Surprise Inspections Close 10 Gyms Across Portugal — How to Protect Your Membership

The national watchdog has just delivered a wake-up call to Portugal’s booming fitness scene. A high-profile inspection spree shuttered ten health clubs from Braga to Faro and revealed how easily a missing signature or lapsed policy can bring down an otherwise glossy operation. While most members will never notice the legal paperwork behind their favourite treadmill, the episode exposes a regulatory net that is tightening fast.

Sweeping inspections leave the sector on edge

The most striking outcome of ASAE’s latest drive, branded Operação FIT, was the immediate closure of 10 gyms that failed basic public-safety requirements. Investigators paid surprise visits to 81 facilities, a sample large enough to send shivers through an industry that has rebounded strongly since the pandemic. According to the authority, violations revolved around missing business licences, the absence of a qualified technical director on the floor and a lack of mandatory accident and liability insurance. Each of those shortcomings alone is enough to trigger a suspension; combined, they paint a picture of corners cut in pursuit of rapid growth.

What inspectors uncovered behind the reception desk

Officials say the closures are only the tip of the iceberg. Beyond the headline suspensions, agents opened 32 administrative offence cases covering infractions as varied as the non-display of insurance certificates, an absent complaints book, and sub-standard fire-safety equipment. The pattern is familiar: operators invest heavily in rowing machines and mood lighting yet underestimate the legal fine print. In several venues, staff on duty had no authority to instruct clients because the designated director técnico was off site. In others, emergency exits were blocked by stackable mats, a clear breach of Portaria 454/2023, Portugal’s updated rulebook for publicly accessible sports facilities.

A legal maze every fitness entrepreneur must navigate

Running a gym in 2025 requires more than motivational playlists. A venue must secure a municipal licence of use, register the correct CAE code 93130, obtain AUDIOGEST authorisation for background music and keep an up-to-date evacuation plan on file. Crucially, a licensed sports-science graduate or equivalent must supervise sessions and have his or her schedule posted where customers can see it. For spaces exceeding 150 m², inclusive access ramps and adapted showers are no longer optional. Insurance, meanwhile, must cover personal accidents, civil liability, and even search-and-rescue operations. Failure to comply carries fines that can easily eclipse annual profit margins, which explains why some operators gamble on staying under the radar—until an unannounced inspection arrives.

The data behind the crackdown

Numbers published by ASAE reveal a consistent enforcement arc. In 2021, during Covid-related checks, inspectors brought 35 cases against gyms. Four years later, the same red flags re-emerged—underscoring how perennial the issues are. The authority describes the latest sweep as part of a broader push for “leal concorrência”, the principle that legitimate businesses should not be undercut by those ignoring the rules. Consumer advocates add another layer: Portuguese clients now spend roughly €400M a year on fitness services, and they expect the same standards of safety they find in cafés or cinemas.

Could lighter rules be on the horizon?

Industry lobbyists have long argued that current legislation, drafted when large big-box clubs dominated the market, stifles smaller boutique studios. The government partially responded through the 2023 Portaria, carving out a special category for “micro-spaces” with simplified paperwork. Tax relief could follow. MPs from both PS and Chega have floated proposals to let members deduct gym fees on their IRS returns, while another motion seeks a cut in VAT on sports services. None of these ideas alter the core safety mandates, yet they hint at a regulatory shift toward encouraging exercise rather than punishing non-compliance.

What gym-goers should watch for

For the average member, the safest bet is to look beyond free trials and shiny kettlebells. A legally operated club will display the name of its technical director, the insurance policy number, and a prominently placed livro de reclamações. Emergency exits must be unobstructed, fire extinguishers serviced, and first-aid kits stocked. Ask staff whether they carry personal-trainer certification and never sign a contract until you have read the cancellation clause. The ten closures this month serve as a reminder: in Portugal, fitness and compliance share the same barbell.