Aretxabaleta

Can you build a house on rustic land?

The Basque Country allows a new house on rustic land only when a farm needs it. Otherwise it has to go in a village, or restore a building.

Ley 2/2006, art. 28. A town plan can be stricter.

Plan in force: Normas Subsidiarias (an older, simpler plan), from 2001. The region's planning viewer ↗

The national urban information system (SIU) maps the land class for 100% of the municipality.

Only the town hall can confirm it, in writing: ask for a certificado urbanístico.

Is there water?

IGME records one well or borehole in Aretxabaleta. 3 springs are recorded.

Ground: 56% low permeability, local groundwater only; 21% karstic or fissured aquifer, high productivity; 19% karstic or fissured aquifer, medium productivity.

Choosing where to drill takes a hydrogeologist.

What to watch for

• No mapped fire since 2016.
• No mapped flood zone (only studied rivers are mapped).
• 38% of the municipality is Natura 2000: new works need the region's consent.
• 38% of the municipality is a protected natural area, whose plan limits what can be done.
• Radon zone I: new and restored homes need radon protection by law.

Living here

• 4G reaches 100% of homes; fibre 85%. Averages for the municipality.
• Rain: 1,189 mm a year (1971–2000), about 1,005 by 2041–2070.
• Summer highs: 23 °C, about 26 °C by 2041–2070.
• Frost days: 31 a year, about 15 by 2041–2070.

Around it

Eskoriatza · Oñati · Arrasate / Mondragón · Aramaio · Barrundia