Installing an EV charger in a Portuguese condominium: what the law says
It is the most common question from people living in apartment buildings: can I install a charger in my parking space, or can the condominium stop me? The short answer is that you can, and the law protects that right. But there are steps to follow.
What the law says
Portugal’s new electric mobility regime, approved by Decree-Law 93/2025 of 14 August, replaced the 2010 regime. Article 23, on existing buildings, allows any owner to install charging points at their own cost, provided they meet the technical requirements set by ministerial order.
In other words, you do not need a vote at the owners’ meeting to install a charger in your space. But if the installation uses or crosses common areas (and it almost always does, because the cable has to get from the meter to the garage), a notice is mandatory.
The notice to the administration
When the installation is made in or passes through a common area, even one assigned to your exclusive use, you must inform the condominium administration in writing and at least 30 days in advance of the date you intend to install.
The notice should explain the essentials: where the charger goes, where the cable runs, which meter it is connected to and what protection it has. The clearer the information, the fewer questions. This is where we help: after the visit, we prepare the technical information to attach to your letter or email.
When the condominium can object
Objection is not open-ended. The law sets out specific grounds, including:
- the administration will install an equivalent shared solution within 90 days;
- equivalent shared infrastructure already exists;
- there is a proven risk to people or property, backed by a technical report;
- the installation obstructs circulation in common areas;
- the installation would breach accessibility rules.
The decision must be taken within 30 days of the notice, and a refusal must give reasons. A well-planned installation, with a tidy route and the right protection, rules out most of these grounds from the start.
Is the wallbox connected to my meter?
In most cases, yes. The charger is supplied from your flat’s meter or panel, with a dedicated cable to your space. The energy you use for charging goes on your bill and there is nothing to split.
The route is what varies most: in some buildings the meters are in the garage, a few metres from your space; in others they are on the ground floor or on each floor. That is what we look at on the visit.
Step by step
- You request a visit and tell us where your space is.
- We look at the meter, the panel, the power and the best cable route.
- You get the proposal and the technical information for the administration.
- You send the written notice to the condominium, at least 30 days in advance.
- We install, test and show you how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need approval from the owners’ meeting?
For an individual installation in your own space, the law does not require a vote. It requires a written notice to the administration at least 30 days in advance when common areas are used.
Can the condominium charge me anything?
An individual installation is paid for by the owner who carries it out. The energy goes on their flat’s meter.
What if the building already has shared charging?
If equivalent shared infrastructure already exists, that is one of the grounds on which the administration can object to an individual installation. In that case, connecting to the existing solution makes sense.
This guide is general information and does not replace legal advice. Always check the version in force in the Diário da República.
