Yesterday, March 26, the Chamber of Deputies debated a bill that would make the unlicensed practice of architecture, urban planning, agronomy, and engineering a crime against public health. Currently, individuals practicing as architects and urban planners without a license are penalized under Article 47 of the Criminal Misdemeanors Act, which carries a sentence of 15 days to 3 months of simple imprisonment, or a fine.
Bill 6699/2002, which was on the agenda for debate and voting, proposes a detention sentence of 6 months to 2 years for anyone practicing Architecture and Urban Planning without professional registration. If the unlicensed practice is carried out for profit, the convicted individual will also face a fine ranging from 2 to 20 times the monthly minimum wage. The Brazilian Penal Code already criminalizes the unlicensed practice of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.
The proposal, authored by former Rio de Janeiro Representative José Carlos Coutinho, was introduced in 2002 and was fast-tracked last year following a request by Representative Ronaldo Lessa. CAU/BR believes that passing the law will deter the fraudulent practices of unqualified individuals who pose a risk to public safety and undermine the technical, cultural, and social expertise of more than 155,000 Brazilian architects and urban planners.
Preventing disasters
Last week, a three-story house collapsed in Osasco (SP). There were no injuries, but three neighboring properties were affected. At the time of the collapse, the resident family and neighbors had already been evacuated from the buildings, which had been cordoned off. According to the city's Civil Defense, the collapsed house was built without the supervision of a legally qualified professional.
In March, a three-story residential building collapsed in the Pituaçu neighborhood of Salvador. Of the seven people inside, four died instantly. According to the Fire Department, the building's construction took two years and was carried out without the supervision of a legally qualified professional.
Last October, part of the facade of a building under construction collapsed in Porto Alegre. Four parked vehicles were hit. The project was unauthorized and did not have a professional of record for its design or execution.
Via CAU/BR
This article was written by CAU/BR. The translation is powered by AI.
