The calendar is no longer an unknown. After being set for 3 August, the entry into force of the reform of the Legal Regime for Urbanisation and Building (RJUE) was postponed to 1 October 2026 — and that postponement is now published and confirmed. That leaves a short but decisive window to prepare operations under the new rules.
Why it was postponed
The deferral aimed to give municipalities and other stakeholders time to adapt procedures and IT platforms and to complete the complementary regulation — notably Ordinance no. 320/2026/1, which regulates essential aspects of the new regime and only takes effect together with the RJUE, on 1 October.
The paradigm shift
The reform reflects a fundamental change: less prior administrative control, more accountability for stakeholders, and reinforced subsequent control. In practice:
- prior communication comes to rest on a declaration of responsibility by the applicant, and works may begin after payment of fees and notice of commencement, without a permitting act from the council in many operations;
- global deadlines indexed to floor area give way to intermediate deadlines by complexity;
- in property transactions, the reference to the urban-planning title becomes relevant, with stronger protection for buyers.
What this means for buyers and developers
With less prior council “stamp”, the responsibility to verify a property’s legality shifts to the parties. For the buyer, urban-planning due diligence becomes more decisive, not less: you can no longer assume that if it is built, the council checked everything. For the developer, the streamlining is an opportunity — provided it is matched by the documentary rigour the new regime presupposes.
What to do before 1 October
Review ongoing and upcoming operations; understand which procedures move to a declaration of responsibility; and prepare the verification of titles and compliance with due lead time. Getting ahead of the new regime is the best way to capture the simplification without inheriting risk.
Have an urban-planning operation or a purchase in preparation? Paulo Silva Silva, Lawyer, prepares and follows the licensing and the due diligence under the new RJUE. Book a meeting or contact geral@advpaulosilvasilva.com · +351 916 055 901.
This article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Decree-Law no. 108/2026, Decree-Law no. 155-B/2026, Ordinance no. 320/2026/1 and Rectification Statement no. 29-A/2026/1 should be confirmed in the version in force and consolidated in the Diário da República before any decision.