The Lands and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) announced in a statement yesterday that recently five illegal rooftop structures built with brick walls and metal roofs on a building near Avenida do Ouvidor Arriaga were voluntarily demolished and restored to their original condition by the offenders following intervention by the bureau, eliminating potential safety hazards.
According to the statement, a DSSCU investigation confirmed the presence of the five illegal rooftop structures at the location, which posed fire safety risks. The bureau subsequently adopted a batch-processing approach, collectively opening case files and issuing demolition orders.
Following up on the case, multiple offenders applied for voluntary demolition and completed the removal of all structures prior to the government’s final decision, restoring the rooftop according to the original approved plans. As the offenders actively cooperated, they were legally exempted from relevant fines.
The statement noted that 614 cases of voluntary demolition of illegal structures were recorded in the first three quarters of this year, representing a significant increase compared to 241 cases in the entirety of last year.
Under the Urban Construction Legal Regime, incentive measures such as fine reductions and waivers are included to encourage the voluntary removal of illegal works. Residents demolishing lower-risk illegal structures do not need to obtain a licence or submit prior notifications.
In line with the local government’s “Third Five-Year Plan,” the bureau will utilise scientific tools (such as regular aerial photography) to monitor new illegal structures, curb new cases at the source, and continue its crackdown on illegal structures while encouraging residents to voluntarily demolish unauthorised builds, the statement said.
This undated handout combination of two photos provided yesterday by the Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) shows the site before (top photo) and after the removal of its illegal brick wall and metal-roofed rooftop structures.
