Alojamento Local plaque and registration number in listings: what is mandatory in Portugal in 2026

Updated: 10 November 2026

Two identification duties are easy to forget when you run an Alojamento Local (AL) in the Algarve: the plaque at the entrance and the registration number in every listing. We read Decree-Law 128/2014 as republished by Decree-Law 76/2024, the Legal Regime for Economic Offences (RJCE), Turismo de Portugal's technical guide and AL page, and the European Parliament's summary of Regulation (EU) 2024/1028. Links are at the end. Where we could not confirm something, we say so. This is not legal advice: for your own case, ask a lawyer or your municipality.

The short answer

In November 2026, under DL 128/2014 as amended by DL 76/2024:

Apartment, estabelecimento de hospedagem and quartos (rooms): an identification plaque next to the entrance of the unit (art. 18(2)).
Hostel: a plaque outside the building, next to the main entrance (art. 18(1)).
Moradia (detached house): not on the list in art. 18. Turismo de Portugal's guide does not include it either.
All advertising, commercial documents and merchandising must show the name or logo and the registration number (art. 17(2)).
A missing plaque, or no number in your advertising, is a minor offence: 150 to 500 euros for an individual (RJCE, art. 18).
DL 76/2024 did not touch articles 17, 18 and 23: the rules have been the same since 2014.

The plaque model

The model is in the annex to DL 128/2014 itself (art. 18(3)), not in a portaria:

Clear extruded, polished crystal acrylic, 200 x 200 mm and 10 mm thick.
Arial lettering in dark blue (Pantone 280), with the text «(Alojamento Local)»; Turismo de Portugal's guide describes the letters «A» and «L» with «(Alojamento Local)» underneath.
Mounted 50 mm off the wall with stainless steel screws (8 mm diameter, 60 mm long), one in each corner.
If the entrance is inside a building (for example a flat in a block), Turismo de Portugal's guide allows a 100 x 100 mm, 5 mm version, 10 mm off the wall. We did not confirm whether this version is also in the decree-law's annex.
You can buy it from any supplier, as long as it follows the model (Turismo de Portugal guide, point 15.4).
Portaria 517/2008 belonged to the pre-2014 regime; we could not open the Diário da República to confirm its repeal, but the annex to DL 128/2014 is what applies today.

The registration number in listings

Art. 17 of DL 128/2014:

The property must call itself alojamento local and may not use the label of a tourist development (empreendimento turístico), stars or any other rating (no. 1).
Advertising, commercial documents and merchandising show the name or logo and the registration number (no. 2). That includes your website, social media, leaflets and paid ads.
Platforms: Turismo de Portugal says platforms must require and display the RNAL registration number. The decree-law also requires the holder to notify platforms within 10 days of cancelling or suspending the registration (art. 6(5)).
Offering, advertising or brokering an AL that is unregistered or has outdated registration data is not a minor offence: it is a serious one (art. 23(1)(a)).
How to get and check the number: see our guide /portugal-alojamento-local-registration-rnal-2026.

Fines

Art. 23 refers to the RJCE (DL 9/2021, annex, art. 18):

Minor (no plaque, or no number or name in advertising): 150 to 500 euros for an individual; 250 to 1,500 micro company; 600 to 4,000 small; 1,250 to 8,000 medium; 1,500 to 12,000 large company.
Serious (advertising an unregistered AL or one with outdated registration): 650 to 1,500 euros for an individual; 1,700 to 3,000 micro company; 4,000 to 8,000 small; 8,000 to 16,000 medium; 12,000 to 24,000 large company.
Attempt and negligence are punishable under the RJCE (art. 23(3)).
Additional penalties, depending on seriousness and fault: seizure of the material used, suspension of the activity for up to 2 years and closure for up to 2 years (art. 24).
The RJCE allows voluntary payment at a reduced amount; we did not confirm the exact calculation, so we do not give it.

Who enforces

Art. 21 of DL 128/2014:

ASAE (the food and economic safety authority) and the local municipality (mainly through the municipal police), which can open proceedings and impose fines and additional penalties (no. 1).
The tax authority (AT) checks tax obligations (no. 2).
If you receive an ASAE notice, gov.pt has a service to pay the fine voluntarily or file a defence.

And the EU regulation?

Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 has applied since 20 May 2026:

Platforms send the authorities activity data for each listing together with its registration number, through a single digital entry point.
In Portugal the registration number is the RNAL one: a listing with no number, or a number that does not match, is more exposed.
It does not change the plaque or the fines in DL 128/2014. What platforms must check and display is in our guide /eu-short-term-rental-regulation-2024-1028-hosts-2026.

Quick checklist

A plaque that follows the model at the entrance (except a moradia), clearly visible.
The same registration number on your website, Booking, Airbnb and every listing.
No «hotel», stars or rating in your AL advertising.
Notify platforms within 10 days if you cancel or suspend your registration.
Check with your Algarve municipality whether its local AL regulation adds rules (we did not review municipal regulations).

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Frequently asked questions

Does a detached house (moradia) need the Alojamento Local plaque?

Art. 18 of DL 128/2014 requires the plaque for hostels and for the apartment, estabelecimento de hospedagem and quartos types; the moradia is not on the list. Check whether your municipality's regulation says otherwise.

What size is the AL plaque?

Clear acrylic, 200 x 200 mm and 10 mm thick, dark blue Arial lettering (Pantone 280), mounted 50 mm off the wall with stainless steel screws in the corners (annex to DL 128/2014). Turismo de Portugal allows 100 x 100 mm if the entrance is inside a building.

What is the fine for no plaque or no registration number in a listing?

It is a minor offence: 150 to 500 euros for an individual and 250 to 12,000 euros for companies, depending on size (DL 128/2014, art. 23(2), and RJCE, art. 18). Advertising an unregistered AL is serious: 650 to 1,500 euros, or 1,700 to 24,000 euros.

Sources

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