Ordino Eases Riverbank Land Rules for Agriculture

Ordino has eased restrictions on land modifications for agricultural use near rivers, following recent tweaks to the parish's urban planning framework.

The changes, approved a few weeks ago as minor adjustments to the Partial Urban Planning Ordinance (POUP) ratified in November 2025, address issues identified after the plan's initial approval. Technical departments at the Ordino commune noted that the original rules risked discouraging farming and livestock activities on many plots bordering waterways.

Under the 2019 POUP, embankments were prohibited within 15 metres of a river or torrent's central axis, regardless of location or land type. The updated plan replaces this with a more nuanced approach based on land classification.

A 5-metre non-buildable zone remains mandatory on each riverbank for private initiatives, measured from the outer edge of the official riverbed boundary (or cane limit) in consolidated urban areas, unconsolidated urban land, and urbanisable land within urban habitats. This excludes protected zones and non-urbanisable soils.

For rural habitats—which include protected areas—and non-urbanisable land, the buffer expands to 10 metres on each side, also from the riverbed's outer limit. Previously, this full 10-metre strip barred all land alterations, rendering many parcels unviable for agriculture or grazing due to their size and layout.

The revisions preserve the 10-metre non-buildable status in these areas—no structures are allowed—but now permit soil modifications exclusively for agricultural and pasture purposes. These works must start beyond a 5-metre setback from the river limits, balancing environmental protection with practical farming needs.

Commune officials emphasise that such adjustments apply only to strictly agricultural uses, ensuring riverbank safeguards while supporting local landholders.