Andorra tightens building regulations with new environmental and accessibility requirements

The Government of Andorra has approved a new Building Regulation updating construction standards across the Principality, introducing changes related to accessibility, sustainability, housing conditions and urban planning.

The regulation, approved under Decree 449/2026 of November 4, also updates administrative procedures governing construction projects and residential properties.

The reform reflects legislative changes introduced in recent years, particularly those concerning land-use planning, universal accessibility and the circular economy.

The Government has also consolidated the various amendments to the Building Regulation adopted since 2020 into a single document.

The new framework establishes minimum mandatory building standards, while allowing Andorra's parish councils, known as comuns, to impose stricter requirements through their local urban development plans.

New accessibility requirements for buildings and homes

One of the most significant changes is the regulation's alignment with the Universal Accessibility Law adopted in November 2025, which establishes standards to ensure that urban spaces and buildings are accessible to everyone.

The updated rules introduce requirements covering accessible routes, communal areas within buildings and accessibility conditions for residential properties.

Construction projects must also include the necessary documentation demonstrating compliance with accessibility standards.

The aim is to establish consistent criteria for construction professionals and the public authorities responsible for overseeing building projects.

Stricter controls on construction waste

The new regulation also incorporates obligations arising from the 2022 Circular Economy Law, which identifies construction as one of the sectors with the greatest potential to reuse materials and reduce waste generation.

The rules strengthen requirements for the proper management of materials generated by construction activities and for documenting how waste is handled.

They also regulate waste management certificates and the documentation required to recover financial guarantees deposited for certain construction projects.

The Government aims to encourage more resource-efficient and environmentally responsible construction, promoting material reuse and reducing the sector's environmental impact.

Housing occupancy certificates to be processed digitally

Another significant change concerns administrative procedures related to residential properties.

The regulation consolidates the Digital Register of Housing Occupancy Certificates (RICCH) as the centralised system for processing, managing and recording applications for housing occupancy documents.

According to the Government, the system is already fully operational and allows administrative procedures related to housing standards to be handled electronically.

The regulation also maintains oversight mechanisms for residential properties and allows government technical services to carry out inspections to verify compliance with the applicable requirements.

Easier renovation of buildings intended for residential rentals

The new regulation also incorporates an exceptional framework established under legislation concerning sustainable growth and the right to housing, designed to facilitate certain renovation and change-of-use projects.

Under specific conditions, buildings that do not comply with current urban planning rules may be renovated and used entirely for residential rental housing, provided all applicable legal requirements are met.

The exemptions may cover certain requirements relating to parking spaces, lifts, and the ventilation and lighting of stairwells.

However, these exemptions are conditional on maintaining the buildings' residential rental purpose.

Properties benefiting from this exceptional framework cannot be used for tourist accommodation, while any subsequent sale or change of use requires the building to be brought into compliance with the applicable urban planning regulations beforehand.

Changes for agriculture and livestock farming

The reform also introduces changes aimed at facilitating certain activities within Andorra's primary sector.

The new regulation updates planning conditions for agricultural, livestock, forestry and beekeeping facilities, seeking to support their development while preserving the landscape and natural environment.

At the same time, the regulation updates terminology relating to natural hazards and revises technical standards for buildings located in areas exposed to such risks.

A single regulation replaces the 2020 framework

The Government has also consolidated regulatory amendments adopted over the past six years into one comprehensive text.

The new Building Regulation replaces the framework approved in May 2020 and its subsequent amendments, with the aim of making the rules easier to consult and providing greater legal certainty for construction professionals.

The reform received a favourable opinion from the Technical Urban Planning Commission and will enter into force the day after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Andorra (BOPA).

With this update, Andorra is bringing its construction framework into line with new urban planning, environmental and accessibility standards, at a time when housing availability and urban development remain central issues in the country's political and economic debate.