In short: Reformas Cantabria works in all 102 municipalities of Cantabria from its base in Santander. In most coastal towns, an interior renovation that does not touch the structure is filed with the town hall as a responsible declaration (declaración responsable); new buildings and works on protected buildings need a licence. The rules below come from each town hall's official forms, consulted on 15 October 2026.
The 10 districts of Cantabria
Bahía de Santander, Besaya, Trasmiera, Costa Oriental (eastern coast), Costa Occidental (western coast), Valles Pasiegos, Saja-Nansa, Liébana, Campoo-Los Valles and Asón-Agüera. These are the traditional districts (comarcas) of Cantabria, not an administrative division. In Bilbao and Bizkaia we only take on large projects.
What the regional law says
Cantabria's planning law, Ley 5/2022 de Ordenación del Territorio y Urbanismo, sets two main routes:
- Responsible declaration (declaración responsable) for works on existing buildings that are minor and technically simple and need no project, and for most works that do need a project, unless the building is protected, its height or footprint changes or the built area grows. The declaration takes effect when it is filed with all the documents; the town hall checks it afterwards.
- Licence (licencia) for new buildings, rebuilding, demolitions, fences and the works not covered by a declaration.
Each town hall can have its own bylaw and forms. Most of them ask you to pay the municipal tax on building works (ICIO) and the town hall fee before filing.
Source: Ley 5/2022, consolidated text in the BOE, articles 232 to 234, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Santander
Our base is in Santander, at Calle Fernando de los Ríos 30.
In Santander, minor works are filed as a responsible declaration at the town hall's online office, with one version for works that occupy the public road (scaffolding, skips) and another for works that do not. A licence is kept for specific cases, such as façades, roofs or windows of protected buildings, trenches or fencing. You pay the planning fee and the ICIO beforehand; for in-person filing, the town hall indicates a payment of 6 % of the construction budget, excluding VAT.
Source: Santander online office, declaración responsable de obra menor sin ocupación de vía pública, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Torrelavega
28 km, about 24 minutes from Santander.
In Torrelavega, most home renovations are filed as a responsible declaration for minor works (declaración responsable de obra menor) at the town hall's online office. You attach a description with the quote itemised by job and proof of payment of the ICIO and municipal fees. If the works change the interior layout or the external windows and doors, the town hall also asks for a technical supervisor.
Source: Torrelavega online office, declaración responsable de obra menor, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Castro-Urdiales
69 km, about 53 minutes from Santander, on the eastern coast.
In Castro-Urdiales, the renovation of a flat or a shop is filed with municipal form 8969, a responsible declaration for works that do not need a licence. Before filing, you pay the fee and the ICIO at the town hall's finance department and gather the contractor's itemised quote and photos of the area. Buildings in the historic quarter (Conjunto Histórico-Artístico) need a licence. You fill in the form on the town hall website and file it at the online office or any official registry.
Source: Castro-Urdiales town hall, declaración responsable de obras y actuaciones no sujetas a licencia urbanística, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Laredo
49 km, about 38 minutes from Santander.
Laredo has its own bylaw for responsible declarations, published in the Official Gazette of Cantabria on 19 November 2025. A renovation of an existing building is filed with the municipal form and the self-assessed ICIO and fee, and the bylaw says it is resolved on the spot. The exception is the old town (Puebla Vieja), where works that need a project still require a prior licence. The municipal forms set the ICIO at 4 % of the construction budget.
Source: BOC of 19 November 2025, CVE-2025-9648 (copy on laredo.es) and the responsible declaration form, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Noja
44 km, about 41 minutes from Santander.
In Noja, works on existing buildings that do not need a licence are filed with the municipal responsible declaration form. If the renovation removes partition walls or changes the layout, you add plans of the current and planned state and a supervision sheet signed by a registered architect or engineer. The form asks for proof of payment of the fee and the ICIO, and gives two months to start the works and one year to finish. It is filed at the planning department, Plaza de la Villa 1, or at the online office.
Source: Noja town hall, declaración responsable de obras en edificaciones existentes, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Santoña
47 km, about 39 minutes from Santander.
Santoña publishes a responsible declaration form for works without a project, with specific examples: renewing interior finishes, replacing wall and floor tiles, or replacing bathroom fittings and the kitchen. Removing a non-structural partition wall is also included, with a certificate from a technical professional. To replace windows, the colour and pane layout must stay the same, and only in buildings that are not protected. The form goes with the quote describing the works and photos of what will be changed.
Source: Santoña town hall, modelo de obra menor sin proyecto, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Suances
31 km, about 29 minutes from Santander.
Suances uses a single responsible declaration form for uses and works, covering the cases in article 234 of Ley 5/2022. For a renovation without a project you attach a site plan, a description of the works, the quote broken down with measurements and labour, and the self-assessed ICIO or fees. The same form asks whether there will be scaffolding. It is handed in at Plaza de Viares 1 or through the online office.
Source: Suances town hall, declaración responsable de obras y usos, consulted on 15 October 2026.
San Vicente de la Barquera
61 km, about 45 minutes from Santander, on the western coast.
In San Vicente de la Barquera, the online office handles small renovations as a minor works licence (licencia de obra menor). It covers works without a project that do not change the volume, the use or the number of homes, and do not affect the exterior design, the foundations or the structure. The application includes a description, the location, the cadastral reference and the quote, plus the agreement of the owners' association if shared parts of the building are affected. It is filed at Calle Alta 10 or at the online office. The town hall's page still cites the previous planning law.
Source: San Vicente de la Barquera online office, «Licencia de obra menor», consulted on 15 October 2026.
Comillas
55 km, about 45 minutes from Santander, on the western coast.
Comillas has an online office, but it does not publish the details of the works procedure openly. Before you start, ask the town hall which route your renovation needs. Under Ley 5/2022, minor works that need no project can go through a responsible declaration.
Source: Comillas online office, consulted on 15 October 2026.
Who prepares the paperwork
You, as the owner, are the one who files. We prepare the description of the works, the itemised quote and the waste documents, coordinate the architect or engineer when the works need a project, and help you through the procedure with the town hall.
No obligation. Also on WhatsApp.