Albufeira, Portugal, May 30, 2025 (Lusa) - The code of conduct for the municipality of Albufeira is expected to come into force in July, after the Municipal Assembly has given its opinion on the proposal submitted for public consultation and already approved by the City Council, the mayor said on Friday.
José Carlos Rolo considered that the approval by the Municipal Council on 20 May was an "important step" towards the entry into force of the new code, which provides for fines for nudity and wearing bikinis or swimsuits in public areas, but stressed that it will only come into force after approval by the Municipal Assembly and publication in the Diário da República (Official Gazette).
The mayor of Albufeira, in the Algarve, highlighted the level of support that the measure received during the public consultation phase, with a "large proportion" (around 69%) expressing only their"agreement, without any other comments or observations", but also in the Municipal Council, which approved the measure unanimously.
When asked by the Lusa news agency about the date on which the Municipal Assembly will give its opinion, José Carlos Rolo said that it had not yet been set, but that the local government's supervisory body could vote on the document at a meeting to be held on 30 June.
"It has to be published in the Diário da República [Official Gazette], which will take another eight to ten days," the mayor added, expressing his “conviction” that the code of conduct could come into force "later this summer", after these deadlines have expired in mid-July.
The mayor acknowledged that, after it comes into force, a period of awareness-raising and information about the measures provided for in the Code will be necessary before fines can be imposed by the Municipal Police or the National Republican Guard (GNR).
Asked whether the duration of this awareness-raising period has already been defined, José Carlos Rolo replied that it has not, but called on business owners and staff working in nightlife venues to pass on the information to tourists and visitors before fines are imposed.
Regarding the contributions obtained during the public consultation phase, held between February and March, the Mayor of Albufeira said that "there were no major changes" to what was already provided for in the proposal submitted at that stage of the process.
"There were some wording issues that were changed and clarified, but nothing special," he said, considering that the new code of conduct for the municipality of Albufeira is "another contribution" to solving a problem facing the municipality.
After the Albufeira City Council approved the code on 20 May, the municipality highlighted in a statement the importance of the measure to "prevent abusive behaviour by tourists" and "enhance" the tourist destination, one of the main attractions of the Algarve.
The code provides for fines for nudity and for wearing bikinis or swimsuits in public areas and aims to maintain peace, safety and public hygiene in the municipality.
Offences for wearing bikinis or swimsuits outside authorised areas range from £300 to £1,500, having sex or walking around completely naked in public places range from £500 to £1,800, and camping in unauthorised areas carries a fine of £150 to £750, according to the code.
MHC/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
