Amendment to the licensing regime for petroleum product storage facilities and fuel filling stations

Decree-Law no. 198/2026 was published on 2 October, introducing the sixth amendment to Decree-Law no. 267/2002, of 26 November, which establishes the procedures and defines the competent authorities for the licensing and inspection of petroleum product storage facilities and fuel filling stations.

The main changes include:

1. an increase in the maximum storage capacity for LPG cylinders exempt from licensing at filling stations, with storage areas with a capacity not exceeding 1.560 m³ no longer being subject to licensing;
    
2. the simplification of the regime applicable to changes that do not represent an increase in risk, such as a reduction in storage capacity, which will now merely require an annotation to the license;
    
3. the clarification of the regime applicable to the transfer of ownership or lease of the facilities, with the new holder now required to request the annotation of the license within 30 days;
    
4. the strengthening of the tacit approval regime for the operating license;
    
5. the reorganization of the facilities subject to simplified licensing and of the facilities exempt from licensing;

Licensing procedures already underway remain subject to the regime in force on the date the application was submitted, while pending procedures relating to facilities that become exempt from licensing are terminated, with a refund of the fees paid for acts not performed. 

The Decree-Law enters into force on the day following its publication, and Decree-Law no. 267/2002 is republished in an annex.

For more information, the Decree-Law can be consulted here.