Licensing
Local Accommodation
Basic Concepts
Local Accommodation
A specific type of tourist accommodation designed to be offered to the public for rental for periods of less than 30 days, which does not fulfil the conditions to be classified as a tourist development. It consists of a property or part of one, suitably furnished and equipped for overnight stays, with permission for residential use and registration with the Regional Tourism Board.
Commercial Name
Establishments engaged in the activity of local accommodation must identify themselves as local accommodation and may not, under any circumstances, use expressions such as ‘tourism’, ‘tourist’, “rural” or ‘nature’, or others that are specific to an official classification or qualification system or can easily be confused with them.
Types of establishments to be assigned to local accommodation activity
All local accommodation establishments are subject to a set of general requirements relating to hygiene, safety and working conditions, as well as adequate furniture and other equipment. There are also specific requirements that make it possible to define different types, namely:
Accommodation unit: room only;
Room type: single, double or triple;
Maximum room capacity: 3;
Convertible beds: the number of convertible beds cannot exceed the number of permanent beds;
Running the establishment: natural person.
Accommodation unit: autonomous single-family building (house);
Room type: single, double or triple;
Maximum room capacity: in line with point 19 of Annex II of the Ordinance in effect;
Convertible beds: the number of convertible beds cannot exceed the number of permanent beds;
Running the establishment: natural or legal person.
Accommodation unit: autonomous fraction (apartment) of a building or part of an urban building that can be used independently. Each owner or holder of local accommodation may only manage, per building or in adjoining buildings, a maximum of 10 rooms and 20 beds, including convertible beds, in the apartment typology;
Room type: single, double or triple;
Maximum room capacity: in line with point 19 of Annex II of the Ordinance in effect;
Convertible beds: the number of convertible beds cannot exceed the number of permanent beds;
Running the establishment: natural or legal person.
Accommodation unit: room only;
Room type: single, double or triple;
Maximum room capacity and beds;: 10 rooms (minimum 3) and a maximum of 20 beds, including convertible beds;
Convertible beds: the number of convertible beds cannot exceed the number of permanent beds;
Running the establishment: natural or legal person.
The term hostel is exclusive to establishments made up of dorms or dorms and rooms, provided that the number of beds in a dorm is greater than the number of beds in a room.
Accommodation unit: bed or room and dorm bed;
Predominant accommodation unit: dorm bed;
Room type: single, double or triple;
Dorm configuration: minimum of 4 beds and a maximum of 6 beds, including bunk beds and convertible beds;
Calculation of the number of beds (permanent or convertible) in a hostel consisting of dorms or rooms and dorms::
Room
1 single bed = 1 bed / 1 guest
1 double bed = 2 beds / 2 guests
Dorm
1 bunk bed = 2 beds = 2 guests.
The bed is always sold individually, regardless of its size.
Maximum capacity of the establishment: 10 rooms (including dorms), and a maximum of 30 beds, including bunk beds and convertible beds;
Convertible beds: the number of convertible beds cannot exceed the number of permanent beds;
Running the establishment: natural or legal person.
Local Accommodation Licensing and Registration Process
Licensing
Licensing Entity
Town Hall.
Submitting the request to the Town Hall
The owner must apply to the town hall of the municipality where the property is situated.
The information that must be included in the application includes: the permit to use the property, the tax identification of the owner (natural or legal), the commercial name of the suggested establishment and the contact details of the owner or the owner of the local accommodation business.
In addition to this information, it is necessary to submit a number of documents such as: a copy of the identification document of the owner or holder of the local accommodation business, a term of responsibility for the electrical, gas and other installations and a plan of the property indicating the units to be used for the local accommodation business.
Inspection: action carried out by the town hall at the establishment to check that all the required conditions have been fulfilled.
Inspection report: If approval is given, the town hall issues a permit authorising the use of the building for the chosen purpose, indicating the type and maximum capacity of the establishment in terms of number of rooms and beds (permanent and convertible).
The inspection report/use authorisation permit is sent to the applicant and to the Regional Directorate of Tourism.
Registration
Assignment of the local accommodation regional registration number (RRAL): The Regional Directorate of Tourism (DRT), having verified that the inspection report is in order, assigns a sequential number, which is communicated to the owner of the local accommodation establishment.
RRAL: the registration number assigned by the Regional Directorate of Tourism must be indicated on all correspondence, advertising and publicity for the establishment, by any means.
Statistical information: on a monthly basis, the owners of the establishments must make a mandatory report with, among other things, the volume of guests and overnight stays, directly on the electronic platform of the Azores Regional Statistics Service, according to the form provided for this purpose.
Frequently asked questions (Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
The entity responsible for verifying the minimum requirements of establishments to be dedicated to Local Accommodation activity is the respective Town Hall.
The marketing of establishments to be dedicated for Local Accommodation activities assumes the existence of a valid use permit or title for the property.
The owner/promoter must apply to the town hall where the property is situated.
The information that must be included in this application includes the tax identification of the owner (individual or collective), the commercial name of the proposed establishment and the contact details of the owner or the owner of the local accommodation business.
In addition to this information, it is necessary to submit a number of documents such as: a copy of the identification document of the owner or holder of the local accommodation business, a term of responsibility for the electrical, gas and other installations and a plan of the property indicating the units to be used for the local accommodation business, as well as the permission to use the property.
The Town Hall inspects the establishment to check that all the required conditions have been fulfilled. If compliance is found, an inspection report is issued, indicating the type and maximum capacity of the establishment in terms of the number of rooms and beds (permanent and convertible).
The inspection report is sent to the applicant and to the Regional Directorate for Tourism.
The Regional Directorate of Tourism verifies the compliance of the inspection report and assigns a sequential number, which is communicated to the owner of the local accommodation establishment.
The registration number assigned by the Regional Directorate of Tourism must be indicated on all correspondence, advertising and publicity, by any means, from the establishment.
On a monthly basis, the owners of the establishments must make a mandatory report with, among other things, the volume of guests and overnight stays, directly on the electronic platform of the Azores Regional Statistics Office, according to the form provided for this purpose.
Legislation
Ordinance nº 83/2016, of 4th August 2016
It defines the types of local accommodation establishments, the minimum requirements for safety, hygiene, facilities, equipment and services provided to guests, the maximum capacities of establishments and their respective accommodation units, the goods and services included in the price of accommodation and the rules on registration, advertising, identification of establishments, as well as the availability of information for statistical purposes. Revokes Ordinance nº 94/2013, of 17th December.
Ordinance nº 23/2018, of 16th March 2018
Amends article 9 of Ordinance nº 83/2016, of 4th August.
Licensed Establishments
Check out the list of licensed establishments here:
Check out here the map of the Azores with the georeferencing of the AL:
