PAPERWORK, HANDLED
Renovation Permits in Tenerife
Every renovation on this island comes with paperwork most homeowners have never seen before — licencias, architect projects, municipal taxes. This page explains how it works. And when you're ready, we handle it with you: one point of contact, following your file from first drawing to final approval.
THE TWO WORDS THAT SHAPE EVERY RENOVATION
Obra menor or obra mayor?
Which licence your renovation needs decides the timeline, the cost, and whether an architect must sign the project. This is the first question we answer for every client.
licencia de obra menor
The lighter licence.
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Non-structural works: new bathroom or kitchen in the same place, flooring, finishes
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Simpler application, shorter waiting time
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Usually no full architect's project required
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Lower municipal costs
licencia de obra mayor
The full project.
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Structural changes: removing walls, extending terraces, replacing verandas, relocating kitchens
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Requires a signed architect's project (proyecto técnico)
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Longer municipal review — patience is part of the plan
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Municipal taxes (ICIO and tasa) apply on the works value
WHAT WE TAKE OFF YOUR PLATE
You own the home. We chase the paperwork.
We assess which licence your renovation needs, bring in the right architect, prepare the file, and follow the application through the town hall — so you always know where things stand, in your own language.
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Assessment: obra menor or mayor, before anything is planned
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Architect coordination — drawings, the technical project, and every signature
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Application preparation and submission at the ayuntamiento
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Follow-up until approval, with clear updates along the way
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Community of owners: we flag when their authorisation is needed, and help prepare it
One thing we're always transparent about: under Spanish law, the permit is granted to you as the owner, and architect fees and municipal taxes are separate cost lines from our fee.
ICIO, tasa, and the architect.
Three costs travel with a permit, and none of them are ours: the ICIO (a municipal tax on the value of the works), the tasa (the town hall's processing fee), and the architect's fee for the technical project. We list them separately in every plan, estimate them honestly upfront, and never mark them up.
If you have doubts.
Contact us for more information specific to your project.
Arbe-Blog
Read more: the town hall costs nobody mentions upfront →
Frequently asked questions
Can I start the works while the permit is being processed?
Who applies for the permit — you or me?
Do I need a permit to renovate my home in Tenerife?
What happens if my home has unpermitted works from a previous owner?
Do I need the community of owners' approval too?
How long does a licencia de obra mayor take?
ONE POINT OF CONTACT
Nothing lost in translation.
Tell us what you want to change, and we'll tell you which licence it needs — honestly, and before anything is planned.
