Building a house in Tenerife is the dream of many people seeking quality of life, a mild climate, and a solid investment. But between that image of the ideal home and the reality of the project lies a path full of decisions, paperwork, and technical details that need to be very clear, especially with a view to 2026.

In this guide, I explain, step by step, what you need to take into account when building a house in Tenerife, what licenses you need, what timelines are reasonable, and how professional support such as that provided by Grupo Proyectos Insulares can make the difference between a stressful project and a controlled experience.

Before you begin: budget, needs, and type of housing

Before talking about licenses, land, or construction systems, you need to be clear about three things:

1. Realistic budget

Define a range, not a fixed figure:

Approximate construction costs.
Taxes, licenses, and technical fees.
Furnishings, landscaping, and margins for unforeseen events.
2. Type of home

A primary residence is not the same as a second home or a vacation rental. This affects:

Built area.
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Finishes and fixtures.

3. Deadlines and urgency

Do you need to move in urgently or can you wait longer?
If you need tighter deadlines, industrialized solutions such as Steel Framing, carried out by Grupo Proyectos Insulares, are a clear advantage over traditional construction methods.

Choosing the right land in Tenerife

The land is the foundation—literally and figuratively—of your project. It is not enough to simply “like the view.”

Key aspects of the land
Zoning classification: it must allow for residential use and the buildability you need.
Slope and access: these determine the design, foundation, and cost of the project.
Services and connections: water, electricity, sanitation, telecommunications.
Surroundings and specific regulations: alignments, setbacks, maximum height, aesthetics in some areas, etc.

At this stage, it is highly recommended to have a technical team such as
Grupo Proyectos Insulares from the outset, who can help you review the urban planning feasibility before purchasing the plot and avoid surprises later on.

Technical project and design of the house

Once the land has been defined, it is time to design.

Architecture adapted to the Canary Islands climate

A good project in Tenerife:

Takes advantage of the mild climate and natural light.
Controls solar radiation to prevent overheating.
Promotes cross ventilation.
Integrates adequate thermal and acoustic insulation.

The Proyectos Insulares team works with a bioclimatic and efficient vision, which is especially interesting if you want a modern, sustainable house with good long-term energy consumption.

Choice of construction system

In Tenerife, you have two main approaches:

Traditional construction, with well-known and widespread systems.
Steel Framing, through the specialized service of Steel Framing Confort Steel Canarias, of which Grupo Proyectos Insulares is the island representative.

The Steel Framing System allows for:

Much faster execution times.
Greater precision and fewer unforeseen events on site.
Lightweight walls with high levels of insulation.

And all of this fits in very well with the climate and logistics of an island.

Building permits in Tenerife: what you need to know in 2026

To build a house in Tenerife, you will need, at a minimum, a major building permit issued by the local council where the land is located.

In general terms, the process includes:

Drafting of the basic and execution project by an architect.
Approval (if applicable) by the professional association.
Submission of the permit application with all the documentation.
Payment of municipal fees and taxes related to the work.
Review by the municipal technical services and resolution.

All this administrative process, together with the necessary documentation, can be overwhelming for an individual. That is why many clients delegate this part to a team such as Grupo Proyectos Insulares, which prepares the entire project and processes the license on your behalf, responding to the technical requirements of the local council.

Stages of building a house in Tenerife

Although each project is unique, the phases are usually similar:

1. Preliminary studies and project
Geotechnical study of the land.
Topographic survey.
Basic and execution project.
License application.
2. Site preparation
Site layout.
Foundations and earth retention (if necessary).
In the case of steel framing, manufacture of panels and profiles in the workshop.
3. Structure and enclosures
Traditional structure or light steel structure assembly.
Facade and roof enclosures.
Installation of exterior carpentry.
4. Installations and finishes
Electricity, plumbing, air conditioning, telecommunications.
Interior and exterior cladding.
Bathrooms, kitchen, interior carpentry.
5. Finishing touches and legalization
Exterior landscaping (accesses, gardens, enclosures).
Installation reports and certifications.
Completion of work and procedures for the new building deed and, where applicable, for final supplies.

With a turnkey approach, such as that offered by Proyectos Insulares, the client has a single point of contact who coordinates all these phases until delivery.

Approximate times: from idea to keys

The exact times depend on the municipality, the construction system, and the size of the home, but as a guideline:

Design and project phase: a few weeks to a few months, depending on the initial definition and design decisions.
License processing: several months depending on the workload of the local council.
Execution of the work:
Traditional construction: easily 10–14 months for an average single-family home.
Steel framing: the reduction in time can be very significant, as much of the work is done in the workshop and assembly on site is much faster.

The important thing is not so much the exact figure as having a realistic plan and someone to coordinate the project, administration, and construction.

Why build with Grupo Proyectos Insulares and Steel Framing?

If you want to build a house in Tenerife in 2026, you have two options:

Go piece by piece, looking for an architect, quantity surveyor, construction company, industrialists, etc. on your own.
Or rely on a team that already integrates all these pieces and also controls the Steel Framing system in the Canary Islands.

Grupo Proyectos Insulares can help you:

Analyze and choose the land with technical and real estate criteria.
Design an efficient home, adapted to the Canary Islands climate and your budget.
Process licenses and coordinate all the administrative aspects.
Build using traditional systems or with Steel Framing Confort Steel Canarias to save time and improve quality.

The result: your house in Tenerife is no longer a vague project but a concrete plan, with steps, deadlines, and a team responsible for carrying it out.