Fuengirola council teams have cleared motorhomes and caravans from the Feria grounds and repainted all parking and market stall markings with stricter dimensions to stop oversized vehicles.

None of the fresh spaces measure large enough for a motorhome, so none can park legally inside the lines anymore. Motorhomes or caravan towers that attempt overnight stays by crossing the designated lines could receive fines reaching €200.

Motorhome bone of contention

Neighbours in surrounding flats have been voicing complaints for years over the site operating as an unofficial and free camping ground without proper facilities, particularly for grey water discharge that creates unpleasant smells and potential hygiene hazards in the neighbourhood.

Motorhome websites continue to recommend Fuengirola Feria grounds as a free overnight parking spot even after these updates took effect. Motorhomers, while welcome holidaymakers in Fuengirola, will now have to find legal pay sites to camp at.

Feria grounds gain over 700 regulated parking bays

Services from Fuengirola Council push forward with the council parking plan through reorganisation at the Feria grounds. This work supplies more than 700 units for car parking and adds to nearly 500 created earlier in the mandate for a running total above 1,200 spaces.

Mayor Ana Mula inspected the road markings and stated that the Feria grounds always acted as a major parking zone but never received proper regulation or ordering. Teams examined methods to use the asphalt patches at the entrance where fairground attractions normally locate, plus the edges of central and lateral streets.

Changes in the central zone around the casetas have now introduced one-way traffic heading to the Palacio de la Paz, while parking becomes possible on both road sides. Mula said that these modifications will make 700 parking places available for local residents and bring the overall figure close to 1,200 from fresh actions and reorderings such as this in Fuengirola.

Additional parking expansions planned for coming months

Works begin shortly on the initial phase of Montaña del Deporte in Los Pacos to introduce 56 extra spaces in that district.

Designs also include over 1,000 parking spots under the future Santa Fe-Antonio Basilio stadium in Los Boliches once the licensing contracting finishes.

Fuengirola residents at the end of their tether with motorhomes and caravans taking over

Owners of holiday homes in Spain who rent out their properties while they are away are about to gain clear advantages from a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that eliminates the national registry for short-term tourist rentals.

This decision overturns a requirement introduced by the coalition government last July forcing property owners to register and obtain a number before advertising on platforms such as Airbnb. This will come as a relief to thousands of holiday homeowners who rent out their property when they are not around.

Several regional governments challenged the measure successfully, arguing the central government overstepped the mark in its powers in the area. Spain’s highest court agreed that the state lacked any authority to impose a national registry on top of similar ones already operating at a regional level. Data sharing requirements for the platform continue as they were before under the court decision.

Holiday rental landlords gain from less red tape

Property owners will gain from simpler processes when listing properties for short-term stays. Compliance becomes less complicated and less expensive for those who already hold valid regional licences. Time previously spent on duplicate paperwork can now support other aspects of the rental business such as marketing and guest services.

Regional rules shape rental landscape for owners

Spain contains around 3.5 million second homes, or holiday homes, that represent roughly 13 to 14.6 per cent of the total housing stock of 27 million dwellings. Foreigners, especially British individuals who cannot spend the entire year in Spain due to post-Brexit Schengen rules, own many of these properties.

Before the national registry, autonomous regional communities handled rules independently with wide variation in strictness. Catalonia, especially Barcelona, and the Balearic Islands applied the toughest controls through compulsory licences zoning limits, bans, moratoriums and fines up to €600,000. The Valencian Community followed closely with urban reports and caps in high-pressure zones. However, Andalucia and Galicia offered more flexible approaches via straightforward declarations and low-cost processes that suited compliant owners in areas such as Costa del Sol. That system now comes back into effect following the court’s decision on government overreach. These regional frameworks will stay in force and continue to determine approvals, operations and local caps.

Platforms keep data sharing duties under EU rules

Rental platforms maintain an obligation to provide data about their listings to the authorities. European Union regulations still permit collection of such information on short-term accommodation without need for a national registry. EU authorities can still access details needed for enforcement and statistics through already established digital channels.

Outlook brightens for short-term accommodation providers

Individuals who rent out holiday homes will now experience greater ease in managing their businesses. Focus now changes back toward guest satisfaction and property maintenance instead of extra national bureaucracy. Spain continues to attract large numbers of visitors who prefer apartment stays over hotel options, with nearly one third choosing individual accommodation. This outcome supports balanced regulation while respecting regional competences in tourism and housing matters.

Cyclists in Spain could lose access to some hard shoulders under new road regulations that allow authorities to redesign certain interurban roads and replace shoulders with segregated cycle lanes. The changes stem from Boletín Oficial del Estado publication of Royal Decree 899/2025, which updates aspects of Spain’s road infrastructure framework.

The reform permits the reduction or removal of hard shoulders on selected roads where protected cycling infrastructure is introduced. The regulation does not impose a nationwide ban on cyclists using hard shoulders. Under existing Spanish traffic laws, cyclists are still generally permitted to ride on the hard shoulder of interurban roads where it is considered passable and sufficiently safe.

Existing Rules for Cyclists Remain Largely Unchanged

For many years, Spanish traffic regulations have required cyclists travelling on interurban roads to use the hard shoulder whenever possible. These rules remain in place in areas where traditional road layouts continue unchanged. The latest reform instead focuses on infrastructure adaptation. Authorities may now redesign some roads by converting sections of the hard shoulder into dedicated cycle lanes separated from vehicle traffic.

The measure is intended to improve safety by creating clearer separation between cyclists and motor vehicles, particularly on roads with high traffic volumes or limited shoulder space. Spanish media reports clarified that the reform affects only roads selected for redesign and does not remove cyclists’ right to use remaining hard shoulders elsewhere in the country.

Segregated Cycle Lanes Could Replace Traditional Shoulders

Under the updated framework, regional and local authorities will be able to modify road layouts to introduce protected cycling infrastructure. In practice, this means some roads may no longer include the wide hard shoulders traditionally used by cyclists. Instead, cyclists would be directed onto newly created segregated lanes running alongside or adjacent to the roadway. The aim is to reduce direct interaction between bicycles and faster-moving traffic.

Spain has increased investment in cycling infrastructure in recent years, particularly in urban and suburban areas. However, interurban cycling routes have often continued to rely on hard shoulders rather than dedicated lanes. The new rules could therefore represent a gradual shift in how cycling infrastructure is designed outside cities, especially on routes frequently used by recreational cyclists and training groups.

Safety Concerns Have Long Been Part of the Debate

Road safety has been a recurring issue in discussions surrounding cycling in Spain. Cyclists have traditionally shared roads with cars, vans and heavy vehicles on many interurban routes, particularly in rural areas. Cycling organisations and road safety groups have repeatedly called for greater physical separation between bicycles and motor traffic following a number of serious accidents involving cyclists on Spanish roads.

Supporters of segregated infrastructure argue that dedicated lanes reduce collision risks by removing cyclists from direct traffic flow. Critics, however, have raised concerns that narrowing or removing hard shoulders could affect emergency stopping space for vehicles on some roads. The decree itself focuses on enabling infrastructure flexibility rather than mandating a uniform national design. Decisions on whether to alter specific roads will depend on local and regional authorities.

Changes Likely to Be Introduced Gradually

The reform does not require immediate changes across Spain’s road network. Any modifications to road layouts would be introduced progressively through infrastructure projects approved by the relevant authorities. As a result, cyclists will continue using hard shoulders on the vast majority of interurban roads for the foreseeable future. Only roads selected for redesign would see changes to the current arrangement.

Drivers travelling in Spain may eventually encounter more roads featuring separated cycling lanes rather than traditional shoulders shared with bicycles. However, implementation timelines are expected to vary between regions. The regulation forms part of broader efforts to adapt Spanish transport infrastructure to changing mobility patterns, including increased cycling participation and updated road safety planning.

Cyclists Still Allowed on Most Interurban Roads

Despite some reports suggesting cyclists are no longer allowed on hard shoulders in Spain, the legal position remains more limited in scope. The reform allows certain shoulders to be removed where alternative cycling infrastructure is built, but it does not prohibit cyclists from using hard shoulders nationwide.

Current traffic regulations requiring cyclists to use passable hard shoulders where available remain in force unless specific road redesigns alter the infrastructure. The changes therefore represent a potential restructuring of selected roads rather than a blanket restriction on cycling access across Spain’s transport network.