Am I required to clear my land?
Yes: clearing fuel vegetation around buildings is mandatory every year. The general deadline in 2026 is 31 May (and 30 June in calamity-declared municipalities) — the old 15 March/30 April deadlines are superseded, and the deadline is set by order each year. The duty falls on the owner and also on the tenant, usufructuary or anyone holding the land by any title. You must create a fuel-management strip of 50 m around isolated buildings and 100 m around clusters, campsites and industrial zones. The legal basis is the SGIFR (Decree-Law 82/2021). If you don't clear, the municipality can do it and bill you. In short: yes, 50/100 m, by the end of May in 2026.
📋 The rules
- A 50 m strip around isolated buildings
- A 100 m strip around clusters/campsites
- 2026 deadline: 31 May (30 June in calamity)
- Duty: the owner and anyone holding the land
- If you don't clear: the municipality clears and bills
🔓 Exceptions
- Calamity-declared municipalities: deadline extended to 30 June
- Road/rail/grid managers: their own strips
- Deadline set yearly by order (may vary)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Fines (Decree-Law 82/2021, art. 72) are: on the 50 m strip, €150 to €1,500 for individuals and €500 to €5,000 for companies; on the 100 m strip, €500 to €5,000 for individuals and €2,500 to €25,000 for companies. Beware a myth: the often-quoted "€280 to €10,000" range came from the old DL 124/2006 and is no longer in force — the current figures are from DL 82/2021. The deadlines are set every year by order (in 2026, 31 May; 30 June in calamity municipalities). To stay compliant: clear the 50 or 100 m strip as applicable, within the year's deadline, and remember that if you don't, the municipality can clear it and bill you, on top of the fine.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Am I required to clear my land?
Yes. The law requires creating fuel-management strips around buildings: 50 metres around isolated houses and buildings and 100 metres around clusters, campsites and industrial zones. The duty falls on the owner and on anyone holding the land by any title.
What's the deadline in 2026?
In 2026, the general deadline for clearing is 31 May, and 30 June in municipalities under a calamity declaration. The old deadlines, of 15 March or 30 April, are superseded. The deadline is set every year by order, so it's wise to confirm the date in force.
How much is the fine for not clearing?
On the 50-metre strip, the fine ranges from €150 to €1,500 for individuals and €500 to €5,000 for companies. On the 100-metre strip, from €500 to €5,000 for individuals and €2,500 to €25,000 for companies. The old €280–€10,000 range, from DL 124/2006, is no longer in force.
What if I don't clear the land?
If the owner doesn't comply by the deadline, the municipality can carry out the clearing in their place and bill them the cost, on top of the fine. So it's more advantageous to clear in good time. The measure aims to protect homes and people from the risk of forest fires.
Who is responsible for the clearing?
Responsibility lies primarily with the owner, but also with the tenant, the usufructuary or anyone holding the land by any title. There are also specific duties for managers of roads, railways, power grids and industrial zones, who must manage their own strips.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “mandatory land clearing deadline”
- “fuel management strip 50 metres”
- “fine not clearing land”
- “land clearing 2026 date”
- “dl 82/2021 clearing”
- “municipality clears land bills”