Local government
Your authority has a preparation window — and one obligation that falls due earlier: adopting, by 30 April 2027, the local regulations governing how hearings are published.
Key timing note. Act no. 5-A/2026 of 28 January has been in force since 27 July 2026, but it does not yet apply to local authorities. Under Article 8(6) of Act no. 37-A/2026 of 28 July, it applies to municipalities, their local undertakings and inter-municipal bodies only from 1 June 2027, with the necessary local regulations to be adopted by 30 April 2027. Parishes are covered from 1 January 2028.
| Date | Milestone | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 27-07-2026 | Act no. 5-A/2026 enters into force — for central government. | Article 21 of Act no. 5-A/2026 |
| 29-07-2026 | Act no. 37-A/2026 enters into force; Article 19 of Act no. 5-A/2026 repealed. | Articles 9 and 10 of Act no. 37-A/2026 |
| 01-01-2027 | RTRI fully operational; Management Board takes office. | Article 8(1) |
| 30-04-2027 | Deadline for municipalities, local undertakings and inter-municipal bodies to adopt local regulations on publishing hearings. | Article 8(6) |
| 01-06-2027 | The Act becomes applicable to municipalities, local undertakings and inter-municipal bodies; the sanctions regime enters into force. | Articles 8(6) and 8(8) |
| 30-11-2027 | Deadline for parishes to adopt their regulations. | Article 8(7) |
| 01-01-2028 | The Act becomes applicable to parishes. | Article 8(7) |
Publish, at least quarterly, the meetings held with entities listed in the RTRI, stating the date and subject matter and, where representation is by a third party, the entity whose interest is represented (Article 8(3)).
By 30 April 2027, adopt the regulations defining the procedure for publishing hearings (Article 8(6) of Act no. 37-A/2026). The only duty requiring a formal decision of a municipal body.
Maintain a page listing all ongoing public consultations on regulatory initiatives or public policies (Article 9).
Record all interactions or consultations during the preparatory stage of regulations and public policies, and publish them with the procedural file (Article 10(2)).
Adhere to the Code of Conduct annexed to the Act and adopt specific provisions on interest representation, including gifts and hospitality (Article 15(1) and (2)).
Publish an annual qualitative and quantitative report on the implementation of the public agenda register (Article 16(3)).
Tell us which authority you represent and where it stands. We reply with a phased implementation plan running to 1 June 2027.
Tel.: (+351) 285 107 010 · info@lobbyingmunicipal.pt