Which districts of Málaga do we cover?
All of them. Málaga is the only municipality in the Málaga-Costa del Sol comarca, and its town hall divides the city into eleven districts. Our work comes from any home with a patio, terrace or garden, wherever it is in the city. Examples of barrios in each district, taken from the municipal statistics, are:
- Este district – for example Pedregalejo, El Palo, El Limonar, Cerrado de Calderón, Parque Clavero and Pinares de San Antón
- Ciudad Jardín district – for example Las Flores, Los Viveros, Jardín de Málaga, Monte Dorado and Hacienda Los Montes
- Churriana district – for example Guadalmar, Heliomar, Hacienda Platero, El Olivar and Finca Monsálvez
- Puerto de la Torre district – for example El Atabal, Los Almendros, Fuente Alegre, Hacienda Cabello and Puertosol
- Teatinos-Universidad district – for example El Cónsul, Cortijo Alto, Colonia Santa Inés and Torre Atalaya
- The remaining districts: Centro, Bailén-Miraflores, Palma-Palmilla, Cruz de Humilladero, Carretera de Cádiz and Campanillas
What does the Ayuntamiento de Málaga require?
It depends on the job. In 2021 the city's planning office reported more than 40 types of works handled by responsible declaration and 22 types exempt from both licence and declaration, published on its website under 'actos no sujetos a licencia'. Whether your particular paving job appears on that list is something to check case by case with the planning office.
Above that sits Andalusian law: LISTA, article 138.1.a), places minor works of limited scope that need no project under a responsible declaration. If the work touches the public pavement, for example a skip on the street or a change to the kerb, separate municipal authorisation is needed, and the Ayuntamiento confirms the conditions.
How do you pave an enclosed city patio?
By solving access and water first. A walled patio behind a terraced house has no natural run-off, so the new patio surface must fall towards a drain that is connected to the building's system, and the old one often has to be broken out and carried through the house.
- Protect the route from the front door to the patio.
- Break out the old surface and remove it in bags or barrows.
- Locate the existing drain and set the new levels to it.
- Rebuild the base, lay the pavers or slabs and fill the joints.
- Clean the route and the patio, and take the rubble away through the proper municipal channel.
On larger plots, for example a house with a garden in Ciudad Jardín or Churriana, the job may instead be a paved terrace with garden paths leading off it; our guide to a patio without puddles applies to both. Ground-floor flats with a terrace at the back are a third common case in the city. If the terrace sits above a garage or a basement, it may form part of the waterproofing of the space below; in that situation we ask the community or the building's technician about the membrane before lifting anything, because that layer is not ours to alter.
Where to go from here
The Málaga-Costa del Sol paving hub covers materials and bases in the city, and our areas page shows the rest of the province. When you are ready, send us a photo and the approximate m² – free, no-obligation quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work in all districts of Málaga city?
Yes, in all eleven districts the Ayuntamiento uses, from Centro and Este to Churriana, Campanillas, Puerto de la Torre and Teatinos-Universidad. Outdoor paving jobs are naturally more common where houses have patios or gardens.
Is a licence needed to repave my patio in Málaga?
Not necessarily. The city lists works handled by responsible declaration and works exempt from both licence and declaration. Whether your patio job is on those lists can be checked case by case on the Ayuntamiento's website.
Can you carry everything through the house?
Yes, when there is no other way in. We protect floors and walls along the route, move material in manageable loads and take the rubble out the same way, then clean up before leaving.
Where should the water from a walled patio go?
To a drain connected to the building's drainage. The new surface is laid with a fall towards it. If there is no drain, adding one is a plumbing job that should be arranged before the paving.
Do you need to put a skip on the street?
Only if the volume justifies it. A skip or a delivery on the public road may need separate municipal permission, which the Ayuntamiento can confirm. For small patios, bagged removal is often simpler.
Can you pave a garden in El Limonar or Pedregalejo?
Yes. We cover the Este district barrios, including El Limonar, Pedregalejo, El Palo and Cerrado de Calderón. Tell us about steps, slopes and access from the street when you send your photos.
Do you work on communal patios in apartment buildings?
Yes, when the community of owners has approved the work under the Horizontal Property Law. Your administrator can confirm the majority needed for that resolution; we provide a written scope for the meeting.
What paving suits a small, shady city patio?
A surface with a slightly textured finish and tight joints is easier to keep clean and safer when damp. Light colours brighten a shaded space. We bring samples so you can judge them in the patio's own light.
Do you also renovate old patio tiles without lifting them?
That is the work of our sister site for restoration, run by the same contractor. If the tiles are firm and level, cleaning and a tinted coating may be enough.
Where can I check the cost factors?
Our sister site explains what a quote includes, and its calculator gives an indicative band. On this site we prefer to quote in writing after seeing photos of your patio.