Roof repair: do you need a permit in Portugal?

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

Repairing a roof to keep it as it was built is conservation work (obras de conservação) and is exempt from licence and prior communication. Changing the roof's shape, height or look is an alteration and is not exempt.

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Answer

Exempt if it is repair that keeps the roof as built

What conservation means

Work to keep a building in its existing condition, including restoration, repair and cleaning (art 2(f))

Changing the roof

Alteration of the roof or its look needs a licence, or prior communication where art 4 allows it

Before you start

Tell the council at least 5 days before work begins, even for exempt work (art 80-A).

Listed buildings

Conservation of a listed building needs a licence unless the heritage authority has given a favourable opinion (art 4(2)(d) and 6(1)(k)).

Council rules

Your council can add detail in its own building regulation where the law lets it, so ask before you start.

Legal basis

RJUE art 6(1)(a) and 2(f), RJUE (Decreto-Lei 555/99) as republished in the Annex of Decreto-Lei 108/2026

Sources

data.dre.pt/eli/dec-lei/108/2026/05/29/p/dre/pt/pdf

Checked

2026-11-05