{"id":5651,"date":"2026-10-05T16:11:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T16:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/local-accommodation-or-tourism-development-portugal\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T16:48:53","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T16:48:53","slug":"local-accommodation-or-tourism-development-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/local-accommodation-or-tourism-development-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Local accommodation or tourism development?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"trc-art-meta\"><span><strong>Tourism<\/strong><\/span><span>7 min read<\/span><span>Updated October 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<p>Anyone who wants to turn a property into guest accommodation faces two regimes: <strong>local accommodation (alojamento local, AL)<\/strong> and the <strong>tourism development (empreendimento tur\u00edstico)<\/strong>. The question often comes as a choice \u2014 which one pays off more. The law does not leave it that open: there is a boundary, and it is the project brief that decides which side you are on.<\/p>\n<div class=\"media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/trc-alojamento-local-ou-empreendimento-turistico.webp\" alt=\"Local accommodation in Ericeira, a project by the Tiago R. Correia studio: fa\u00e7ade and courtyard in the late afternoon\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<p>This article compares the two regimes with the text of the law at hand: Decree-Law no. 128\/2014, as amended by Decree-Law no. 76\/2024, for local accommodation, and the Legal Regime for Tourism Developments (RJET) for the rest. The image shows a local accommodation project by the studio, in Ericeira.<\/p>\n<div class=\"trc-art-summary\"><span class=\"trc-art-label\">The essentials in 30 seconds<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"list\">\n<li><strong>It is not a free choice:<\/strong> if the establishment meets the requirements of a tourism development, it cannot be operated as local accommodation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>AL has a ceiling:<\/strong> 9 bedrooms and 27 guests per establishment, except for the &#8220;quartos&#8221; (rooms) modality and hostels.<\/li>\n<li><strong>AL registration is a prior notification with a deadline<\/strong>, but it requires a valid use permit for the intended use.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Since November 2024 the municipality decides:<\/strong> it can create containment areas and sustainable-growth areas, with their own rules for new registrations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>1. The boundary: not a free choice<\/h2>\n<p>Local accommodation is the regime for those who provide temporary accommodation, namely to tourists, for payment (DL 128\/2014, art. 2(1)). The same article closes the door the other way round: it is <strong>forbidden<\/strong> to operate as AL an establishment that meets the requirements to be a tourism development (art. 2(2)).<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0;margin:28px 0;\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 260px;background:var(--trc-creme);padding:28px 26px 26px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 14px;\">Local accommodation<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:26px;line-height:1.15;font-weight:500;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 14px;\">Registration with the municipality.<span style=\"display:block;\">No classification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">House, apartment, guesthouse or rooms, up to 9 bedrooms and 27 guests. It cannot use stars or present itself as a tourism development (art. 17).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 260px;background:var(--trc-ink);padding:28px 26px 26px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-oatmeal);margin:0 0 14px;\">Tourism development<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:26px;line-height:1.15;font-weight:500;color:var(--trc-ivory);margin:0 0 14px;\">Design by typology.<span style=\"display:block;\">Mandatory classification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-creme);margin:0;\">Hotel, holiday village, tourist apartments, resort, manor-house tourism, rural tourism or campsite, with a use permit for tourism purposes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The useful question is not &#8220;which is more profitable&#8221; but &#8220;what am I designing&#8221;. Size, type of units and operating model define the regime.<\/p>\n<h2>2. Side by side<\/h2>\n<p>The differences that matter in an investment decision, point by point:<\/p>\n<div style=\"overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;margin:22px 0 8px;\">\n<table style=\"width:100%;min-width:620px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:15px;line-height:1.45;margin:0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0 16px 12px 0;width:22%;border-bottom:2px solid var(--trc-ink);\"><\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0 16px 12px;border-bottom:2px solid var(--trc-ink);font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-ink);\">Local accommodation<\/th>\n<th style=\"text-align:left;vertical-align:bottom;padding:0 16px 12px;border-bottom:2px solid var(--trc-ink);font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-ink);\">Tourism development<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Legal basis<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">DL 128\/2014, as amended by DL 76\/2024<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">DL 39\/2008 (RJET) and ordinances by typology<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Forms<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">House, apartment, guesthouse establishment (including hostel), rooms<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Seven typologies: hotels, holiday villages, tourist apartments, resorts, manor-house tourism, rural tourism, campsites<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Capacity<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Maximum 9 bedrooms and 27 guests (except rooms and hostel); &#8220;rooms&#8221;: maximum 3<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Set by the typology and the design<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Title to open<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Registration number, after prior notification with a deadline to the municipality<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Use permit for tourism purposes, issued by the municipality<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Classification<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">None<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Mandatory: Turismo de Portugal or the municipality, depending on the typology<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Turismo de Portugal<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Receives the registrations, for information<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">Optional, non-binding opinion on the design (hotels, holiday villages, apartments, resorts, rural hotels)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px 16px 16px 0;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.2px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);\">Municipal rules<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">AL regulation, containment and sustainable-growth areas<\/td>\n<td style=\"vertical-align:top;padding:16px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);color:var(--trc-ink);\">PDM and general planning rules<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"trc-src\">Sources: DL 128\/2014, arts. 3, 5 to 7, 11 and 15-A; RJET, arts. 4, 21, 26, 30 and 36.<\/p>\n<h2>3. The limits of local accommodation<\/h2>\n<p>AL has three ceilings, and they usually decide whether a project still fits the regime:<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:14px;margin:26px 0;\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 190px;border:1px solid var(--trc-line);padding:24px 22px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 18px;\">01 \u00b7 Establishment<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:52px;line-height:1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">9<span style=\"font-size:20px;color:var(--trc-soft);\"> bedrooms<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:24px;line-height:1.1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 16px;\">27 <span style=\"font-size:15px;color:var(--trc-soft);\">guests<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid var(--trc-line);\">Except &#8220;rooms&#8221; and hostel \u00b7 art. 11(1)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 190px;border:1px solid var(--trc-line);padding:24px 22px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 18px;\">02 \u00b7 Rooms<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:52px;line-height:1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">3<span style=\"font-size:20px;color:var(--trc-soft);\"> bedrooms<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:24px;line-height:1.1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 16px;\">at home<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid var(--trc-line);\">In the host&#8217;s residence and tax domicile \u00b7 art. 3(7)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 190px;background:var(--trc-ink);padding:24px 22px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-oatmeal);margin:0 0 18px;\">03 \u00b7 Per building<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:52px;line-height:1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ivory);margin:0 0 6px;\">9<span style=\"font-size:20px;color:var(--trc-oatmeal);\"> apartments<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:24px;line-height:1.1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ivory);margin:0 0 16px;\">75% <span style=\"font-size:15px;color:var(--trc-oatmeal);\">of the units<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-creme);margin:0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid rgba(235,234,228,0.25);\">Per operator, if both limits are exceeded \u00b7 art. 11(4)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Capacity counts two guests per bedroom, plus two in the living room in apartments and houses; sofa beds or extra beds cannot exceed half of the fixed beds (art. 11(2) and (3)).<\/p>\n<p>The per-building limit also counts registrations held by the spouse, ascendants and descendants and by companies with common partners (art. 11(6)). To operate more units in the same building, the decree itself points to the regime of <strong>tourist apartments<\/strong> under the RJET.<\/p>\n<h2>4. AL registration and where the architect comes in<\/h2>\n<p>Registration is made by <strong>prior notification with a deadline<\/strong>, addressed to the mayor through the Single Electronic Desk (Balc\u00e3o \u00danico Eletr\u00f3nico) (arts. 5 and 6). The process has four steps:<\/p>\n<div class=\"trc-diagram\"><span class=\"trc-art-label\">From application to opening<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:18px 20px;\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 140px;border-top:2px solid var(--trc-ink);padding:14px 0 6px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 8px;\">01 \u00b7 Application<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:20px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">Prior notification<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">on the Single Desk, with the use permit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 140px;border-top:2px solid var(--trc-ink);padding:14px 0 6px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 8px;\">02 \u00b7 Municipality<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:20px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">60 days<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">to object; 90 in a containment area<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 140px;border-top:2px solid var(--trc-ink);padding:14px 0 6px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 8px;\">03 \u00b7 Title<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:20px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">Registration number<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">the only title for opening to the public<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 140px;border-top:2px solid var(--trc-ink);padding:14px 0 6px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 8px;\">04 \u00b7 Inspection<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:20px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">Municipal<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">within the same 60 or 90 days<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"trc-src\">Sources: DL 128\/2014, arts. 5, 6(9), 7 and 8.<\/p>\n<p>What usually holds the process up is not the form: it is the property. The notification must state the <strong>use permit<\/strong> or valid title of use (art. 6(1)(a)), and the lack of a suitable use permit is a ground for objection (art. 6(9)(c)). Valid uses are those defined by the municipal regulation or, in its absence, those the municipality accepts (art. 6-B):<\/p>\n<ul class=\"list\">\n<li>in the &#8220;rooms&#8221; modality, residential use only;<\/li>\n<li>houses and apartments with non-residential use must meet the requirements of the decree;<\/li>\n<li>for guesthouse establishments, the municipality may accept other uses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background:var(--trc-ink);padding:26px 28px;margin:28px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-oatmeal);margin:0 0 12px;\">In practice<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:20px;line-height:1.4;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ivory);margin:0;\">If the property does not have the right use, or needs works, the path starts with a planning procedure at the municipality \u2014 and only then with the registration.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The minimum requirements the design must secure:<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:14px;margin:22px 0;\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 220px;background:var(--trc-creme);padding:20px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 10px;\">Units<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">A window or balcony opening to the outside, a system to block out light and a door with a security system (art. 12).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 220px;background:var(--trc-creme);padding:20px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 10px;\">Water and drainage<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">Hot and cold water; public sewer or a septic tank sized for maximum capacity (art. 12).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 220px;background:var(--trc-creme);padding:20px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 10px;\">Fire<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">Above 10 guests, the fire safety regime applies; up to 10, extinguisher, fire blanket, first aid and 112 displayed (art. 13).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 220px;background:var(--trc-creme);padding:20px 22px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 10px;\">Insurance<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">Civil liability with a minimum of \u20ac75,000 per claim; in condominium buildings, also fire insurance (art. 13-A).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>5. What changed with DL 76\/2024: the municipality decides<\/h2>\n<p>Since 1 November 2024, municipalities may regulate local accommodation through their own regulation (art. 4(5)) and delimit, by parish, two types of areas (art. 15-A):<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:14px;margin:22px 0;\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 260px;border-left:3px solid var(--trc-ink);background:var(--trc-creme);padding:22px 24px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 6px;\">Art. 15-B<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:21px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 12px;\">Containment areas<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">The municipality may refuse new registrations in properties rented as housing in the previous two years, set limits relative to the number of dwellings, give new registrations a fixed duration and restrict their transfer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 260px;border-left:3px solid var(--trc-oatmeal);background:var(--trc-creme);padding:22px 24px;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.6px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 6px;\">Art. 15-C<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:21px;line-height:1.2;font-weight:600;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 12px;\">Sustainable growth<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">The municipality may require a medium or better state of repair, energy class D or better and a minimum share of housing in the building.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While they prepare the regulation, municipalities may suspend new registrations in a delimited area for up to one year (art. 15-B(2)). So before buying for AL, it is the local municipal regulation that must be read \u2014 not just the law.<\/p>\n<h2>6. AL in a condominium building<\/h2>\n<p>In a building under horizontal property, the decree balances the right to operate with that of the other owners. Setting up AL in a unit <strong>is not a use different from its purpose<\/strong> (art. 6-B(4)). But the condominium has three tools:<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0;margin:24px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--trc-line);border-bottom:1px solid var(--trc-line);\">\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 180px;padding:22px 20px 20px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:44px;line-height:1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 12px;\">2\/3<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">of the permillage to <strong>ban<\/strong> AL in the regulation, for future registrations only<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:12px;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">art. 6-B(5)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 180px;padding:22px 20px 20px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:44px;line-height:1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 12px;\">&gt; 1\/2<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">to ask the municipality to <strong>cancel<\/strong> a specific AL for repeated disturbance<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:12px;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">art. 9(2)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"flex:1 1 180px;padding:22px 0 20px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:44px;line-height:1;font-weight:400;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 12px;\">+30%<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 6px;\">maximum <strong>additional contribution<\/strong> on the annual fee<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:12px;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0;\">art. 20-A<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>7. When a tourism development makes sense<\/h2>\n<p>A tourism development is the regime for those who want, or need, more scale and a classified product: a hotel, a set of tourist apartments, a holiday village, a rural tourism property. The design follows the requirements of the typology, planning control runs through the municipality and, at the end, there is a use permit for tourism purposes and a classification. For hotels, holiday villages, tourist apartments, resorts and rural hotels, the developer may ask Turismo de Portugal for an opinion on the design \u2014 optional and non-binding (RJET, art. 26).<\/p>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid var(--trc-line);padding:24px 26px;margin:26px 0;\">\n<p style=\"font-size:11px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1.8px;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--trc-soft);margin:0 0 14px;\">Signs that the project no longer fits AL<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 8px;\">\u2014 More than 9 bedrooms or 27 guests in a single establishment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0 0 8px;\">\u2014 More than 9 apartments held by the same operator in one building, above 75% of the units.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size:15px;line-height:1.55;color:var(--trc-ink);margin:0;\">\u2014 The brief meets the requirements of a tourism development typology: in that case, the law forbids AL.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>For the full process see <a href=\"\/en\/tourism-developments-framework-investment\/\">the tourism development guide<\/a> , and for rural settings, <a href=\"\/en\/rural-tourism-portugal-modalities-rules\/\">the three rural tourism (TER) modalities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"trc-art-cta-inline\">From the plot to the use permit: <a href=\"\/en\/services\/tourism-developments\/\">design and permitting of tourism developments<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"trc-art-faq\"><span class=\"trc-art-label\">Frequently asked questions<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between local accommodation and a tourism development?<\/h3>\n<p>A tourism development meets the requirements of one of the RJET typologies and is classified; local accommodation provides lodging without those requirements, registered with the municipality and without classification. Anyone who meets the requirements of a tourism development cannot operate as AL (DL 128\/2014, art. 2).<\/p>\n<h3>What is the difference between local accommodation and a guest house?<\/h3>\n<p>&#8220;Guest house&#8221; and &#8220;Bed &amp; breakfast&#8221; are trade names that guesthouse establishments and &#8220;rooms&#8221; under AL may use (art. 17(4)). They remain local accommodation.<\/p>\n<h3>What do you need for local accommodation?<\/h3>\n<p>A valid use permit, registration by prior notification with a deadline, civil liability insurance (minimum \u20ac75,000), units with a window to the outside, hot and cold water, an information book in Portuguese, English and two more languages, and fire safety rules appropriate to capacity (arts. 6, 12, 13 and 13-A).<\/p>\n<h3>How many bedrooms can local accommodation have?<\/h3>\n<p>Up to 9 bedrooms and 27 guests per establishment, except in the &#8220;rooms&#8221; modality (maximum 3, in the host&#8217;s residence) and hostels (arts. 11 and 3(7)).<\/p>\n<h3>Can the condominium block local accommodation?<\/h3>\n<p>It can ban it for the future, by a resolution of two thirds of the permillage, and ask the municipality to cancel a specific AL in case of repeated disturbance, by more than half of the permillage (arts. 6-B and 9).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trc-art-cta\"><span class=\"trc-art-cta-title\">Deciding between AL and a tourism development?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Send us the location and what you want to set up. We check the property&#8217;s use, the municipal rules and the regime your project requires.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"trc-art-btn\" href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">Request an assessment<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"trc-src\">Official sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/legislacao-consolidada\/decreto-lei\/2014-56917875\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Decree-Law no. 128\/2014 (consolidated version)<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/files.diariodarepublica.pt\/1s\/2024\/10\/20600\/0000300031.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Decree-Law no. 76\/2024<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/files.diariodarepublica.pt\/1s\/2024\/12\/23900\/0000400005.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rectification Statement no. 39\/2024\/1<\/a> \u00b7 Decree-Law no. 39\/2008 (RJET), consolidated version.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Local accommodation (AL) or tourism development in Portugal: what the law allows each, capacity limits, registration, containment areas and when a project no longer fits AL.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5647,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[126,122],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legislation-permitting","category-real-estate-investment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5651"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5657,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5651\/revisions\/5657"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tiagorcorreia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}