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Clock Icon Wednesday, January 8, 2025

The Porto City Council has approved the Local Lodging Ordinance

The Porto City Council has approved the Local Lodging Ordinance

Porto city in Portugal

The majority of the Porto City Council approved the new municipal regulation for Local Lodging (AL), which distinguishes between areas of sustainable growth and areas of containment based on the “pressure” of each parish.

The new regulation was supported by elected members of the independent movement “Rui Moreira: Aqui Há Porto”, the PSD, and the PAN, while elected members of the PS abstained and elected members of BE and CDU voted against it. The elected representative of Chega did not attend the Thursday evening session.

With the Municipal Assembly’s approval, the new regulation should enter into force today through publication in the Official Gazette on May 2nd.

Noting that the regulation “arrives five years too late,” Adriano Castro of the BE stated that it should “go further” and “incorporate effectively effective measures,” arguing that the exceptions it includes “will lead to an increase in the LA in areas that are already under a great deal of pressure” in the city.

“In a city in the midst of the most severe housing crisis, we have a regulation that allows us to increase from 10,000 to 20,000,” he noted.

In response, the mayor of Porto denied that “the AL is to blame for the housing crisis.”

“The primary reason for the crisis is that the legislative measures are nothing more than empty promises.” “The attempt to demonize the AL fails with this executive,” Rui Moreira stated.

PSD - Miguel Almeida Corte Real Gomes
PSD – Miguel Almeida Corte Real Gomes

Miguel Corte Real of the PSD stated that there are a number of reasons why cities are experiencing “major transformations” and argued that those who demonize urban development are engaging in “pure demagogy.” Silvia Soares, a social democrat, also accused the government of “wanting to kill urban development” and discriminating against the sector.

Agostinho Sousa Pinto, a socialist, praised the definition of containment zones, which he deemed the “fundamental piece” of the regulation, while arguing that certain exceptions are “too numerous” and “permissive.”

Agostinho Sousa Pinto
Agostinho Sousa Pinto

Francisco Calheiros, of the CDU, was also of the opinion that the regulation should be “more cautious” with regard to exceptions “so that they do not regret this premise.”

Paulo Vieira de Castro, the sole delegate for the PAN, expressed support for the “sustainable management” of AL in the city, but noted that certain exceptions in the document may “distort” this objective.

Paulo Nuno de Carneiro Vieire de Castro
Paulo Nuno de Carneiro Vieire de Castro

“The city’s special interests must always be protected,” he argued.

José Maria Montenegro, an elected member of the independent movement, stated that Porto is currently a “regenerated” city due in large part to the AL and that the document is “a balanced solution” by incorporating “common sense” exceptions.

José Maria Gagliardini Graça da Silveira Montenegro
José Maria Gagliardini Graça da Silveira Montenegro

“I can only see well-balanced decisions and respect for an economic activity that deserves respect,” he stated.

The regulation establishes “containment areas” in parishes with greater urban pressure, based on the number of permanent or long-term rental dwellings and the number of commercial properties.

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