Germany, France and Spain are some of the biggest offenders here.

Some years ago a case became quite famous in Spain. Someone wanted to turn a winery into a eco-tourism boutique hotel with a winery tour and experience. Should be simple in theory, in practice they were waiting for authorization to open for more than 4 years.

I’ve been involved with startups and small businesses for more than a decade, and I haven’t still heard of any of them doing things 100% by the book, because it’s just impossible.

People just start and hope the taxman doesn’t come.

> Someone wanted to turn a winery into a eco-tourism boutique hotel with a winery tour and experience.

Because a agricultural business and a hotel business are two different things, and Spain has, rightfully so, their thumb on the spread of tourism, because it affects local communities negatively.

Otherwise investors could just come in, buy a random agriculture business and then turn it into luxury hotels/lodging.

> I’ve been involved with startups and small businesses for more than a decade, and I haven’t still heard of any of them doing things 100% by the book, because it’s just impossible.

Because entrepreneurs are notoriously bad thinking further than their own interests. It always, "just" something they want to do.

Zoning rules and regulations have their purpose. Are some of those in some places idiotic? Yes. Do most of them still have their reason? Also yes.

Otherwise we can stop protesting datacenters and the trump family building a eco-luxury resort in a nature reserve.