Starting October 1, 2026, an amendment to the Legal Regime of Urbanization and Construction (RJUE) takes effect, introduced by Decree-Law no. 108/2026, of May 29, and rectified by Declaration of Rectification no. 29-A/2026/1, of July 27. This change necessitates the adaptation of procedures and instructional elements applicable to urban operations, by both municipal services and the applicants and technicians submitting procedures to the Municipality of Gavião.
The Municipality is currently adapting its internal procedures to apply the new rules from their effective date. Key changes to the RJUE include the mandatory use of national application forms for requests and communications, the elimination of prior documentary verification by municipal services for simple prior communications, and alterations to the deadlines for administrative responses.
Ordinance no. 320/2026/1, of July 31, has also been published, defining the models for instructional elements of procedures and urban control mechanisms provided for in the RJUE, revoking Ordinances no. 71-A/2024 and 71-B/2024. This new ordinance establishes models for license applications, prior communications, prior information requests, information on the start of works, public notices, and prior communication for the use or change of use of a building or unit.
The new rules and instructional elements apply to procedures initiated from October 1, 2026, as well as to previously initiated procedures that, on that date, are still in the preliminary assessment phase. Interested parties may take the necessary steps to adapt their procedural initiative to the new rules.
Ordinance no. 320/2026/1 also introduces new models for terms of responsibility, including that of the project author. The Order of Architects provides a tool on its Portal for architects to fill out and issue these terms in PDF/A format, although its use is not mandatory.
Applicants and technicians are advised to consult the legal diplomas and new models before submitting any urban planning procedure to ensure compliance with the new rules. Adapting to these procedures aims for uniform application and greater predictability in simplifying urban planning processes. For clarifications, interested parties should contact the service channels provided by the Municipality of Gavião.
