Category: Urban Planning and Licensing

This section collects the articles published on urban planning and licensing, with the Legal Regime for Urbanisation and Building, approved by Decree-Law No. 555/99 of 16 December, as its axis.

On the procedural side stand the prior control of the planning operation and the title that legitimises it, ending in the use of the building, whose scope is set out in article 62. This plane was reformed by Decree-Law No. 108/2026 of 29 May, whose amendments, additions and repeals enter into force on 1 October 2026 — a date set by Decree-Law No. 155-B/2026 of 31 July, which amended article 13(1) of that instrument.

On the enforcement side stands what the municipality may do when works are carried out without a title or in breach of it. Article 102 obliges the competent bodies to adopt measures restoring planning legality; article 102-A governs legalisation; article 102-B confers on the mayor the power to issue a stop notice; article 103 sets out the effects of that notice, which requires works to cease immediately; and article 106 deals with demolition and restoration of the site. Alongside this runs the administrative-offence route under article 98, which is separate and must not be confused with it.

Time limits run from the date of notification and are short. What is written in the first response — prior hearing, submissions, an application to legalise — conditions everything that follows, including any later court challenge.

Adjacent sections, within these same publications: real estate due diligence and real estate litigation.

The scope of our work in this field is set out on the urban planning and licensing page. General information only; it does not replace advice on a specific case.

The council did not decide your planning application: tacit approval under the new RJUE

Decision periods, when tacit approval arises, how the permit is evidenced, the certificate within eight working days and the three-year nullity window under the RJUE in force since 1 October 2026.

Ordinance 320/2026/1 (Portugal RJUE): forms, required documents and limits on council requests

Portugal’s Ordinance 320/2026/1 of 31 July, in force since 1 October 2026: mandatory forms, Annex V required documents per procedure and the limits on what the council may request.

New RJUE in force since 1 October 2026: five changes that matter to builders and buyers in Portugal

Prior notice without a council decision, 20/30/45-day deadlines with tacit approval, a statutory planning title, mandatory statements in deeds and a three-year nullity window: Portugal’s new RJUE explained.

Legalising works built without a permit in Portugal: when it is possible, how it works and how to avoid demolition (2026)

Enclosed balconies, annexes, pools and attics built without a permit can be legalised if they comply with the rules in force. The RJUE Article 102-A procedure, waivers for older technical rules, ex officio legalisation and when demolition can be avoided.

Portugal’s new Land Law: when rural land can become urban (Article 72-B RJIGT)

Article 72-B RJIGT lets municipalities reclassify rural land as urban for housing, with 70% affordable housing, urban adjacency and a four-year deadline. Conditions, exclusions and buyer risks.