The Andratx Town Hall has opened fifty parking spaces on Gabriel Roca Avenue in the Port d'Andratx exclusively for residents. Neighbours will not need any additional permit, just to have their vehicle registered in the municipality.
The Port d'Andratx joins the list of Mallorcan towns reserving parking for their residents in response to tourist saturation. From this week, 50 spaces painted green on Gabriel Roca Avenue are marked as exclusive areas for residents, with warnings in Spanish, Catalan, and English that the tow truck will act if not complied with.
No paperwork for residents
Municipal sources have confirmed that residents will not have to request any specific permit to park. It will be sufficient for the vehicle to be registered in Andratx in the Vehicle Registry of the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT). The spaces, already delineated and signposted, aim to alleviate the pressure residents experience during the peak tourist months.
The mayor of Andratx, Antoni Mir, has highlighted that the measure responds to a long-standing demand from the residents of the Port. "We had been asking for something like this for years; finally, we can park close to home without having to drive around for hours," declared a local resident. The initiative is part of a broader plan to manage traffic along the coastline.
A common problem in Mallorca
Andratx is not the only municipality that has taken action. Alcúdia, Banyalbufar, Sóller, Son Servera, and Valldemossa have already implemented similar measures to protect resident parking. In Alcúdia, for example, 1,050 green spaces have been designated in various areas, including the Port, following the approval of a new municipal ordinance on March 11.
The Alcúdia ordinance distinguishes between blue zones (commercial rotation), green zones (residents in pedestrian islands), and orange zones (seasonal near beaches, from May to October). The common goal is to mitigate the increase in the vehicle fleet that occurs every summer in Mallorca, when the floating population spikes the demand for parking.
In the Port d'Andratx, the measure arrives amid a debate on tourist saturation. The Federation of Mental Health has already warned of the stress impact that overcrowding generates for residents. With these 50 spaces, the Town Hall hopes to give some relief to residents who have been complaining about the difficulty of parking near their homes.
Trilingual signage and towing
The new spaces are clearly identified with green paint and vertical signs warning in three languages: "Exclusive for residents." Non-compliance will result in the vehicle being towed. Residents, for their part, do not need any physical badge; the system is based on automatic consultation of the municipal register and the data from the DGT.
The measure has been well received by residents, although some are calling for more spaces. "50 is fine, but many more are needed for the whole Port," says Maria, a resident of Gabriel Roca Avenue. The Town Hall has announced that it will consider expanding the reserved area if demand justifies it and the results are positive.
Meanwhile, tourists arriving at the Port d'Andratx this summer will need to seek alternatives, such as park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts or public transport. The measure, which is already in effect, will be applied throughout the year, with special monitoring during the high season.
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