The Council has approved the ordinance for pastures and mountain fences

The Karrantza Valley Council has definitively approved the ordinance regulating the Use of Pastures and Mountain Highlands, published in the Official Gazette of Bizkaia (BOB) number 167, on September 2, 2026. The City Council approved the provisional regulation in its ordinary meeting on June 26, 2026, and, as no claims were submitted during the public exhibition period, it has become definitive.

The regulation has been made definitive in accordance with Article 16.3 of the Foral Regulation 9/2005 on Natural Areas of the Historical Territory of Bizkaia, and the full text has been published. The document was signed by Mayor Raúl Palacio Portillo on August 24, 2026, and the official reference is BOB-2026a167-(II-4621).

Purpose of use and beneficiaries

The ordinance regulates the use of pastures created in public mountains for cattle, horse, and goat farming. The Department of Agriculture, through the Mountain Service, may authorize the use of pastures under the conditions established by the regulations.

The use may be requested by:

• Residents of the municipality of Karrantza.
• Residents who have signed agreements with the Council on this matter.

Beneficiaries must meet the following conditions:

• Be of legal age.
• Be registered in the municipal area of Karrantza for at least 3 years.
• Actually reside there for at least 10 months per year.
• Be the holder of a cattle, horse, and/or goat farming operation.

Request and canon

The use shall be granted upon the applicant’s request, and the application must include the full name, profession, address, reasons for the request, the identification number of the livestock to enter the pasture, and a commitment to accept the ordinance. A certificate from the Mayor’s office must also be attached to verify residency and actual domicile. If any condition is missing, the Council will grant a period of 10 days to correct it; otherwise, the request will be archived.

Livestock farmers must pay an annual canon, established by the City Council, taking into account agricultural criteria and current legislation. Furthermore, following Foral Decree 222/2005 of the Department of Agriculture of the Foral Deputation of Bizkaia, a winter rest period has been established, lasting 2 months from January 1st to May 15th.

Obligations and penalties

Users must use the pastures within the periods established by the Council and shall not use them for any other purposes. They must comply with livestock health regulations and participate in sanitation campaigns, both for those in the operation and those entering the pasture. Likewise, they must be prepared to participate in community work and pay the costs for maintaining the pasture.

The City Council may revoke the permit, among other reasons, for not using the pasture, causing damage to the mountain, failing to pay the fee, losing neighborhood or residency status, or using the pasture for purposes other than those authorized. Furthermore, if unauthorized livestock enter, users must remove them or immediately notify the Municipal Agriculture and Mountains Committee.

Appeals and Effect

Against the agreement, interested parties may file an administrative appeal before the Administrative Courts of Bilbao, in accordance with Article 46 of Law 29/1998, within a period of two months starting from the day following the publication of the announcement. The ordinance also establishes the obligation to respect the easements of pastures and mountains, and the City Council and Provincial Councils may carry out inspections at any time.

The new regulations will organize and regulate livestock activity in the Karrantza Valley, ensuring the sustainable exploitation of public mountains and the protection of small local economies, giving priority to neighbors exclusively dedicated to livestock farming in situations of saturation.

Source: Official Gazette of Bizkaia, number 167, September 2, 2026, section II, pp. 1-4 (official reference: BOB-2026a167-(II-4621)).