Portugal implements new urban licensing rules on October 1

New urban licensing rules in Portugal, stemming from Decree-Law no. 108/2026, will take effect on October 1. This represents the 21st amendment to the Legal Regime for Urbanization and Building (RJUE). The implementation date was moved from August 3 to October 1 to allow municipalities and industry professionals more time to adapt.

The new regulations aim to correct issues caused by previous reforms, such as the Simplex Urbanístico, by increasing flexibility, shortening deadlines, and clarifying legal concepts. Key changes include making prior communication the standard procedure for many operations that previously required lengthy licenses. Additionally, the new regime reintroduces urban titles to provide greater legal security for builders and buyers, and limits the timeframe in which an urban act can be declared null to three years.

In response to these changes, CCDR Norte is organizing technical sessions for municipal technicians in the Northern region. These sessions are designed to clarify the new legal framework and its direct impact on licensing procedures and urban control.