Historical list of habitability decrees
Last updated: 17 October 2026
This is the historical list of Catalan habitability decrees: seven have been approved since 1983. Here they all are, with the period during which each was in force and the PDF to download.
Knowing which one was in force when a home was built is essential to obtain its certificate of habitability (cédula de habitabilidad): the home must meet at least the habitability conditions of its time.
In this article
By date
Which habitability decree applies to each home
What determines the applicable rules is the date of the building permit or of completion of the works. This table matches each period with its decree (dates in day/month/year):
| Home built | Applicable regulations |
|---|---|
| Before 11/08/1984 | Annex 2 of Decree 141/2012 |
| 11/08/1984 – 17/04/1996 | Decrees 346/1983 and 571/1983 |
| 18/04/1996 – 23/09/1996 | Decree 274/1995 |
| 24/09/1996 – 16/02/1999 | Decree 274/1995, as amended by Decree 314/1996 |
| 17/02/1999 – 29/12/2003 | Decree 28/1999 |
| 30/12/2003 – 08/10/2009 | Decree 259/2003 |
| 09/10/2009 – 02/11/2012 | Decree 55/2009 |
| Since 03/11/2012 | Decree 141/2012 (Annex 1 for new builds) |
For homes built from 1984 onwards, Decree 141/2012 also accepts compliance with the new-build requirements of its Annex 1 (first transitional provision). To renew the certificate, the requirements under which the first one was granted apply.
Downloads
The habitability decrees as PDF
The texts are in Catalan, as published in the Official Journal of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC).
Age of the home
How to prove the age of a home
Since the applicable decree depends on the date, the administration may ask for documentary proof. The most common documents are:
We explain it in detail in how to prove the age of a home.
Other rules
Habitability decrees and municipal bylaws
The habitability decree is the only regulation governing the certificate, but not the only one that sets conditions for dwellings. Municipal bylaws, and in the Barcelona area the Metropolitan Building Ordinances, may be stricter. The decree expressly allows this (article 2.1 of Decree 141/2012).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the habitability decrees
Keep reading
Related articles
Sources: texts of the decrees on the Catalan Legal Portal, consulted in October 2026. Periods in force according to the Barcelona Association of Building Engineers (CATEB) and the Legal Portal. This summary is for information only and does not replace the official texts.
