Horcajo regulates the cleaning of vacant lots with fines of up to 10,000 euros

The City Council of Horcajo de las Torres has finalized the Municipal Ordinance Regulating the cleaning of lands and plots in urban, developable, and rural soil, published in full in the Official Gazette of the Province of Ávila no. 220, of November 13, 2026, with the official reference 2218/26. The initial plenary agreement, adopted on August 27, 2026, was automatically finalized as no claims were filed during the public exhibition period. The regulation comes into force the day after its publication, that is, on November 14, 2026.

From plenary approval to the full text

The publication is carried out in compliance with article 17.4 of Royal Legislative Decree 2/2004, of March 5, which approves the Revised Text of the Law Regulating Local Treasuries, and bears the signature of the mayor, Tomás Sanz Sánchez, dated November 3, 2026. The ordinance is based on the municipal competence regarding health and urban planning under article 25.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, regulating the Bases of the Local Regime.

The text justifies the intervention given the situation in the province following the waves of forest fires in recent years, which “forces a review of the current regulations,” and is coordinated with the City Council’s own Fire Prevention Plan. The stated objective is to achieve an adequate state of cleanliness and conservation of the properties and to reduce both the risk of production and propagation of fires.

Obligations for all owners

The scope of application covers all plots, parcels, and vacant building lands within the municipal district, regardless of the soil category. The obligated parties are:

• The owners, natural or legal persons, public or private, or their successors.
• Whoever is listed as such in public registries with a presumption of ownership.
• Failing that, whoever appears in tax registries, such as the Cadastre.
• Or, finally, whoever is publicly and notoriously the owner.

Cleaning deadlines are staggered differently depending on the soil: the obligation is permanent in urban and developable soil, while the rest of the lands must be cleared before June 1 of each year, with an initial action in urban and developable soils before that date. The Mayor’s Office will send a reminder proclamation at least three months prior to the expiration of the deadline.

The text incorporates specific limitations to avoid interfering with agricultural activity or environmental protection: clearing on arable land or pastures shall be adapted to crop, fallow, and grazing cycles; intervention regarding protected species will require sectoral authorization; and any action in forests or within the 400-meter strip surrounding them shall be subject to the regulations of the Junta de Castilla y León regarding the use of machinery, especially during periods of high fire risk.

Fines from 1,000 to 10,000 euros and 50% reduction

The sanctioning regime classifies non-compliance as a minor infringement, pursuant to Article 115.1.c) of Law 5/1999, of April 8, on Urbanism of Castilla y León. The fine is set between 1,000 and 10,000 euros, according to the following scale:

• Minimum of 1,000 euros for the minimum degree and maximum of 10,000 euros for the maximum degree.
• Grading according to Article 117.2 of Law 5/1999 and, supplementarily, Article 29.3 of Law 40/2015.
• A reduction of 50% if the alleged infringer acknowledges their responsibility and pays voluntarily before the resolution, waiving any action or appeal through administrative channels.
• Procedure processed via a simplified route, as the infringement is regulated as minor, pursuant to Article 96.5 of Law 39/2015.
• A resolution period of six months from the start, extendable by another three.
• Statute of limitations for the infringement at four years and for the sanction at one year from its finality.

The competence to initiate and resolve the proceedings corresponds to the mayor or the council member to whom it is delegated, according to Article 357.1 of Decree 22/2004, of January 29, which approves the Urbanism Regulations of Castilla y León.

Subsidiary execution and appeal process

Alongside the sanction, the city council may act directly on the land through subsidiary execution: it will issue execution orders and, in case of non-compliance, will carry out the work itself or through third parties, charging the obligated party for all expenses, damages, and losses. The amount may be demanded through the enforcement procedure once the voluntary payment period has expired, and collection may be delegated to the service of the Provincial Council of Ávila. This mechanism is compatible with the imposition of sanctions.

An administrative-law appeal (recurso contencioso-administrativo) may be filed against the agreement within two months from the day following the publication of the announcement, before the administrative-law chamber of the High Court of Justice of Castilla y León. The ordinance repeals any previous regulations that oppose what is regulated herein.

The regulation turns the cleaning of plots into an enforceable obligation with its own calendar and direct economic consequences for all property owners in the municipality, including the holders of unregistered estates, whom it identifies through the cadastre. The City Council of Horcajo de las Torres thus has an instrument for urban discipline and fire prevention that combines prior warning, execution at the owner’s expense, and economic sanctions.

Source: Official Gazette of the Province of Ávila, no. 220, November 13, 2026, Local Administration (official reference: 2218/26).