Request and obtain proof of land ownership from the Real Estate Registry
Agency: Real Estate Registry
According to Art.1-Item IV of Federal Decree No. 93,240/86, Article 1, this certificate is valid for 30 days.
According to the official fee schedule of the Property Registrars Agency, the fee is BRL 60.8
Time and cost: 1 day, BRL 61
Obtain results of Soil study
Agency: Private licensed company
Time and cost: 15 days, BRL 4,000
Obtain results of topographical study
Agency: Private licensed company
A topographical study is conducted prior to construction to measure the levels on the specific terrain. It is a general technical requirement when building a structure of this class. Cannot be simultaneous with the previous procedure, as a proof of land ownership is required before any field work can be conducted on the plot.
Time and cost: 5 days, BRL 6,500
Obtain Technical Term of Responsibility -ART
Agency: Engineers Syndicate (Crea)
Before the application process, the engineer and architect responsible for the project need to obtain an ART. An ART is a document required by the Engineers Syndicate (Crea) that defines, for legal purposes, who is responsible for the execution of works or services and provides an opportunity for professionals to register their works or services with Crea. The ART is required for each project according to Art. 1 of Federal Law N° 6.496 (December 1977)
For contracts or works of more than BRL 15,000.00, the fee is BRL 226.5
Time and cost: 0.5 days, BRL 227
Request and obtain proof of land tax payment from the Treasury Department of the Municipality
Agency: Treasury (Municipality)
Attesting to payment of land taxes, this certificate may be issued online and is valid for only 30 days. This request can be done in parallel with procedure 2.
Time and cost: 0.5 days, no charge
Register employees with the Social Security Office
Agency: Social Security Office
For each construction site, BuildCo must register employees separately with the Social Security Office (Instituto Nacional do Seguro Social, INSS). This procedure can only be done whenever there is a proof of land tax payment,so it cannot be simultaneous with the previous one
Time and cost: 0.5 days, no charge
Request and obtain construction approval permit and construction execution permit
Agency: Municipality
BuildCo must apply for construction approval permit and the construction execution permit with the Municipality. If the project conforms to municipal legislation, zoning laws, and the municipal building code, the Municipality will issue a document approving construction. To apply for these permits, BuildCo must submit the architectural drawings and real estate documentation (real estate title or real estate tax). The documentation for construction execution permit is set out in Article 24 of São Paulo’s Municipality Building Code, Article 12 of São Paulo’s Municipality Decree 57,776/17, and in Section 3.B of São Paulo’s Municipality Ordinance No. 221/SMUL-G/2017.
After examining the project’s architecture and engineering and issuing the construction approval permit, the Municipality examines the practical and installation aspects and begins the process of issuing a construction execution permit.
According to Article 29 of São Paulo’s Municipality Building Code, and Article 22 of São Paulo’s Municipality Decree No. 57,776/17, the construction execution permit is valid for: (i) 2 years from the date of publication of the order granting the application, if the work has not been started, or (ii) 1 year from stoppage in work, if the work has been started.
Time and cost: 274 days, BRL 7,009
Submit project for analysis by Fire Department and obtain report
Agency: Fire Department
Build Co must present the building project to the Fire department for approval and obtain a report which includes all the fire security measures that need to be implemented.
Time and cost: 30 days, BRL 98
Receive random inspection from Municipality
Agency: Municipality
According to Law No. 11.228, annex 1, No. 6, Municipality is legally entitled to perform inspection required during the construction. The inspections can be carried out anytime, or upon complaint of a citizen. This can only happen once the construction has started.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive labor inspection from Labor Public Attorneys’ Office
Agency: Labor Public Attorneys’ Office
This submission happens whenever BuildCo. was granted authorization to start construction.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Submit proof of payment to the Social Security Office
Agency: Social Security Office
At the end of construction, BuildCo must submit proof of payment to its construction workers.
Time and cost: 0.5 days, no charge
Request inspection from Fire Department
Agency: Fire Department
The fire department can receive a request from BuildCo whenever the construction of the warehouse has been finalized.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection from the Fire Department
Agency: Fire Department
The Fire Department must approve the warehouse safety equipment. This inspection is valid for 3 years. This request is made by BuildCo. upon finalizing the construction.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain Fire Department Certificate (Certificado de Aprovação – AVCB)
Agency: Fire Department
This certificate is only given when the Fire Department has already conducted its inspection.
Time and cost: 29 days, BRL 207
Request final inspection from Municipality
Agency: Municipality
After construction is completed, BuildCo must request the certificate of occupancy (“Habite-se”) from the Municipality to attest that the construction is finished and that the work was performed according to the construction approval permit and the construction execution permit. The approval is valid until the first amendment of the construction project.
To request and obtain the conclusion approval, BuildCo must submit the following documents:
- Application form, addressed to the São Paulo Municipal Secretariat of Housing and Urban Development (SEHAB)
- First page of construction and territorial booklet
- Construction permit
- Engineering and CREA card
- Receipt evidencing payment of construction work tax
- Sets of approved plans (two)
- Administrative tax
- ART of chief engineer
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection from Municipality
Agency: Municipality
The inspection is conducted once it has been requested by BuildCo.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain certificate of occupancy (“Habite-se”)
Agency: Municipality
According to Article 35 of São Paulo’s Municipality Building Code, the request for the certificate of occupancy must be accompanied by (i) a statement of the professional responsible for the work, certifying its completion and execution in accordance with the applicable technical standards and provisions of municipal legislation, and (ii) documents and licenses related to the construction execution permit. In order to obtain the certificate of occupancy, the Municipality should have conducted its final inspection.
Time and cost: 28 days, BRL 460
Request and connect to water and sewage
Agency: Water and Sewerage Agencies (SABESP)
The connection request is filed with the Waste Management Company (SABESP), a different organization regarding the operation license.
Time and cost: 30 days, no charge
Register building with the Real Estate Registry
Agency: Real Estate Registry
At the end of construction, BuildCo must register the warehouse at the Real Estate Registry. BuildCo must present the title of the land and the certificate from the Social Security Office.
Time and cost: 15 days, BRL 1,872
