The Municipal Master Plan (MMP) of Vila do Porto was the main territorial management instrument covering all the territory of this municipality of the Santa Maria Island, Azores since its publication in 2004. The new MMP has been published in the 29th February 2012.

The revision of Vila of Porto’s master plan had as objectives: (i) promote urban land qualification and the quality of life; (ii) maintain the characteristics of the traditional settlement of Santa Maria; (iii) create conditions for attraction of economic activities and for the qualification of the territory; (iv) create conditions for the development and diversification of uses and activities in rural areas, and (v) exploit the natural resources and heritage.

The spatial and development model that is proposed presents, as a singular characteristic, the definition of traditional settlement areas. They correspond to spaces located in rural land to which the plan recommends the preservation of the land occupation model and of the typical character of Santa Maria island population settlement model.