Pre-1951 building rules: where to get it in Portugal

Independent site: we are not a public authority, and this is not legal or tax advice.

Buildings built before 7 August 1951, when the general building regulation (RGEU) came in, are treated separately. The housing technical file rules do not cover them, and IRN's Casa Pronta checklist mentions a use licence only for later buildings or later alterations.

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Cut-off date

7 August 1951 (Decree-Law 38 382, RGEU)

Housing technical file

Not required for older buildings (Decree-Law 68/2004, article 2)

IRN checklist

Use licence mentioned for buildings built after that date, or older ones altered later

Since 2024

The licence no longer has to be shown at the deed

Later change

Decree-Law 108/2026 changed this: the RGEU ends only when a new diploma on technical building rules enters into force (Decree-Law 10/2024, article 25, new wording)

Sources

data.dre.pt/eli/dec-lei/68/2004/03/25/p/dre/pt/html
justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Balcao-Casa-Pronta
data.dre.pt/eli/dec-lei/10/2024/01/08/p/dre/pt/html
data.dre.pt/eli/dec-lei/108/2026/05/29/p/dre/pt/pdf

Checked

2026-11-05