Planning Permission in Portugal

Attaining planning permission (project) can be a time consuming affair in Portugal and it is not unusual for this process to take up to a year or more to be passed. Anyone who writes to the contrarary has usually not experienced the process themselves and possibly has a financial interest in making the process appear more speedy than it is.

Once you have selected the architect you wish to use and have an idea of the design of building you wish to build, the process should be relatively straightforward.

Whereas planning permission in the United Kingdom usually takes six weeks to process, in Portugal the procedure is much, much longer. In Portugal a project, or planning permission, once submitted in full to the Council, could take from six months to one year to pass.

The first stage of planning is called the Project de Arquitectura (Architectural Project) is a comprehensive brief including architectural drawings, topographical survey and  list of materials to be used. This is submitted to the Câmara first for approval.

The second stage of any planning procedure in Portugal is the Projecto de Especialiada (Specialities Project). This part of the project covers the engineering required to complete the build, information on septic waste removal, water and so on and is usually compiled in conjunction with an engineer.

Once both the Projecto de Arquitectura and Projecto de Especialiada have been approved by the council you can with your builder pick up the Licenca de Obras (License of Work) from the Câmara.

Only when the building work is completed can the architect and engineer sign off the project and a habitation license be issued by the local council.

In some cases where alterations have been made during the build additional plans must be submitted to identify the changes. Minor changes are accepted - moving an internal door for example. However more major changes will most likely result in more plans and structural drawings having to be submitted to the council.