San Lorenzo de El Escorial approves the ordinance for fourth-category weapons

The City Council of San Lorenzo de El Escorial has definitively approved the regulatory ordinance for the possession and use of Category 4 weapons, the full text of which is published in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid number 202, dated August 25, 2026 (pages 229 to 237). The regulation, initially approved by the Plenary in the session of April 30, 2026, became final as no allegations were presented during the public exhibition process.

The text was forwarded to the General State Administration and the Community of Madrid in accordance with Article 56 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime, without any notification being received within the established period. The ordinance enters into force fifteen business days after its publication in the gazette.

Regulatory Framework and Municipal Competencies

The ordinance is based on Organic Law 4/2015, of January 29, on the Protection of Citizen Security, which assigns the regulation of weapons to the Government, and the Arms Regulations, approved by Royal Decree 137/1993, of January 29, which documents Category 4 weapons through the weapons card issued by the Mayor’s Office. Until now, the municipality lacked its own regulation to specify these state provisions at the local level.

The regulation distinguishes between two subcategories of weapons:

• Category 4.1: semi-automatic and repeating rifles and pistols, and double-action revolvers powered by air or other compressed gas, as well as recreational-sporting weapons with an automatic firing system.
• Category 4.2: single-shot smoothbore or rifled rifles and pistols, single-action revolvers, and single-shot recreational-sporting weapons powered by a spring.

Weapons Card and Requirements

The weapons card, issued by the Mayor’s Office, authorizes the carrying and use of a Category 4 weapon outside the home and must be carried at all times. Two types are established:

• Type A Card: allows for the inclusion of up to a maximum of six weapons of category 4.1, with a maximum validity of five years.
• Type B Card: allows for an unlimited number of weapons of category 4.2, with permanent validity.

To be a holder, it is required to be over fourteen years of age, be registered as a resident in the municipality, have no criminal record, prove psychophysical aptitude and knowledge of weapon handling, and not have shown behavior contrary to the obligations of the holder. The card is only valid within the municipal boundaries and does not authorize hunting; therefore, the holder must also possess a hunting license.

Obligations, Deadlines, and Sanctioning Regime

The ordinance sets communication obligations to the City Council with specific deadlines:

• Declare the acquisition of a weapon at the residence within fifteen days.
• Report the loss, destruction, or theft of the weapon within a maximum of three days.
• Report the transfer of the weapon within seven business days, with a document signed by both the transferor and the acquirer.

Infractions are penalized with fines of up to 700 euros for minor offenses and up to 1,500 euros for serious offenses, which occur when three infractions are committed within one year. The procedure to issue or renew the card includes a mandatory report from the Local Police and an inspection of the weapon, and must be resolved within a maximum period of three months.

Relevance for the municipality

The new ordinance provides San Lorenzo de El Escorial with a tool to standardize police intervention and prevent risks in an area with a large number of recreational-sporting weapons on the market. An administrative appeal against the final approval may be filed before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the High Court of Justice of Madrid within two months of its publication.

Source: Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid, no. 202, August 25, 2026, section III (Local Administration), pp. 229-237 (official reference: file 03/13.464/26).