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Portugal Building Energy Performance and Energy Certification (Law No. 101-D/2020)

Portugal Building Energy Performance and Energy Certification (Law No. 101-D/2020): Portugal Building Energy Law: Minimum Performance Standards and SCE Certificates

Maílis Carrilho
Written by Maílis Carrilho
Updated on June 7th, 2026

Summary

Portugal’s building energy performance regime under Decree-Law 101-D/2020 sets minimum requirements for new buildings and major renovations and operates the Energy Certification System (SCE). Energy certificates are mandatory for sale and lease transactions and must be issued by qualified experts under regulated procedures. Compliance risk is highest in real estate transactions and certification practices, where missing, expired, or inaccurate certificates can trigger administrative fines and corrective measures. The framework is central to Portugal’s energy efficiency and renovation strategy and increasingly relevant for building owners, developers, and property market actors.

Details

Jurisdictions
  • Portugal
Mandatory for

Legally binding for:

Building owners and developers.

Sellers/landlords and real estate transactions.

Qualified experts issuing certificates and performing assessments.

Exemptions

Certain building categories may be excluded or have tailored rules (based on defined scope and use categories).

Very small or specific technical cases may have simplified requirements, depending on classification.

Deep dive

2 min read
Published Jun 7, 2026

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What’s Required

Portugal’s building energy performance framework sets minimum requirements for building design and renovation and regulates the Energy Certification System (SCE). Key requirements include:

  • Minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings and major renovations.

  • Mandatory energy certificates for sale, lease, and certain public buildings, issued by qualified experts.

  • Building system requirements (for example, heating, cooling, ventilation, and hot water systems) and inspection rules, where applicable.

  • Compliance duties for owners, developers, real estate actors, and qualified experts, supported by supervision and enforcement mechanisms.

Important Deadlines

  • Continuous compliance with design/renovation requirements.

  • At the time of transaction: valid energy certificateis required for sale or lease.

  • Periodic updates to technical requirements and supervision rules as the framework evolves.

Current Status

Fully in force as the current legal basis for building energy performance and the SCE system in Portugal.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

  • Administrative fines for missing or invalid certificates in transactions.

  • Penalties for false, incorrect, or non-compliant certification practices.

  • Corrective orders, including requirements to regularise documentation.

Examples of Known Violations

  • Selling or leasing buildings without a valid energy certificate.

  • Advertising properties without the required energy class information.

  • Certificates issued without an adequate technical basis, leading to supervision actions.

Resources


Maílis Carrilho
Added by:
Maílis Carrilho
Sustainability Research Analyst
Maílis Carrilho is a Sustainability Research Analyst (Intern) at Net Zero Compare, contributing research and analysis on climate tech, carbon policies, and sustainable solutions. She supports the team in developing fact-based content and insights to help companies and readers navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.
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Added on Jun 7, 2026 by Maílis Carrilho ·