Casa Rural and Rural Tourism Regulations in the Valencia Region
Rural tourist accommodation in the Valencian Community is regulated under Decree 184/2014 of October 31 by the Consell. This decree establishes the legal framework for rural tourism accommodation within inland areas of the region and defines the requirements, classifications, and obligations for owners.
Definition of Rural Tourist Accommodation
Rural tourist accommodation refers to the activity carried out by natural or legal persons who, regularly and for a fee, offer accommodation services in inland establishments in the Valencian Community.
Exclusions
The following are excluded from this regulation:
Establishments located in municipalities bordering the sea
Municipalities linked to metropolitan areas
Municipalities whose land use and occupation do not follow a traditional rural model
However, exceptions can be made in special circumstances if the establishment is in an area of agricultural, livestock, or forestry interest or of cultural, environmental, or visual value, subject to a mandatory and binding report from the local tourism authority.
Types of Rural Tourist Accommodation
The following types are recognized:
Casa Rural (Rural House)
Camping on private property with an inhabited home
Albergue Rural (Rural Hostel)
Classification
Casas Rurales are classified into 1 to 5 stars
Tourist Hostels are classified as standard or superior
The “Luxury” label may only be granted to 5-star rural houses
What is a Casa Rural (Rural House)?
A “Casa Rural” is a dwelling used regularly for tourism purposes. It must occupy all or part of a building, have an independent entrance to the property or street, and typically include a ground floor, first floor, and attic. It may be operated for exclusive or shared use. Maximum capacity: 16 beds.
Categories of Casa Rural
a) Casa Rural – Masía, Alquería, or Riurau
Provided in standalone buildings over 50 years old
Must reflect traditional architecture of the area
Certified by the local town hall
b) Casa Rural de Pueblo (Village House)
Located within the urban center
Preserved or renovated with traditional architecture and materials
May include “Casa de Pueblo” in the name, certified by the town hall
Other traditional names may be used with proper justification
Signage
All establishments must display a standardized plaque next to the main entrance indicating their category (stars for rural houses).
General Requirements for Rural Tourist Accommodation
Supplies and Services
Reliable water and energy supply
Drinking water certified for human use
Authorized waste and sewage disposal
Telephone communication (if not on site)
First aid kit
Fire prevention and extinguishing systems as per legal requirements
Information on local pharmacies, banks, and tourist resources
Heating in all rooms and shared spaces
Buildings
Must be in good condition
Cannot be located within state or regional road networks or near landfills or pollution sources
Common Areas and Furniture
Minimum of 2 m² per guest, never less than 14 m² total
Furniture in good condition with sufficient seating for all guests
Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Ventilation
Kitchens and bathrooms must have direct or forced ventilation
Shared spaces must have ventilation to the outside or open patios
Rooms must have insulation from noise and light
Specific Requirements for Casa Rural
Hot water in kitchens and bathrooms
Lighting and sockets in all rooms
Bathroom per every 6 beds:
2 bathrooms up to 12 beds
3 bathrooms over 12 beds
Independent living-dining room unless local architecture dictates otherwise
Extra Beds
Allowed in bedrooms exceeding 25% of minimum surface
Up to 4 beds per room
No extra beds in living or dining rooms
Shared Accommodation
May offer full board, half board, or breakfast
If meals are not provided, guests must have access to kitchen, fridge, and oven
Daily room and bathroom cleaning
Linen and towel changes every 3 days or with each new guest
Laundry/ironing service or access to washing machine and iron
Non-Shared Accommodation
Must provide kitchen equipment and fuel
Double towel and linen service for stays over 3 days
Administrative Requirements
Notification and Registration
Operators must notify the Tourism Administration and submit the standard form (Annex III), along with:
ID or registration document
Proof of water and electricity supply
Certificate of drinking water quality compliance (RD 140/2003)
Waste collection service confirmation
Fire safety compliance certificate (as per Technical Building Code)
Occupancy license or housing compliance certificate
Environmental compliance document
Certification of specialty classification (if applicable)
Registration Procedure
Upon submission, the Tourism Service will register and classify the establishment. If deficiencies are found, corrective action must be taken. Major issues may lead to cancellation of classification.
Grounds for Deregistration
Non-compliance with technical or legal requirements
Inactivity without justification
Committing serious administrative infractions
Not beginning activity within two months of notification
Operating Period and Closures
Owners must inform the Tourism Administration of operational dates and any closures. Closures over 9 months (unless for renovation) result in removal from the Registry. Owners must reapply to reopen.
Modifications
Any change affecting classification, capacity, ownership, name, or facilities must be reported. The Registry will be updated accordingly.
Camping on Private Property
Camping is allowed on private land with an inhabited home if:
It is offered regularly and for a price
It takes place in tents or caravans
It does not exceed a total of 16 guests (including house guests)
Albergue Rural (Rural Hostels)
Tourist hostels are collective lodging facilities offered regularly and for a price. They must:
Be authorized establishments
Offer shared rooms with or without additional services
Have a minimum capacity of 17 beds
Special regulations of “Albergue Rural” in the Valencia region
DECRETO 184/2014, de 31 de octubre, del Consell, regulador del alojamiento turístico rural en el interior de la Comunitat Valenciana.
Article 6. Tourist Hostel. Tourist hostel accommodation is understood to be accommodation offered, on a regular basis and for a fee, in an establishment authorized to accommodate travelers in collective facilities with multiple rooms, with or without additional services. Hostels shall have a minimum capacity of 17 places.
Article 27. Building and capacity
- The minimum capacity of the rooms will be 8 beds, and the establishment may have other types of rooms with a smaller capacity provided that the number of places in these rooms does not exceed 30 percent of the total capacity of the establishment.
Article 29. Particularities The type of accommodation in a tourist hostel will have the following particularities:
- Breakfast and lunch service may be offered, or the use of kitchens may be facilitated.
- It must have common dining and recreation areas in different spaces.
- The establishment will be equipped with hot and cold water in bathrooms and kitchen; showers, sinks and toilets at a rate of one for every 6 places; and laundry and sink at the rate of one for every 10 places.
- The rooms will be equipped with a locker or locker with a key for each accommodation place.
Article 30. Communication of commissioning and tourist classification. Obligation – Declaración Responsable
- The notification of commissioning and tourist classification, which is mandatory for the exercise of the activity, will be made in a standardised form in accordance with the provisions of Decree 184/2014, of 31 October, of the Consell 10 of 17 in article 20 of this decree, accompanied by the documentation referred to in section 3 thereof.
- Said standard form, in accordance with Annex III of this decree, shall contain a declaration of responsibility by the interested party in which he or she shall expressly state:
- a) That it holds the availability of the property for use as rural accommodation, tourist hostel modality.
- b) That the establishment has the general and specific technical requirements required by this regulation for its classification in the category communicated, and that it undertakes to maintain them during the validity of the activity.
- c) That it has a certificate issued by a competent technician that certifies that the establishment complies with the basic safety requirements in the event of fire determined by the Technical Building Code for public residential use.
- d) That it has a certificate issued by a competent technician stating that the establishment complies with the provisions of current regulations on accessibility in public buildings and in the urban environment.
- e) That the establishment has the mandatory licences or authorisations for the exercise of the activity whose concession is the responsibility of other departments or public administrations.
Where appropriate, in case the establishment is located on common rural non-developable land, it will be expressly declared that the declaration of community interest (DIC) has been obtained that attributes the corresponding tourist use and exploitation or, where appropriate, that it has obtained its exemption in accordance with current urban planning legislation. 3. The provisions of Articles 21 to 24 of this decree shall apply to these establishments.
Tourist Establishments on Non-Developable Land: Declaration of Community Interest (DIC)
When a tourist establishment is located on common rural land that is not developable, it is essential to comply with a specific urban planning requirement: the Declaration of Community Interest (DIC). This declaration is the legal instrument that allows the land to be used for tourist purposes, which, due to its classification as non-developable, would not be permitted in general.
In other words, the DIC is a special authorisation that recognises that the tourist activity to be carried out on that land is in the public or community interest, thus justifying an exception to the urban planning regulations that prohibit the construction or development of non-agricultural activities on non-developable land. Without this declaration, the tourist establishment would not be able to operate legally.
Exemptions to the DIC
It is important to note that current urban planning regulations may provide for exemptions from the obligation to obtain the DIC in certain cases. These exemptions usually apply to very specific establishments or under very strict conditions, for example, pre-existing buildings with a traditional rural use that are minimally adapted for tourist purposes, provided that they do not involve a substantial alteration of the environment. In these cases, it must be expressly stated that the establishment has obtained such exemption and complies with all the requirements established for this purpose.
Additional Regulations: Articles 21 to 24
In addition to the DIC or its exemption, tourist establishments located on non-developable land shall be subject to the provisions of Articles 21 to 24 of the decree referred to above. These articles are likely to address key issues such as:
- Specific conditions for construction: Restrictions on height, surface area, materials, integration into the landscape and respect for the rural environment.
- Service and infrastructure requirements: Access to basic services (water, electricity, sanitation) and the obligation to ensure that no negative impact is made on existing infrastructure or the environment.
- Restrictions on use and activity: Possible restrictions on the type of tourist activities that may be carried out, the maximum accommodation capacity or the operating conditions to ensure compatibility with the rural character of the land.
- Environmental and landscape protection measures: Obligations to minimise the visual, acoustic and environmental impact of the establishment, promoting sustainability and landscape conservation.
In summary, operating a tourist establishment on non-developable land involves a rigorous regulatory framework, the cornerstone of which is obtaining the Declaration of Community Interest (or exemption from it), supplemented by the specific guidelines detailed in Articles 21 to 24 of the corresponding decree. All of this seeks to ensure that tourism development is compatible with the protection of the rural environment and its values.
Provision of food and drinks to guests
In general, food can be provided in a B&B, a rural house or a rural hostel in Spain, but it is crucial to understand that this is highly regulated and depends on several factors, including:
- The specific type of accommodation:
- B&B (Bed & Breakfast): By definition, B&Bs include breakfast. Offering other meals (lunch, dinner) will depend on the tourist licence and specific health regulations that apply. In many cases, they are allowed to offer breakfast and, occasionally, dinner to guests staying overnight, provided they comply with food handling regulations.
- Rural houses:
- Entire house rental: If the house is rented as a whole, it usually has a fully equipped kitchen for guests to prepare their own meals. If the owner wishes to offer meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner), they must comply with catering establishment regulations (hygiene, food handling, specific licences for dining rooms/restaurants). Some rural houses have agreements with local restaurants to offer home delivery or takeaway meals to their guests.
- Room rental (rural tourism): In this type of accommodation, it is more common for breakfast to be offered. Lunch and dinner may be compulsory or optional depending on regional regulations and the category of the establishment, provided that the health and catering licence requirements are met.
- Rural hostels: Hostels often have a shared kitchen for guests and/or offer meals (breakfast, dinner) for guests. To offer meals, they must comply with food hygiene and safety regulations and have the necessary licences for catering.
- Regional regulations: Responsibility for tourism and food safety has been transferred to the autonomous communities in Spain. This means that the specific requirements for offering food may vary slightly from one community to another (for example, in the Valencian Community where you are located, the regulations may have specific features). It is essential to consult the regulatory decree on rural tourist accommodation in the relevant autonomous community.
- Royal Decree 1021/2022, of 13 December: This Royal Decree regulates ‘certain hygiene requirements for the production and marketing of food products in retail establishments’ and is very relevant for accommodation providers that prepare and serve food.
- It establishes conditions for hygiene, handling and labelling.
- Key point: In general, food prepared in ‘premises’ (which could include kitchens in tourist accommodation with certain characteristics) may not be served for consumption on the premises, unless authorised by the competent authority of the autonomous community. This highlights the need for specific authorisation from each autonomous community.
- It imposes restrictions on the type of food that can be prepared (e.g. food that has undergone sufficient heat treatment, bakery and pastry products that are stable at room temperature).
- It requires that prepared products be labelled ‘Prepared in a private home’ and indicate the date of preparation.
- It prohibits domestic animals from entering food preparation areas.
- Licences and permits:
- In addition to the tourist accommodation licence, if a catering service is offered to guests or even to the public, specific activity licences for catering (bar, café, restaurant) are usually required.
- A HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan or an equivalent self-monitoring system will be required to ensure food safety.
- Staff handling food must have appropriate training in food handling.
Please note that if you decide to provide food in your business, in addition to complying with safety, health, fire and emergency plan protocols, etc., you must obtain a food handler’s licence in Spain.
This is normally obtained through a training course of around 150 hours, and is usually in Spanish (we believe there are some training courses in English), except if you obtain it in an EU country in accordance with EU legislation. In this case, you will only need to register and obtain approval in Spain.