PropertinspainBuying in Spain from abroad

Note

Buying property in Lanzarote: what to check

By Daniel WhitcombeReviewed by Marta Calderón IbáñezPublished Updated Stage 3: Choose where and what

Quick answer

Lanzarote is a volcanic island of dark landscapes and low white houses, with a protected reserve and strict building rules. Check what the planning rules allow, water, wind and salt, and the licence and registry of any villa. Tourist use needs enabling under the 2025 regional law.

Applies toBuyers considering a villa, apartment or village house in Lanzarote.

On this page: 13 sections
  1. The island
  2. The market
  3. Taxes
  4. Planning and protected scenery
  5. Water
  6. Wind, salt and dust
  7. Coast and volcanic risk
  8. Tourist use
  9. Who it may suit
  10. What we could not verify
  11. Questions to ask on site in this place
  12. Before you pay a deposit in this place
  13. More on this topic
Checked 26 October 2026by Marta Calderón Ibáñez. Claims on this page are tied to the sources listed at the end.

§ 1The island

Lanzarote is a volcanic island in the east of the archipelago, with black lava fields, vineyards in pits and low white houses. Much of it is a protected reserve. The resorts stand on the south and east coasts, and villages lie inland. This page belongs to the chapter on buying a home in Canary Islands.

§ 2The market

The registry reports that foreigners made up 26.55% of home purchases in the province of Las Palmas in the second quarter of 2026, against 29.33% for the Canary Islands. The regional average price was €3,052 per m². We found no island-level average, so we print none.

§ 3Taxes

The Ministry of Finance table updated in September 2026 gives the general resale transfer tax in the Canary Islands as 6.5%. We did not verify the rate of the islands’ own indirect tax on new homes, so confirm it. The costs section explains.

§ 4Planning and protected scenery

The island’s building tradition and protected status can limit works. Ask the town hall in writing what is allowed on the plot before you plan an extension or a pool. A lawyer should verify the licence and the registry. The property types section explains villas and pools.

§ 5Water

Fresh water comes mainly from desalination. Ask what the home pays and whether it has a tank, and read the location checks section on water.

§ 6Wind, salt and dust

The wind carries salt and volcanic dust. Check windows, shutters, metalwork and paint, and visit on a windy day.

§ 7Coast and volcanic risk

Coastal homes are subject to the coastal law, which protects a zone of 100 metres inland from the shore. Ask the island authority about volcanic risk zones and the insurer about cover.

§ 8Tourist use

A 2025 regional law requires prior enabling by urban planning and a registration number for tourist use. Municipal rules and community statutes add limits.

§ 9Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who value unusual scenery and accept wind and strict planning. Homes in Fuerteventura covers Fuerteventura nearby and Gran Canaria explained covers Gran Canaria.

§ 10What we could not verify

We found no island average and did not read the planning rules or the civil protection plans.

§ 11Questions to ask on site in this place

Ask about volcanic and coastal risk, the water supply and the licence of the building. Ask the community administrator, if there is one, for the statutes, the last accounts and the minutes of the previous meetings. Visit in more than one season and on both sides of the island, because the north and the south differ in weather. Write down the answers and compare them with the documents your lawyer receives from the registry and the town hall.

§ 12Before you pay a deposit in this place

Check the transfer tax rate on the date of your deed, because the regional rules can change. Have your lawyer check the title, the licences and the charges first, and keep the deposit small and refundable on conditions. Choose a lawyer who knows island rules and the regional indirect tax on new homes. The legal process section explains the contract and the deed.

§ 13More on this topic

Tenerife explained explains what to check when buying in Tenerife.

FAQRelated questions

Why are building rules strict?

The island’s scenery is protected and it has a tradition of low white buildings. Planning rules can limit height, colour and extensions, so ask the town hall in writing what is permitted before you plan works.

Is water a concern?

Fresh water comes mainly from desalination, so the cost and supply matter. Ask what the home pays and whether there is a tank, and check the roof and gutters for collecting rain where the rules allow.

Is wind a problem?

Often. The island is windy, and salt and volcanic dust wear materials. Check windows, shutters and metalwork, and visit on a windy day.

Sources

About this page

Written by

Daniel Whitcombe

Writer, buying and living in Spain

Daniel writes the chapters on how a purchase runs, who can buy, where to buy and how to check a location. He writes for readers who are new to the Spanish system and prefers plain explanations that name the official source. He is not a lawyer or adviser.

Reviewed by Marta Calderón Ibáñez, chief editor and source editor, 26 October 2026. Checked: Figures and rules checked against the official texts listed below

Found an error? Report it. Each report gets a dated reply, and confirmed corrections are logged on the updates page.

General information only. This is not legal, tax or financial advice. Check your own situation with a qualified adviser.