The Costa Brava has strong seasonal holiday-let demand — but in 2026 the binding question is not yield, it is the licence. Across the prime towns, new tourist licences are frozen or capped, so the single most important rule for an investor is simple: buy a property that already holds a valid, transferable tourist licence.
The licence is the asset
To let short-term to tourists on the Costa Brava you need a tourist-use dwelling licence — a HUTG number (Habitatge d’Ús Turístic, Girona province). Under Catalonia’s Decret Llei 3/2023 these now require a five-year urban-planning authorisation, and municipalities are capped at ten tourist licences per hundred inhabitants. The cap is applied town by town: a municipality at or over the ceiling cannot grant net-new licences until — and unless — it adopts a plan that allows a limited number in designated zones. An existing, valid HUTG generally transfers with the property, which is exactly why it has become a scarce and valuable asset.
Town by town (2026)
| Municipality | New licences | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Begur | Frozen / over cap | Well over the ceiling; new licences not reliable |
| Palafrugell (Llafranc/Calella/Tamariu) | Suspended | Processing of new licences suspended; over cap |
| Pals | Closed | Among the most over-subscribed; must reduce by 2028 |
| Cadaqués | Moratorium | Suspended pending a special plan; large reduction modelled |
| Castell-Platja d’Aro (incl. S’Agaró) | Over cap | Must roughly halve stock by 2028 |
| Calonge / Sant Antoni | Over cap | Designated; must reduce |
| Lloret de Mar | Closed | No new licences; only transfers and de-registrations |
| Tossa de Mar | Limited, zoned | Fixed ceiling (1,522) with marginal headroom in some zones only |
Position current to mid-2026. Municipal moratoria are renewed, lifted or replaced on a rolling basis — always verify with the relevant ajuntament and a local lawyer before purchase.
The EU registry
Since 1 July 2025, Spain’s short-term-rental registry (implementing the EU framework) requires every short-term or seasonal rental advertised on a digital platform to carry a registration number (the NRA), displayed on all listings, in addition to the regional HUTG licence. Without the number, platforms must remove the listing. In Catalonia the NRA now replaces the obligation to display the Catalan registry number, though the underlying HUTG remains the substantive licence.
Returns — realistically
Costa Brava demand is strong but highly seasonal, concentrated in summer and around the shoulder months, which caps annual occupancy. Returns depend heavily on the property, its position, the licence and professional management; prime sea-view stock tends to deliver modest gross yields, with much of the long-term value in capital appreciation and personal use rather than pure cash flow. Non-resident owners pay non-resident income tax (IRNR) on rental income, with local tourist-tax and reporting obligations. Model conservative occupancy and net of all costs — and treat any headline yield with caution. This guide is general information, not investment advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I still get a tourist licence on the Costa Brava?
Rarely, and it depends entirely on the town. Under Catalonia’s Decret Llei 3/2023, tourist dwellings need a five-year urban-planning licence and municipalities are capped at 10 per 100 inhabitants. Most prime Costa Brava towns are at or over that cap and have frozen or suspended new licences, and several must reduce their stock by 2028. The safe assumption is that a new HUTG cannot be obtained — so buy a property that already holds one.
What is a HUTG number?
HUTG is the registration code for a legally licensed tourist-use dwelling (Habitatge d’Ús Turístic) in the province of Girona, which covers the Costa Brava. The dwelling must hold a valid habitation certificate, be let whole (not by room) for stays of 31 days or less, and display the registration number. Without it, short-term tourist letting is not legal.
Which Costa Brava towns allow new tourist licences?
Very few in the prime belt. Begur, Palafrugell, Pals, Cadaqués, Castell-Platja d’Aro, Calonge, Torroella-L’Estartit, Lloret de Mar and others are at or over the cap, with freezes, moratoria or required reductions. Tossa de Mar set a fixed ceiling with limited zoned headroom. Because the position is municipality-specific and changes on a rolling basis, it must be checked town by town with the ajuntament at the time of purchase.
Do I need to register my Costa Brava holiday let with the EU?
Yes. Since 1 July 2025, Spain’s short-term-rental registry (under the EU framework) requires every short-term or seasonal rental advertised on a platform to carry a registration number (NRA), displayed on all listings, in addition to the regional HUTG licence. Without the number, platforms must remove the listing.
How does the Costa Brava compare with Barcelona and Sitges?
The Costa Brava is more permissive than Barcelona city — where the tourist-licence category is being abolished entirely and all licences expire by end-2028 — but in its busiest towns it is just as closed to new entrants as Sitges, where the cap has been reached. Across all three, value now sits in an existing, valid, transferable licence rather than the hope of obtaining a new one.