Guadalajara approves ordinance to convert commercial spaces into housing

The Guadalajara City Council has officially approved a new ordinance allowing the conversion of commercial premises into residential housing. The measure received support from the PP, Vox, and Aike parties, with the Socialist group abstaining.

The new regulation eases previous requirements by allowing access doors to lead directly to the street rather than requiring access through common areas, which previously gave homeowners' associations final authority. To qualify, new residences must meet specific criteria: all rooms must have windows, the space must have a minimum of 30 square meters of usable area, and there must be smoke evacuation to the roof rather than the facade. Additionally, the conversion must not exceed the maximum number of dwellings permitted for the specific plot.

Data from the city council indicates a significant upward trend in these conversions. While licenses for change of use were minimal between 2020 and 2022, the numbers rose sharply to 27 licenses in 2023 and 32 in 2025.