Rainwater dripping from your roof in Portugal

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A roof must be built so that rainwater does not drip onto the neighbour's plot, leaving at least 50 cm (five decimetres) between the plot and the roof edge where there is no other way (Código Civil, art. 1365.º, n.º 1).

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Law

Código Civil (Decreto-Lei n.º 47344/66)

Article

1365.º

Rule

Build so that the edge of the roof or other cover does not drip onto the neighbouring plot

Minimum gap

50 cm (five decimetres) between the plot and the roof edge, if the drip cannot be avoided in another way

Right of drip

Where a right of drip (servidão de estilicídio) exists, the neighbour may not build in a way that blocks the runoff and must carry out works so the water drains onto their own plot without harming the other (n.º 2)

Official text

pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=775&tabel...

Sources

pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=775&tabel...

Checked

2026-11-05