Building safety
Federal: bill making building inspection mandatory advances in the Senate
Bill 159/2026 creates the Building Technical Inspection Report (Lite), with the first inspection 10 years after the Habite-se (certificate of occupancy) and later ones every 10 years.
- Creates the Building Technical Inspection Report (Lite), mandatory nationwide.
- First inspection 10 years after the Habite-se; then every 10 years.
- Approved in committee, the bill is ready for the Senate floor.
By MTC Serviços editorial team2 min read
On April 7, 2026, the Senate Regional Development Committee approved Bill No. 159/2026, which makes periodic inspection of buildings mandatory across the country. The text is the Chamber of Deputies' substitute for a Senate bill (PLS 491/2011), and Senator Jorge Seif served as rapporteur.
What the Lite is
Each inspection results in the Building Technical Inspection Report (Lite), which records the property's conditions of use and maintenance, points out flaws and anomalies, and ranks the problems by technical priority. The report is prepared by a licensed professional, with a technical responsibility record.
On the technical side, building inspection already has its own standard: ABNT NBR 16747, published in 2020, which sets out guidelines, concepts, terminology and procedure for the activity. The bill turns inspection into a legal obligation, with a defined frequency.
Deadlines, exceptions and penalties
The first inspection must take place ten years after the Habite-se or equivalent document and then every ten years. The agency responsible for enforcement may require shorter intervals depending on the type, age and condition of the property. Hiring is up to the owner or whoever manages the property, such as the building manager (síndico) in condominiums.
Frequency and responsible parties
| Item | Rule provided in the text |
|---|---|
| First inspection | 10 years after the Habite-se or equivalent document |
| Following inspections | Every 10 years |
| Shorter intervals | May be required by the enforcement agency, depending on the type, age and condition of the property |
| Hiring | Owner or manager, such as the building manager (síndico) in condominiums |
| In force | 180 days after the law is published |
Single-family homes, dams and soccer stadiums are excluded, as they have their own legislation. Those who do not comply may be fined, have non-residential activities suspended, and have licenses suspended or canceled. Under the text, the rules take effect 180 days after the law is published.
Next steps
The bill is ready for a vote on the Senate floor. Because it is a bill, the rules will only take effect if it is approved and signed into law.
What this changes for you
- Condominiums and commercial buildings would have to hire the periodic inspection, through the building manager (síndico) or administrator.
- The report is prepared by a licensed professional, with a technical responsibility record.
- For now, the rule does not yet apply: the bill depends on the Senate floor and on being signed into law.
Want to know how this applies to your property or business? MTC reviews it before any proposal.
Chat on WhatsAppSources
- Rádio Senado, Federal Senate(opens in a new tab)
- CBIC: ABNT NBR 16747 standard on building inspection published(opens in a new tab)
Informational text, based on official acts and publications. The ads on this page are for MTC's own services. To find out how this applies to your property or business, talk to the MTC technical team.
