Terque sets the minimum distance for livestock farms at 500 meters

The Terque City Council has made final the initial plenary agreement approving the municipal ordinance regulating the minimum distance of livestock farms from the urban center, as no claims were filed during the public exhibition period. The full text is published in the Official Gazette of the Province of Almería no. 188, corresponding to Tuesday, September 29, 2026, under reference 2506/26 and in the Local Administration section. The regulation sets 500 meters as the general separation from residential urban land and raises the threshold to 3,000 meters in the case of swine.

Legal Framework and Processing

The initial agreement of the Plenary dates from June 20, 2026, and its elevation to final status occurs in compliance with Article 70.2 of Law 7/1985, of April 2, Regulating the Bases of the Local Regime. The edict was signed in Terque on September 14, 2026, by the mayor-president, José Daniel Herrada Chueco.

The ordinance, titled “Minimum distance of livestock farms to the urban center,” is justified in its statement of motives by the right to the protection of health and the environment recognized in Articles 43 and 45 of the Spanish Constitution. The text is also published on the municipal web portal, https://www.terque.es.

Distances by Species

Separations are established based on the livestock species and the size of the farm, and are measured from the point of the buildings or outdoor areas housing the animals closest to the line defining the residential urban land:

• Rabbit: 500 meters.
• Poultry: 500 meters.
• Sheep and goat: 500 meters.
• Bovine: 500 meters.
• Equine over 2 LSU: 500 meters.
• Swine: 3,000 meters.

For species not listed, the distance of the most similar one will apply, and manure pits, slurry lagoons, and livestock waste management facilities shall maintain the same distance as the farms to which they belong.

Scope of Application and Exceptions

The ordinance affects all livestock farms, manure pits, slurry lagoons, and livestock waste management facilities that, from its entry into force, were not active and registered with the OCA nor possessed the corresponding updated and valid municipal license.

Excluded from its scope are livestock farms for self-consumption, which may be located within the population center provided they comply with the sectoral and animal welfare legislation applicable to them, as well as the equine species that do not exceed 2 LSU.

Licenses and Control

The granting of municipal licenses is the responsibility of the mayor, and private individuals, entities, and public administrations intending to establish a livestock or similar activity within the municipal district of Terque are required to obtain a prior license. Regarding inspection and sanctions, the ordinance refers to the provisions of the sectoral regulations and the corresponding regional environmental law in effect at any given time.

The entry into force of this ordinance directly affects the plans of livestock farmers and developers projecting new facilities in the municipality, as any operation that is not active or registered in the OCA must comply with the new thresholds before obtaining a license. The text is available to interested parties both in the provincial bulletin and on the municipal website.

Source: Official Bulletin of the Province of Almería, no. 188, September 29, 2026, Local Administration, pgs. 21-22 (official reference: 2506/26).