Hello jnote

Planning permision can take a long time, specially if your dealing with Sintra city hall. New regulations regarding planning permission just came out and now there is an alternative way to gain some time when licencing a project.

"If we bought a farm or villa, is it a nightmare as far as planning permission regarding extra cabins/yurts and swimming pool?"

Before buying any property, you should check with the Câmara to make sure you can build in it and how much.

In the end if you plan to build, you'll need an architect. To get a property, check several realstate agents and let them know what you're looking for.

Keep in mind that building is always a long process. It takes no less than 2 years from starting the project to having the construction complete.

Regarding the projects, you'll need for any building:
Architecture
Structural enginnering
water and sewage
telecom
electricity
gas
thermal performance and solar hot water supply
acoustic

and depending on the location

other projects like: fire detection and landscape

Hope this doesn't put you off but it's better to know everything upfront.