Berge approves the ordinance regulating the leasing of rural plots

The Berge City Council has definitively approved Ordinance No. 21 regulating the leasing of municipally owned rural plots, the full text of which is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Teruel no. 185, dated September 28, 2026, under reference 2026-2778. The regulation establishes the access requirements, the auction procedure, a base fee of 60 euros per hectare per year, and sanctions of up to 300 euros. It will enter into force the day following its full publication, in accordance with articles 65.2 and 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime.

The approval is definitive because no claim was filed against the initial approval agreement, published on August 3, 2026, in issue 145 of the Official Gazette of the Province of Teruel. The file is processed in compliance with article 17.3 and 4 of the Recast Text of the Law Regulating Local Treasuries, approved by Royal Legislative Decree 2/2004, of March 5.

The ordinance is based on articles 184 and 185 of Law 7/1999, of April 9, on Local Administration of Aragon, and on articles 99 to 105 of the Regulation of Assets, Activities, Services, and Works of Local Entities in Aragon, approved by Decree 347/2002, of November 19. The affected assets are of a patrimonial nature, and forestry uses—which maintain their specific regulation—as well as wasteland, mountainous areas or broken orography, and protected areas are excluded from the regulation.

Requirements to apply for plots

Those who jointly meet these conditions may be holders of the land use:

• Be a natural person over 18 years of age, or an emancipated minor, and not be judicially disqualified.
• Prove to be up to date with state and regional taxes, Social Security, and the Berge City Council.
• Be registered as a resident in the municipality uninterruptedly for the last five years, as these are neighborhood land uses.
• Assume the land use personally and directly: subletting and any transfer to third parties are prohibited.

In the event of the death of the holder or a subsequent illness, the spouse or descendants may continue for the remaining time until the end of the award. The awards are temporary, revocable, and do not generate real rights over the plot.

Auction, priorities, and duration

The ordinary procedure is a public auction, announced in the Official Gazette of the Province and on the municipal electronic office, with a period of 15 business days to submit proposals in a sealed envelope to the Mr. Mayor-President. An Auction Board evaluates the offers and proposes a successful bidder. Price is the primary criterion; if there are not enough plots for farming, the priority is as follows:

• Registered professional farmers.
• Residents who lack their own land.
• Families who are permanent residents of the municipality.
• Young farmers.
• Applicants who demonstrate better agricultural utilization.

The duration of the utilization is five years from the notification of the award, extendable for another five years by express agreement, not to exceed ten years. More than one plot may not be leased to the same bidder or to relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity.

Fee, payments, and sanctions

The initial fee is set in each auction with these base prices:

• Full plot: 60 euros per hectare per year.
• Part of a plot: 0.87 euros per square meter per year.

The amount will be updated annually based on the variation of the Consumer Price Index and is exempt from VAT pursuant to Article 20, paragraph 23, of Law 37/1992, of December 28. Payment must be made within the first fifteen days of each year; in the first fiscal year, it is paid upon award. If one month passes without the first fee being paid, the award becomes null and void.

The sanctioning regime distinguishes three degrees of infringement:

• Minor: 100 euro fine.
• Serious: 200 euro fine, including breach of conditions, failure to exploit the plot directly, or failure to pay the fee.
• Very serious: 300 euro fine, for accumulating three serious infringements in one year.

Serious or very serious infringements also entail the revocation of the concession. The Mayor monitors the ordinance, and serious doubts or controversies are referred to the City Council Plenary.

The regulation governs the use of municipal assets that until now lacked a regulated procedure and conditions access for residents with deep roots, by requiring five years of uninterrupted registration. For farmers and residents of Berge, the text establishes clear prices, deadlines, and sanctions for the first time, and reserves the plots for personal exploitation, with the stated objective of avoiding hoarding and subletting.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Teruel, no. 185, of September 28, 2026, section I, pág. 19-26 (official reference: 2026-2778).