Suances approves the new ordinance for the use and enjoyment of its beaches

The Plenary Session of the Suances City Council, in an ordinary session held on August 10, 2026, has definitively approved the modification of the Ordinance regulating the Use and Enjoyment of the Beaches of the municipal district, after dismissing the allegations presented during the public information process. The agreement, signed by Mayor Andrés Ruiz Moya on August 18, 2026, is published in the Official Gazette of Cantabria number 164, dated August 26, 2026, with reference CVE-2026-6645 and file 2026/137.

The modification was initially approved by the City Council Plenary on April 6, 2026 and, in accordance with articles 65.2 and 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime, the full text enters into force once the scheduled period has elapsed. The regulation applies to the maritime-terrestrial public domain and the beaches of the municipality, which are classified into three categories.

• Urban beaches: La Concha, La Ribera, and La Riberuca.
• Peri-urban beaches: Los Locos and La Tablía.
• Rural beach: El Sable.

Bathing season and signaling

The bathing season is set between June 1 and September 30, with bathing hours from 11:30 to 19:30, unless the Mayor’s Office approves other dates or times. The surveillance, rescue, and lifesaving service will be provided in accordance with the Government of Cantabria regulations regarding minimum staffing for each summer campaign.

Signaling is organized through flags with a minimum size of 1 x 1.20 meters, with three risk levels:

• Green: suitable for bathing.
• Yellow: caution, bathing with restrictions.
• Red: bathing prohibited, with verbal warning from rescue personnel.

Water sports and vessels

During the bathing season and hours, at the beaches of La Concha, Los Locos, and El Sable, preferential bathing zones are reserved for up to three-quarters of the usable surface, where the practice of surfing, paddle surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking, and jet skiing is prohibited. Surf schools will have a signaled area of at least one-quarter of the beach, and must identify their students with lycra-type markers and respect the Code of Good Practices in Annex I.

The practice of water sports is prohibited on the beaches of La Ribera and La Riberuca, while in La Tablía, which lacks a rescue service, schools may operate under safety conditions. Sports and recreational navigation is prohibited in exclusive bathing zones, and the launching and beaching of vessels must be done through signaled channels, with authorization from the Coastal Demarcation.

Animals, fishing, and prohibitions

The presence of animals is prohibited during the bathing season, with exceptions for dogs:

• In La Concha, La Ribera, and La Riberuca, dog access is only permitted from 21:00 to 9:00 hours.
• In Los Locos and El Sable, it is prohibited at all times.
• In the Campo de Tiro area (Annex I) and the designated area of La Riberuca, access is permitted all year round.

Shore fishing is prohibited between 09:00 and 22:00 hours during the season, and the use of metal detectors is restricted from 21:00 to 9:00 hours. Camping, the parking of caravans and motorhomes outside authorized areas, street vending without a permit, and access with glass containers are prohibited.

Sanctioning Regime

Infractions are classified as minor, serious, and very serious, with fines of up to 750 euros for minor offenses, from 751 to 1,500 euros for serious offenses, and from 1,501 to 3,000 euros for very serious offenses. If the offender pays within 10 calendar days of notification, the sanction is reduced by 50%. The sanctioning procedure, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor’s Office, must be resolved within a maximum of six months.

The new ordinance, which repeals previous provisions that conflict with its content, directly affects bathers, surf schools, tourism companies, and holders of seasonal services in the coastal municipality, and reinforces security, public health, and environmental protection on the Suances coastline.

Source: Official Gazette of Cantabria, no. 164, August 26, 2026, pp. 40333-40351 (official reference: CVE-2026-6645, file 2026/137).