A mass brawl broke out on a beach in Cadiz when the police swooped to stop people playing football and umbrellas can also land fines
UK tourists are facing big fines for trying to stake out good spots on the beach a lawyer has warned. New laws in parts of Spain are cracking down on Brits trying to get in first on the sand – with police getting involved.
Lawyer Juan Tenorio wrote on Legalitas said that resorts such as Benidorm, Elche, Fuengirola, Benidorm, Cádiz, Marbella and Málaga are cracking down. Mr Tenorio said: “We emphasise that certain gestures or activities we consider everyday and harmless, such as placing an umbrella on the beach, are regulated by legal norms and municipal by-laws. If these are breached, the action may be sanctioned with fines of up to 750 euros in most Spanish municipalities.
“The coastline is a public maritime-terrestrial domain, protected by law and managed by public administrations, which means you cannot freely occupy any space at any time if it affects general use, safety, or infringes any regulation.”
Just last week a mass brawl broke out on a beach in Cadiz when the police swooped to stop people playing football after complaints from sunbathers.
Most coastal councils expressly prohibit:
- Leaving beach umbrellas (or other objects) planted in the sand without being present; this is considered improper occupation of public domain.
- Placing umbrellas in signposted or marked areas, such as emergency accesses, areas reserved for lifeguard stations, first aid, cleaning, or for people with disabilities.
- Occupying the beach before certain hours (some municipalities prevent access with beach furniture before 8:00am or 9:00am).
Fines for improperly occupying the beach with umbrellas or tents without being present or outside permitted hours can range between €100 and €750 in most municipalities. In some cases, the umbrella is also removed and the affected person must pay the cost of removal and storage.
For example:
- In Benidorm, the fine can reach €750 for reserving a spot by leaving umbrellas unattended.
- In Elche, police remove abandoned umbrellas in the early hours of the day.
- In Fuengirola, Cádiz and Málaga it is forbidden to occupy the beach with objects before 8:00am.
Mr Tenorio also said that Spanish law could mean that anything that might cause obstructions to other beach users could in fact attract the authorities. He said: “The beach is a public space, but that does not mean everything is permitted without limits, especially on the shoreline, which is particularly protected under Spanish regulations. In this sense, activities that may seem harmless—such as building sandcastles, or walking in groups along the shore—may be restricted or sanctioned if they obstruct bathing or disturb other users:
- Playing with sand (castles, holes, trenches): This is allowed as long as no obstacles are created nor structures left behind that could cause accidents. Some councils, such as Nigrán (Pontevedra), prohibit deep holes due to risk of falls or collapse.
- Walking along the shore: Permitted, but if done repeatedly in groups hindering access to water or disturbing other users, it may be considered improper use of public space.
- Installing tents, large umbrellas or structures on the front line of the beach: Many local by-laws prohibit this if placed in wet zones or before authorised hours as they impede access to the sea.
- Organising group games or sports without authorisation (bat-and-ball games, football, volleyball) if they interfere with others’ rest or bathing: These can be sanctioned with up to €3,000 fines as already happens in Málaga, Marbella or Benidorm.
Such actions may carry a sanction depending on the municipality and severity of infringement.
- In Málaga, preventing general use of the beach or access to water through improper activities can be considered a serious offence with fines up to €3,000.
- In Cádiz, leaving abandoned structures or causing disturbance with games is sanctioned with fines from €100 to €750.
- In Benidorm, exclusive use of a public space without proper authorisation is a minor or serious offence depending on circumstances—up to €3,000.
Last week a mass brawl broke out sparked by a ban on playing ball games on the Santa María del Mar beach in Cádiz reported OK Diario. Two people were arrested — a mother and her daughter — for assaulting local police officers who had warned the minor about the municipal regulations, which can carry fines of up to 750 euros.
The incident took place on Monday July 7, at around 6:00 pm, when four officers from the Cádiz Local Police arrived at the beach after being called by bathers who complained that several young people were playing with a ball and disturbing others, with music also being played too loudly.
According to Cádiz City Council, the officers attended to inform the group about the prohibition of playing ball games on the beach. However, the group of young people confronted them. The police asked them to identify themselves, and one of the girls, aged 16, tried to flee. When intercepted, the minor began to attack the officers with kicks and punches, as well as slapping a female officer twice and pulling her to the ground by her hair, according to the council’s statement.
The situation escalated when the minor’s mother, aged 45, arrived and delivered punches, kicks, and scratches to the officers. Both she and her daughter ended up being arrested. In addition, four other minors were identified and will be reported, and five balls were confiscated.
The council reported that all four local police officers—three women and one man—had to receive medical attention for various injuries (scratches on their arms, abrasions on their legs, and face trauma). There was also material damage: the young people broke one officer’s mobile phone and another’s sunglasses.
The Deputy Mayor for Citizen Security, Juancho Ortiz, said: “We have received many complaints from families who cannot enjoy the beach peacefully because they are constantly being hit by balls despite ball games being prohibited at this time of year, except in sports areas set up for this purpose on Victoria Beach.”
Cádiz City Council has announced it will reinforce police presence on its beaches to ensure peaceful coexistence among bathers following constant complaints and reports from families about ball games.
Article 29.3 of Cádiz’s Beach Ordinance states that during bathing season—and in order to avoid disturbing other users—ball activities and sports must only take place in designated areas marked for this purpose in the Beach Management Plan. These areas are located opposite the old cemetery (between Cielo Street and Antonio Accame), opposite Isecotel (between Antonio Accame and Doctor Fleming), opposite Brasil Street, and opposite the Delfines area (between Villa de Paradas and Sirenas).
In these sports areas, users may play ball games between 12:00 pm and 8:30 pm, provided there are no training sessions or competitions taking place.
During summer 2024, a total of 77 fines were issued for playing ball games in unauthorised areas. Classified as minor offences, these can result in fines of up to 750 euros. In addition, Local Police confiscated 274 balls, which were donated to schools and associations.