PropertinspainBuying in Spain from abroad

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Buying property on the Costa Brava

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

Quick answer

The Costa Brava is the rocky coast of the province of Girona, with coves, fishing villages and urbanisations, and the second-highest foreign share in Catalonia. Check the coastal law, access and slopes, wind, fire risk and the strict tourist-let rules. Ask your notary to calculate the tax on the scale.

Applies toBuyers considering a flat, village house or villa on the Costa Brava.

On this page: 13 sections
  1. The coast
  2. The market
  3. Taxes
  4. Coastal law
  5. Slopes and access
  6. Wind and fire
  7. Communities and villas
  8. Tourist lets
  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 coast

The Costa Brava runs along the province of Girona from the French border to near Barcelona. It has rocky coves, pine-covered slopes, fishing villages, small ports and, in places, urbanisations built for holidays. This page belongs to the chapter on Catalonia step by step.

§ 2The market

The registry reports that foreigners made up 25.48% of home purchases in the province of Girona in the second quarter of 2026, against 17.63% for Catalonia. We found no official average for the Costa Brava, so we print none. Prices differ widely between a village flat and a villa above a cove. Ask local agents for recent sales.

§ 3Taxes

The housing resale transfer tax is the average of a scale of four brackets, from 10% to 13%, set by the regional decree-law we read. Ask your notary to calculate it for your price. The costs section explains.

§ 4Coastal law

Homes near the shore are subject to the coastal law, which protects a zone of 100 metres inland from the shore. Ask your lawyer and the coastal service for the certificate described in the ministry FAQ.

§ 5Slopes and access

Cove villas stand on steep slopes with narrow roads. Check parking, winter access and the cost of works on a slope. Retaining walls and drainage deserve a survey.

§ 6Wind and fire

Strong winds blow on this coast, and wooded slopes carry fire risk in hot dry weather. Ask the town hall about the zone and clearing duties. The location checks section explains.

§ 7Communities and villas

Apartments are in communities, so ask for the statutes, accounts, minutes and reserve fund. Villas bring checks on licences, pools, water and sewage. The property types section explains.

§ 8Tourist lets

A decree-law requires a prior planning licence for tourist use in the 262 municipalities of its annex, with a licence that lasts five years and a cap of ten per hundred inhabitants. We did not read the municipal rules, so ask a local lawyer.

§ 9Who it may suit

It may suit buyers who value coves, nature and an international market, and who accept winding roads. Barcelona explained covers Barcelona to the south and buying in Costa Dorada covers the sandy Costa Dorada.

§ 10What we could not verify

We found no official average for the coast and did not read the municipal rules or the fire rules.

§ 11Questions to ask on site in this place

Ask about the licence status, community works and any tourist-use restriction on 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 summer and in winter, because coastal towns and mountain villages change character with the season. 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

Ask the notary to calculate the tax on your price before you sign a private contract. 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 Catalan rules, since tourist-use and planning rules are strict. The legal process section explains the contract and the deed.

§ 13More on this topic

Sitges explained explains what to check when buying in Sitges.

FAQRelated questions

Is the foreign share high?

In Girona province, roughly one purchase in four during April to June 2026 involved a foreigner, according to the registrars, which is well over the Catalan figure. That describes the clientele and says nothing about a given cove.

Are the coves accessible?

Many homes stand on slopes with narrow winding roads. Walk and drive the route, check parking, and ask about winter access, deliveries and fire-engine access before you commit.

Is fire a risk?

Pine-covered slopes burn in dry, hot weather, so find out the council’s fire zoning, the vegetation clearance expected of owners and whether engines can approach. Tell your insurer. The location checks part shows how to judge exposure.

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.