Works at home: Licenses

Currently, there are several cases that do not require licensing. Know that improvements do not require legal consent.

enlarge the house
In the expansion of the property, as long as the demolition of interior walls does not imply structural changes, such as the height of the house and floors, and stability, the shape of the facades and roof, it is not necessary to notify the City Council.

If you live in a building, it will only be necessary to place a notice of execution of works here.

annex construction
No authorization is required to build or reorganize the outer space. However, it cannot exceed the limits of 10 m² in area and 2.20 m in height, which do not form part of a subdivision and do not limit the public road.

Install solar panels or fix the roof
If the solar panels do not exceed the coverage area, do not exceed one meter in height and the roof shows the same conditions as the initial construction, it is not necessary to inform the City Council.

Change tiles and paint the house inside
Unless the house is classified or in the process of being classified, no municipal license is required for these changes. For example, it is a property of municipal interest, located in a historic and protected area.

close the balcony
Know that for some municipalities a municipal license is required, for others a simple prior communication is sufficient.

The legal regime created the possibility of prior communication that speeds up the administrative process, since it does not imply licenses or authorizations. It is just a term of responsibility referring to the nature, deadline and actors involved in the work.

In the case of a building in horizontal property, here it will be necessary to request authorization from the condominium by a two-thirds majority. This request is also applied if, in the case of intending to place protections on the balconies, as they jeopardize the architecture of the building.

build a pool
To build a swimming pool, the same logic applies as for the balcony. In other words, it is only important to demonstrate a prior communication, accompanied by an architectural project and the approval of the work will be automatic, which can start 20 days after delivery of the prior communication.

Despite the absence of bureaucracy, it is still necessary to comply with the laws in force, technical regulations and municipal land use plans to which the works are subject, under penalty of being embargoed.

According to the Government's plans to invest in urban rehabilitation, currently, the works for which a city council license is needed are, for the most part, associated with large works, namely, subdivisions, facade reconstructions and alteration of the number of floors, demolition or alteration properties classified or in the process of being classified.

This simplification of administrative processes related to urbanism is an incentive for those looking for houses that need rehabilitation.


Source: supercasa.pt