Municipal crews dismantle unauthorised restaurant terrace after six years

For six years a restaurant terrace on Carrer Na Maria Pla occupied public space without a permit or payment of the required fees. The capital’s council had originally authorised a temporary occupation in 2019, but that authorisation expired on 31 December 2019 and was not renewed by the business, which kept the terrace in place.

Council inspectors and traffic officers issued repeated verbal warnings and requests to regularise the situation, asking the proprietor either to obtain the necessary permit or to remove the unauthorised furniture. In August this year the government board granted a new annual, renewable authorisation for the terrace, but made it conditional on payment of outstanding fees for 2022, 2023, 2024 and the current year — a debt of about €6,250. The owners were given 15 days to settle the debt; the authorisation would lapse if the amount was not paid.

A resolution confirming the lapse was notified on 17 September. The council then sent a letter ordering removal of the furniture before 1 December 2025 and warned that, if the terrace was not removed voluntarily, municipal crews would do so and the costs would be charged to the establishment under terrace regulations. The council also published an edict in the official bulletin (BOPA) on 17 November to notify the proprietor, but the notification was not collected.

After the business ignored the instructions, municipal workers attended Carrer Na Maria Pla this morning, dismantled the unauthorised terrace and cleaned the area. Fencing was placed around the space and signage will be painted on the road in the coming hours to prevent the occupation from recurring.