Description of buildings, floors, and common areas (reception, swimming pool, gym, parking, etc.).
Plans or sketches of the property showing all relevant details.
Payment of stamp duties (tax per bed).
ETV self-evaluation questionnaire duly completed.

3. Procedure for registration

Once all documents are ready, the process is as follows:

Step 1: Submission of DRIAT

The DRIAT is submitted to the Consell Insular de Mallorca.
This declaration allows the immediate start of the activity (without waiting for prior approval).

Step 2: Verification and inspection

According to Decree 13/2011, the authorities will inspect the property to confirm that:

The data in the DRIAT matches the actual condition of the property.
The property complies with tourism and urban planning regulations.

If false or incorrect information is detected, the license will be suspended, and the registration cancelled from the Tourism Registry.

Step 3: Correction period

If any documentation errors are found, the applicant has 10 days (as per Law 30/1992) to correct them.

4. Legal framework for short-term tourist accommodation

According to Article 50 of Law 8/2012 on Tourism in the Balearic Islands, it is possible to rent residential properties for short stays (less than two months), as long as it complies with the tourism law and does not fall under the Urban or Rural Rental Acts.

Compulsory tourist services (Article 51 of Law 8/2012)

All ETV properties must provide the following services:

Regular cleaning of the dwelling.
Bed linen, towels, and household supplies.
Maintenance of facilities and appliances.
Customer service during working hours.

Additionally, under Article 52, ETV properties may be subject to quality control plans set by the Balearic Government.

5. Why is legal advice essential for ETV registration?

The ETV process involves strict compliance with both tourism and urban planning regulations. Any error in documentation or property classification can result in penalties or license suspension.

At Frau Legal, our lawyers specialized in real estate and tourism law assist you with:

Legal verification of property eligibility.
Drafting and submission of the DRIAT.
Preparation of the technical documentation.
Liaison with the Tourism Department of the Consell Insular.
Post-registration compliance and inspections.

If you own a property in Mallorca and wish to market it for tourist use, contact us to ensure your activity is 100% legal and compliant.
📞 +34 971 22 80 36

Initial Registration of Tourist Activity