Operating Conditions and Identification of Local Accommodation Establishments
Civil Law
11 November, 2020Following what results of number 5, article 12 of Decree-Law number Ordinance no. 262/2020, with the changes that result of Law number 6/2018 of 22.08, Ordinance number 262/2020 of 06.11 was published, establishing the conditions for the functioning and identification of Local Accommodation establishments, to be applied to all its categories.
This Ordinance determines the rules applicable to all types of accommodation establishments, in what concerns:
- Welcome service/reception;
- Organizing and cleaning services performed in each unit; and
- Breakfast service.
It also determines specific requirements for the accommodation units in what concerns the minimum area of the spaces and operational conditions, namely for clients with reduced mobility.
This Ordinance brings relevant changes regarding the advertising and identification of the local accommodation establishments, more specifically in what concerns the requirements of the identification plaques – “AL” – fixed at the entrance of the accommodation unit when it’s located inside a building.
There is also a reinforcement of the obligation of providing information concerning the accommodation of foreign citizens, in accordance of what is determined by Law number 23/2007 of 04.07 and Ordinance number 287/2007 of 16.03, and the fixation of a general duty for the entities responsible for the exploitation of local accommodation units cooperation, to cooperate with national authorities.
Finally, one must highlight the existence of a new rule which determines the need for local accommodation establishments to implement measures and practices to promote environmental sustainability.
The Ordinance comes into force on the 4th February 2021. However, the local accommodation establishments which are already registered at National Registry of Local Accommodation will have 1 year, counting from the date of the entering into force, to adapt to the new rules.
