Before choosing the pan, establish whether cooking is allowed at that location on that date. A private property, paved surface or gas burner does not settle the question. Location, authorised activity and current restrictions matter.
This guide concerns event planning in the Comunitat Valenciana. Official sources checked 31 October 2026; daily risk and exceptional measures must be checked again near the event and on the day. This article does not authorise cooking on any particular plot.
Locate the plot and the cooking position
Request the address and cadastral reference, then mark where cooking would take place. Distinguish forest land, the forest influence zone —the 500-metre strip— and other locations. A garden or cultivated field’s appearance does not replace checking its position.
The Generalitat links to a forest influence zone map. If the result is unclear, send the location and activity to the council and competent forestry authority before committing to outdoor cooking.
| Check | Information to provide | What needs confirming |
|---|---|---|
| Forest land or nearby site | Plot and exact cooking point | Applicable site rules |
| Venue and activity | Event, attendance and installation | Permitted uses and authorisations |
| Fuel and equipment | Proposed cooking setup | Technical conditions |
| Risk on the day | Current official information | Suspensions and exceptional measures |
| Alternative | Proposed different space and format | Availability and agreed terms |
What the forestry regulation says
Decree 91/2023, the Valencian Forestry Law regulation, Article 132, prohibits lighting fires for cooking or warmth outside places prepared and authorised for that purpose within its forest and influence-zone scope. An apparently clear patch of ground is not enough.
Older references cite Decree 148/2018, which the 2023 decree repealed. Consult the regulation and its amendments, together with applicable resolutions, rather than treating an old guide as permission. The Generalitat’s fire-use procedure page explains the influence zone and suspension of authorisations. That particular procedure is not a general permission for any paella event.
Law 3/2026, Article 108 amends, among other matters, procedures concerning public forest land. For this guide’s cooking and level 3 checks, Articles 132 and 139 of the regulation remain relevant alongside the restrictions applying on the day.
Level 3: an earlier permit does not override suspension
Article 139 establishes, on days and in areas at pre-emergency level 3, a general prohibition on lighting fires on forest land and in the forest influence zone. It suspends permitted uses, including festive and recreational fire. An earlier authorisation does not remove that suspension.
Check 112 Comunitat Valenciana for published daily risk and forecasts. Also check exceptional resolutions and municipal instructions. This article is not a live risk display: an old screenshot cannot establish the position on the event day.
Gas and municipal permissions: two common mistakes
Replacing wood with gas does not make cooking fire-free. Ask about the specific equipment and location. The owner’s agreement also does not replace administrative permission.
For events on public streets, street occupation, installations and safety conditions may also apply. Alicante publishes its local fiesta ordinance. It is a municipal example, not the rule for every country property in the region. Ask the relevant council which regime applies to your case.
Agree an alternative before sending invitations
Ask whether the venue has another authorised space and what meal format could be served there. Cooking in an appropriate indoor venue or serving an already prepared meal are possibilities whose availability and terms must be confirmed with the supplier. Neither overrides an applicable prohibition.
Record who checks restrictions, who communicates a change and how it affects the menu, timing and booking. If an alternative cannot be confirmed, resolve that before treating the celebration as settled.
For a first communion lunch or large-group paella, add these checks to the plan. Then choose the menu using the rice comparison and coordinate activities with the live calendar.
See paella and live cooking, celebrations or request a proposal with plot and venue details. If venue information is missing, contact us before confirming a format.
