The so-called "urbanizaciones" are villas and exclusive residential areas situated outside the centres of the location, in the case of MARBELLA for about 12 km on either side of the town.

These urbanisations have to be authorised by the community. There are always obligations referring to the use and infrastructure for which the so-called "Promotor de la Urbanización" is responsible: streets, lighting, pavements, sewage, water pipes, electric cables etc.. Apart from that, there are regulations concerning minimum size of plot, volume of building, distance to neighbouring houses, maximum height etc..