Building Regularisation
Technical regularisation of existing constructions, alterations and extensions.
WHAT IS ASSESSED
Existing works
Approved documents
Property tax certificate
Land registry certificate
PDM / RMUE
Use licence
Municipal framework
Technical guidance
Building regularisation allows existing constructions, alterations, annexes, extensions or changes of use to be regularised where they have not been properly licensed or do not correspond to the approved documents.
Before moving forward, a preliminary assessment is carried out to determine whether the situation is technically defensible, which documents exist, which constraints apply and what administrative pathway is appropriate.
The objective is to conduct the regularisation process with technical rigour, from the initial assessment of the property to the preparation of the necessary elements for municipal submission, where the situation allows the process to move forward.
From diagnosis to the regularisation process
01 — Preliminary assessment of the situation
Collection of the address, photographs, property tax certificate, land registry certificate, existing plans, licences, notifications or other available documents.
04 — Preparation of the file
Where the situation is defensible, preparation of the necessary elements for the regularisation request, including drawings, written statement and applicable technical documents.
02 — Technical and documentary comparison
Assessment of what has been built, what is recorded in the property documents and what may have been approved in the municipal file.
05 — Submission and follow-up
Submission of the file to the Municipality and follow-up of requests for clarification or additional elements, within the contracted scope.
The process begins with a preliminary assessment of the existing situation.
Where regularisation is technically defensible, the preparation of drawings, written statement, supporting documents and submission to the Municipality follows.
03 — Planning framework
Assessment of use, areas, setbacks, indexes, easements, constraints and applicable municipal rules.
Submission of a regularisation file does not guarantee approval, consent, issue of a licence or final regularisation. The decision always belongs to the competent authorities.
Frequent situations
Building regularisation may involve very different situations. Each case must be assessed according to the property, the existing documents, the applicable planning rules and the decision of the Municipality.
Works without licence
Anexos, ampliações, garagens, coberturas, alpendres ou alterações executadas sem procedimento urbanÃstico prévio.
Older properties
Properties built before 1951 or older constructions with incomplete, inconsistent or insufficient documentation.
Discrepancy with the approved project
Differences between the works carried out, the approved drawings, the use licence or the documents held by the Municipality.
Sale, inheritance or financing
Cases where inconsistencies in the documentation arise before a deed, inheritance process, bank valuation or property transfer.
Change of use
Situations where the existing or intended use does not correspond to the authorised or documented use.
Condominium and property records
Situations requiring consistency between areas, property units, common parts, use, tax records and land registry records.
Not every situation can be regularised. Feasibility depends on the technical assessment, the planning framework and the decision of the competent authorities.
What is assessed before moving forward
Before preparing a regularisation file, it is necessary to understand whether the situation has a technical and planning framework.
The assessment depends on the submitted documents and the information available. Where essential documents are missing, the conclusion may be limited or require additional confirmation.
• what has been built;
• applicable planning framework;
• what is recorded in the available documents;
• setbacks, areas, uses, indexes and constraints;
• what may have been approved by the Municipality;
• administrative easements and public utility restrictions, where identifiable;
• property tax certificate and land registry certificate;
• likely need for design projects, technical specialities or opinions;
• drawings, licences, final drawings or older documents;
• risk that the situation may not be regularisable.
• use licence, where available;
This assessment is preliminary and does not replace the municipal decision or any opinions required from external authorities.