Commercial Property Classes in Malta
Welcome to the dedicated section of AGILE | Commercial Real Estate, focused on the classes and categories of commercial properties in Malta. Our aim is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the diverse property types available, tailored to meet various investment and operational needs.
In Malta, each commercial property class carries its unique implications and potential, essential for informed decision-making. As you explore this section, you will gain insights into the specific characteristics and utilities of each property category. It’s important to note that properties can be adapted to suit different requirements, as changes in use may be sought through the local planning authority. Let this guide serve as a key resource in your journey through Malta’s commercial real estate landscape.
CATEGORY A – Residential Uses
Class 1 - Dwellings: Primarily used for residential purposes, these properties can accommodate individuals or families. They may also include lodgings licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority, particularly in Urban Conservation Areas. Some dwellings can be concurrently used for small-scale business activities.
- Occupancy by either an individual or a family unit.
- A maximum of six individuals cohabiting, including households where care services are provided to residents.
- Accommodation for up to sixteen guests, on the condition that the facility is licensed by the Malta Tourism Authority and is situated within an Urban Conservation Area.
- A resident engaging in business activities at their home, given that the premises are recognized as the primary residence of the individual conducting the business, with the following stipulations:
- The business activity occupies no more than half of the home's total floor area, with a maximum of 50 sq m, ensuring it does not compromise the minimum size requirements of the dwelling.
- The business pertains to beauty and wellness services, professional offices, medical services, education, or any other activity deemed compatible with residential use by the Authority.
- The business is not heavily reliant on client traffic.
- It does not lead to excessive vehicular traffic or parking issues that adversely affect the local area's quality of life.
- It can operate in any residential zone within the Development Zone without causing significant disruption due to noise, vibration, odors, emissions, dust, light, radiation, or visually conflicting elements.
- It is conducted in a standalone residence, not part of an apartment complex or any other group of buildings with a shared external entrance.
CATEGORY B – Social Uses
Category 2A - Residential Institutions
Applicable for either:
- Housing and caregiving facilities for those needing care, distinct from Class 1 (Dwellings) usage.
- Facilities functioning as a hospital or nursing home.
- Premises used as a medical clinic.
- Clinics operated by health professionals in fields adjunct to traditional medicine.
Category 2B - Non-Residential Institutions
Non-residential uses encompassing:
- Exhibition spaces for artwork, not intended for sale or rental.
- Museums.
- Public libraries or reading rooms.
- Public or exhibition halls.
Category 2C - Education
Suitable for either:
- Childcare facilities such as kindergartens, crèches, day nurseries, or day centers.
- Educational institutions, either residential or non-residential, including schools, colleges, or training centers.
CATEGORY C – Tourism and Leisure Uses
Category 3A – Accommodations for Guests and Boutique Tourism
Applicable for:
- Guest houses.
- Palazzini.
- Boutique tourism accommodations.
- Hostels, provided they do not offer extensive care services and do not serve alcoholic beverages to non-residents.
Category 3B - Hotels
Designated for hotel use.
Category 3C - Recreational and Assembly Venues
Suitable for:
- Cinemas.
- Concert halls or theatres.
- Facilities like swimming baths or pools, skating rinks, gyms, health clubs, saunas, sports halls, and other indoor or outdoor sports and recreational activities, excluding those involving motorized vehicles or firearms.
Category 3D - Water-based Leisure Activities
Appropriate for:
- Moorings for boats and/or marina operations.
- Schools or clubs for diving, sailing, windsurfing, or other water-based sports and recreational activities.
CATEGORY D - Commercial Uses
Category 4A – Offices for Financial and Professional Services
Suitable for:
- Financial service providers.
- Professional service offices, including but not limited to doctors, lawyers, and dentists.
- Other similar office-based businesses.
Category 4B – Retail Spaces
Appropriate for:
- Various retail stores.
- Spaces for displaying goods for sale, excluding motor vehicles.
Category 4C – Food and Drink Outlets Without Cooking Facilities
Designated for food and drink outlets that offer hot or cold items for on-site consumption, without the provision for cooking.
Category 4D – Food and Drink Outlets With Cooking Facilities
Intended for food and drink establishments that are equipped to prepare and serve hot or cold items for consumption on the premises, with cooking facilities included.
CATEGORY E – Industrial Uses
Category 5A – Light Industrial Use
Suitable for:
1. Product or process research, testing, and development.
2. Craft businesses.
3. Other forms of light industry not covered under Class 5C, with the stipulation that, if conducted in a residential area, it must be approved by the Authority based on the following criteria:
- It must not negatively impact the local area in terms of noise, vibrations, odors, emissions, dust, visual disturbances, etc.
- It should not cause excessive traffic or parking issues.
- It should not significantly increase the number of employees compared to the previous use of the space.
Category 5B – General Industrial Use
Intended for industrial processes not included in Class 5A or Class 5C.
Category 5C – Specialised Industrial Use
For specialised industrial processes such as:
- Ore smelting, calcining, sintering, reducing, converting, refining, reheating, annealing, hardening, melting, carburising, forging, casting metals, or alloys (excluding pressure die-casting).
- Metal recovery from scrap, drosses, or ashes.
- Galvanising, pickling, or acid treating metals.
- Chromium plating, burning lime or dolomite.
- Producing zinc oxide, cement, alumina, carbonate of lime, hydrated lime, inorganic pigments.
- Processing by heating minerals or slag, pulverised fuel ash processing.
- Oil distilling, refining, blending (excluding petroleum products).
- Producing/using cellulose, pressure sprayed metal finishes (excluding minor vehicle repair works).
- Linseed oil boiling, gum running, hot pitch/bitumen uses in manufacturing.
- Stoving enameled ware, producing aliphatic esters, butyric acid, caramel, hexamine, iodoform, naphthols, resin products, salicylic acid, sulphonated organic compounds.
- Rubber production from scrap, chemical processes involving chlorophenols or chlorocresols, acetylene manufacturing from calcium carbide.
- Manufacturing, recovering, using pyridine or picolines, methyl or ethyl amine, or acrylates.
- Industrial processes involving the use of animal remains.
CATEGORY F – Storage and Boathouse Uses
Category 6A – Storage and Distribution Facilities
Designated for use as storage facilities (excluding the storage of boats, whether on land or water) or as distribution centres.
Category 6B – Boatyard Operations
Suitable for:
- Boat storage, excluding marina storage.
- Construction of boats.
- Boat repair and maintenance services.
CATEGORY G – Agriculture Uses
- Class 7 – Agriculture: Dedicated to intensive cultivation and animal rearing.
CATEGORY H – Aquaculture Uses
- Class 8 – Aquaculture: For aquaculture activities, including fish hatching and fattening.
