Estepona Streamlines Business Opening Procedures

New technical instruction aims to cut bureaucracy and clarify requirements for opening businesses in Estepona

Estepona Town Hall has approved a new technical instruction designed to simplify and speed up the process of opening businesses and starting economic activities. This measure is crucial for residents looking to launch new ventures and for professionals preparing the necessary documentation.

The instruction adapts municipal procedures to the new Andalusian Environmental Management Law (LEGAM), which has been in force since 20 June. While a new municipal ordinance is being drafted to fully regulate these processes, the Town Hall has established provisional guidelines to provide greater clarity for both entrepreneurs and the professionals assisting them.

Commerce Councillor, Antonio Montes, stated that the initiative aims to reduce bureaucracy and simplify procedures for anyone wishing to open a business in the municipality. He explained that the Commerce department created this instruction to clearly outline the required documentation and steps.

The new technical instruction includes form templates and a catalogue that helps identify the specific environmental procedure required for each activity. This allows interested parties to easily determine whether they need an environmental licence, a responsible declaration of environmental effects, or simply a responsible declaration of activity. Montes emphasised that the primary goal is to reduce unnecessary administrative hurdles and, where possible, prevent subsequent requests for additional documentation or clarifications, thereby ensuring more efficient processing of applications.

With this step, Estepona Town Hall seeks to facilitate adaptation to the new regional legislation and provide certainty and guidance during this transitional period, until the future municipal ordinance, which will replace the regulation in force since 2012, is approved.