Window distance from a facing wall in Portugal

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A window of a room in a home must be at least half the height of the facing wall or facade away from it, and never less than 3 metres (Regulamento Geral das Edificações Urbanas, art. 73.º).

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Law

Regulamento Geral das Edificações Urbanas (RGEU, Decreto-Lei n.º 38382/51)

Article

73.º

Rule

The distance from the window to any facing wall or facade, measured at right angles to the window, must be at least half the height of that wall above the floor of the room

Minimum

3 metres

Clear width

No obstacle to light closer than 2 metres on either side of the window's vertical axis, and the 3 metre minimum must hold across that width

Projections

Balconies and other projecting parts count from their outer edge (art. 75.º)

Applies to

Windows of rooms in homes (compartimentos das habitações)

Official text

pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=1217&tabe...

Sources

pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=1217&tabe...
pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=1217&tabe...
pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?nid=4024&tabe...

Checked

2026-11-05