First Inspections in 28 Years
Barcelona City Council will conduct its first inspections of businesses for compliance with Catalan language regulations before the end of 2026, focusing initially on La Rambla. The move marks a shift after years of non-enforcement, despite legal requirements dating back to the 1998 Language Policy Act and the 2010 Consumer Code, which guarantee customers the right to be served in Catalan and to receive signage, menus, invoices, and advertising in the language. Until now, the council has not issued any sanctions for non-compliance, instead responding to complaints with informative letters. Marta Salicrú, Commissioner for the Social Use of Catalan, confirmed the change in approach, stating:
The City Council will incorporate language into ordinary inspections throughout 2027 to ensure compliance with linguistic policy regulations in consumption.
She admitted she was surprised to learn that Barcelona had never previously inspected for linguistic compliance.
La Rambla and Gràcia in Focus
The initial audit will follow a summer information campaign aimed at improving shopfront appearances on La Rambla, with inspections expected this quarter. In parallel, a pilot plan begins in Gràcia, targeting around 1,500 shops, bars, and restaurants. A door-to-door campaign will urge businesses to correct identified violations, according to Diari de Catalunya. The council currently lacks updated figures on complaints, which it describes as a "trickle", arriving through multiple channels including the Catalan Consumer Agency, municipal consumer offices, the Barcelona Office for Non-Discrimination, and civic groups like Plataforma per la Llengua. The Generalitat has announced a new office for linguistic rights to streamline reporting, while the city plans to launch a dedicated Mailbox for Catalan.
No Fines in First Phase
The council insists the initial phase will prioritise awareness over penalties. Unlike municipalities such as Olot, which has announced fines of €300 to €3,000 for 26 shops, Barcelona will not pursue sanctions at this stage.
The goal is not the sanction but the impact, we want rapid transformations,
said Salicrú. The push follows a high-profile case in which activist Miquel Mola filed complaints against 76 establishments for using Spanish-only signage. The Ombudsman confirmed no inspections or sanctioning procedures had been initiated in those cases, though the council provided details of planned enforcement measures. Political criticism has mounted, with Junts deputy Francesc d'Assís Dalmases accusing Mayor Jaume Collboni’s administration of failing its legal duty.
Residents and visitors can report linguistic violations via existing municipal channels while awaiting the new Mailbox for Catalan. The council's shift signals a stronger commitment to enforcing language rights in public-facing services across the city.
Primary sources: General Directorate for Language Policy. Reported by en.ara.cat, barna.news, diaricatalunya.cat, Diari ARA.
