São Paulo operates under the ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas) standards and the São Paulo Building Code. The Secretaria de Subprefeituras manages approvals with typical timelines of 3-8 weeks. São Paulo has a population of approximately 12 million metropolitan area, making it Brazil's largest city. São Paulo is in low seismic zone with wind load requirements. Notable requirements include fire safety per ABNT NBR 15673, accessibility standards, environmental protection, and sustainable design. Approval fees typically range from 0.3-0.6% of construction value. São Paulo offers expedited processing for sustainable projects and has established standards managing rapid urbanization.