# Law No. 4160 of December 4, 1962

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105648419](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105648419)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-4160-of-december-4-1962

## Summary
**Law No. 4160 of December 4, 1962** (Portuguese: *Lei nº 4160, de 4 de dezembro de 1962*) is a Brazilian federal statute enacted during the presidency of João Goulart. Its primary function was to extend the validity of the Tenant Law (Lei do Inquilinato, Law 1.300 of December 28, 1950) and to address other provisions related to electrical energy, debt collection, and authorization.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 4160, de 4 de dezembro de 1962
- **Entity Type:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Country:** Brazil
- **Promulgation Date:** December 4, 1962
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil (signed by President João Goulart)
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 4160/1962
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Main Subjects:** Authorization, Electrical Energy, Prorogation (extension of time), Validity, Debt Collection
- **Core Function:** Extended the validity (vigência) of Law 1.300 of December 28, 1950 (known as the "Lei do Inquilinato" or Tenant Law)
- **Legislative Digest (Ementa):** "PRORROGA A VIGENCIA DA LEI 1.300, DE 28 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1950 (LEI DO INQUILINATO), E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS." (Extends the validity of Law 1.300 of December 28, 1950 (Tenant Law), and provides other measures.)
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Lexml Brazil ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-12-04;4160
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4160.htm
- **Wikidata Project:** On the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What was the main purpose of Law No. 4160/1962?**
The law's primary stated purpose was to prorogate (extend) the legal validity of Law 1.300 of 1950, widely known as the "Lei do Inquilinato" or Tenant Law, which governed rental and tenancy regulations in Brazil.

**Under whose presidency was this law enacted?**
Law No. 4160 was promulgated on December 4, 1962, during the term of President João Goulart, as executed by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

**Besides tenancy laws, what other topics did this law address?**
According to its main subjects, the law also covered provisions related to "authorization," "electrical energy," "debt collection," and general matters of legal "validity" beyond just the extension of the tenant law.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The official text of the law is available at the Planalto government website at the URL https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4160.htm and is indexed under the Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-12-04;4160`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 4160 of 1962 is significant as a legislative instrument that ensured the continuity of Brazil's primary tenancy regulation framework, the "Lei do Inquilinato," at a critical juncture in the country's history. Enacted in 1962, just two years before the 1964 military coup, the law reflects the legal and political priorities of President João Goulart's administration. By extending the validity of the 1950 tenant law, this statute played a direct role in maintaining the legal status quo for landlords and tenants nationwide, preventing a legal vacuum that could have disrupted housing and rental markets. Its inclusion of additional provisions regarding electrical energy and debt collection further indicates its role as an omnibus-style legislative measure addressing multiple facets of civil and administrative regulation during a complex period of Brazilian governance.

## Notable For
- **Extension of Key Civil Legislation:** Specifically extended Law 1.300 of 1950 (Lei do Inquilinato), a foundational law for tenancy rights in Brazil.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of João Goulart, a pivotal and tumultuous period in Brazilian political history that culminated in the 1964 military coup.
- **Multi-Subject Legislation:** While primarily known for extending the tenant law, it also codified provisions related to electrical energy, debt collection, and general authorization.
- **Federal Statute Status:** Classified as a formal "statute," placing it in the category of fundamental legal documents that create statutory law, as opposed to a mere decree or administrative order.
- **Jurisdictional Reach:** As a federal law, it applied to the entire jurisdiction of Brazil, affecting millions of citizens involved in rental agreements.

## Body

### Legislative Definition and Classification
Law No. 4160 of December 4, 1962 is legally classified as a **statute** (Portuguese: *Lei*). In legal theory, a statute is a formal written document that creates law, encompassing acts, executive orders, and by-laws. It serves as a manifestation of statutory law and is composed of legal norms. This law is a formal instance of a "legal term or legal concept" and is a subclass of a "written work," "document," and "rule." As a statute, its creation was the result of legislation, following the process of draft laws.

The law's official legal citation is **Lei nº 4160/1962**. It is written in **Brazilian Portuguese** and was officially published in **Brasília**, the federal capital of Brazil. It applies to the entire jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is cataloged in the Brazilian legal system with the Lexml Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-12-04;4160`.

### Historical and Political Context
The law was promulgated on **December 4, 1962**, a period marked by significant political and social tension in Brazil. It was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**, with the determination method being **promulgation** by **João Goulart**, who was serving as President at the time. This era, preceding the 1964 coup d'état, saw numerous legislative efforts to address social and economic issues, with tenancy laws being a particularly sensitive topic due to high urbanization rates and housing demands.

### Provisions and Main Subjects
The official legislative digest (*ementa*) of Law No. 4160 succinctly states its core purpose: "PRORROGA A VIGENCIA DA LEI 1.300, DE 28 DE DEZEMBRO DE 1950 (LEI DO INQUILINATO), E DA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS." This identifies its primary function as prorogating (extending) the validity of the earlier **Law 1.300 of December 28, 1950**, which was the main legislative framework for tenancy (Lei do Inquilinato).

Beyond this primary function, the law's structured data indicates it addressed several other key subjects:
- **Prorogation (Prorrogação):** The act of extending the duration of a law or legal deadline.
- **Validity (Vigência):** The period during which a law is in force.
- **Authorization (Autorização):** Granting of official permission.
- **Electrical Energy (Energia Eletrica):** Matters related to the electrical power sector.
- **Debt Collection (Cobrança):** Procedures or regulations regarding the collection of debts.

### Official Resources and Identifiers
The law is maintained in the official digital records of the Brazilian government. The full text of the statute is accessible to the public via the Planalto Palace's official legislative portal at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l4160.htm`. This availability aligns with the general principle that statutes, as "edicts of government," are in the public domain to ensure public access to the laws they must follow.

The law is tracked within structured knowledge systems and is a focus area of the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws**, an initiative dedicated to organizing and documenting Brazilian legislation. Its unique identifiers within the Brazilian legal framework ensure precise citation and reference in legal proceedings and academic research.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1962-12-04;4160)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=4160&ano=1962&data=04/12/1962&ato=cadITRE5kMVRVT0f3)
3. LexML Brasil