Chambers may stop “façade shops” in 15% of the urban area

Nlast week, Minister Manuel Castro Almeida had announced that the government is preparing a law that establishes an exception to “zero license”, to allow municipalities to prevent the so-called “façade shops” in historical centers.

The exception, which will be contained in a Business Licensing Code that the Government is preparing, aims to protect, for example, stores with history.

Today, in parliament, the minister added that the government is pointing out that about 15% of the urban area of the county can be protected, depending on the municipal approval.

Currently, under the “zero license” program, entrepreneurs can license commercial establishments without intervention from municipal councils.

“ I consider that a proper rule. [But] the experience has shown that, in some cases, it is justified to have a municipal validation of private and public initiatives that, taking advantage of the ‘zero license’, ended up doing activities and uses in use of the built up illegally,” he said.

To avoid these abuses, “in conjunction with the municipalities”, the government is preparing amendments that establish an exception to the law, according to which the chambers do not have to intervene in the licensing of commercial stores in their territories, but “may municipal assemblies, on a proposal from the municipal councils, a percentage of their urban area where the approval of the City Council for commercial installations is required”.

These areas are “areas of great tourist pressure or areas near monuments or buildings of great relief”, he added.