National Agricultural Reserve (RAN): can you build on it in Portugal?
Generally no: land in the National Agricultural Reserve (Reserva Agrícola Nacional, RAN) is non-building land, with exceptions for listed uses where there is no viable alternative outside RAN.
- Answer
- Housing and most other building are barred; listed non-farm uses are allowed case by case.
- Banned actions
- Subdivision, urbanisation works, construction or extension, except the allowed uses.
- Examples of allowed uses
- Farm buildings; the permanent home of a farmer on a farm; the owner's permanent home in proven economic need; renewable energy; rural tourism complementary to farming.
- Condition
- No viable technical, economic, environmental or cultural alternative outside RAN, and location preferably on the lowest-aptitude land.
- Who decides
- The regional RAN entity gives a binding prior opinion; the municipality or other licensing body then decides.
- Public interest
- Actions of relevant public interest can be recognised by joint order of ministers.
- Official page
- dgadr.gov.pt/reserva-agricola-nacional-ran
- Legal basis
- Decreto-Lei 73/2009, articles 20 to 25, as amended by Decreto-Lei 199/2015, 11/2023 and 36/2023
- Sources
- files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2009/03/06300/0198802000.pdf
files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2015/09/18100/0812308140.pdf
files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2023/02/03000/0000300192.pdf
dgadr.gov.pt/reserva-agricola-nacional-ran - Checked
- 2026-11-05
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