Barcelona admits no inspections or fines for language law breaches

City council prioritises awareness over enforcement

The Ajuntament de Barcelona has officially acknowledged it does not carry out inspections or impose sanctions on businesses that fail to comply with Catalan language regulations. In a formal response to the Síndic de Greuges (Ombudsman of Catalonia), dated 4 August, the council stated it currently "prioritises awareness and information actions" over enforcement. The admission follows a citizen complaint about the lack of municipal response to reports of 76 establishments in Barcelona operating without Catalan in signage, receipts, contracts or customer service. The Síndic shared the council’s reply on social media, revealing that none of the reported businesses have been included in any inspection campaign and no sanctioning procedures have been initiated.

Reliance on voluntary compliance

Instead of enforcement, the council’s action has been limited to sending informational letters via the Municipal Consumer Information Office (OMIC). These letters remind businesses of their legal obligation to provide consumer-facing information in Catalan and offer advisory support from OMIC or the Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística. However, the council admits these notices are not followed up with verification checks to ensure compliance. While it mentions a pilot project in the Gràcia district to assess Catalan use in commerce and outreach efforts on La Rambla, it has not used its inspection or sanctioning powers.

The Ajuntament de Barcelona prioritises awareness and information actions prior to any inspection activity.

Transparency concerns and ongoing review

The case also highlights transparency issues. The complainant filed a Public Information Access Request (SAIP) to obtain details on inspection records, but received no response. They subsequently escalated the matter to the Guarantee Commission for the Right of Access to Public Information (GAIP), submitting the Síndic’s document as evidence that the council held the data but remained silent. In response to mounting scrutiny, the city’s Social Use of Catalan commissioner, Marta Salicrú, has announced a review of inspection protocols. Speaking before the Social Rights, Culture and Sports Commission, she confirmed the council is working with the Inspection Services Directorate to revise its approach and ensure compliance with the Consumer Code. Salicrú also announced upcoming talks with the Barcelona Restaurant Guild to jointly design measures to reverse the decline of Catalan in hospitality. Additionally, a pilot initiative will monitor around 700 businesses in Gràcia during September and October 2026 to assess language use and promote compliance through information campaigns. A dedicated mailbox for linguistic complaints is also being developed. Salicrú stressed the need for a stable, better-resourced department to ensure continuity in language policy.

What residents can do

Consumers who encounter businesses not providing service or information in Catalan can report the issue through the city’s upcoming linguistic rights channel. Until then, concerns may be directed to the OMIC, which provides guidance and sends informational notices to non-compliant businesses.

Primary sources: ajuntament.barcelona.cat, Ajuntament de Barcelona. Reported by totbarcelona.cat, vilaweb.cat, beteve.cat, racocatala.cat, Ketty Calatayud, Sindicatura de Greuges de Barcelona, ARCE BECERRA, PAULA, Yolanda Canales.