unauthorized building

[/ˌʌnˈɔθəraɪzd ˈbɪldɪŋ/]
nounpl: unauthorized buildings
construção não autorizada
1. A structure or edifice constructed without proper legal permits, zoning approval, or authorization from competent authorities
The city demolished the unauthorized building that was erected on public land.
A prefeitura demoliu a construção não autorizada que foi erguida em terreno público.
2. An illegal or unlicensed structure built in violation of building codes and municipal regulations
Residents complained about the unauthorized building blocking their natural light.
Moradores se queixaram da construção não autorizada que bloqueava a luz natural deles.
In Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, unauthorized buildings are a significant urban issue related to informal housing, urban sprawl, and socioeconomic inequality. The term is frequently used in municipal enforcement actions, news reports about favelas, and urban development policy discussions. In the United States, the term appears in zoning disputes, particularly in NYC regarding illegal ADUs (accessory dwelling units) and unpermitted renovations in residential areas.
NYC Slang
illegal building / off-the-books construction
Synonyms / Sinônimos
illegal buildingunpermitted buildingunlicensed constructioninformal settlementbuilding without permit
Antonyms / Antônimos
licensed buildingpermitted constructionauthorized structurecompliant building

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
construção não autorizada
Standard formal usage in legal and administrative contexts
Rio de Janeiro
construção irregular
Commonly used term in Rio's densely populated favelas and urban areas
São Paulo
obra não licenciada
Often used in São Paulo's municipal code and urban development discourse
Portugal
construção ilegal
Portuguese Portuguese tends to use 'ilegal' more directly than Brazilian usage

Related Words

building permitzoning violationcode enforcementdemolitionsquatterinformal housing

Related Idioms & Phrases

operate under the radar
build without a leg to stand on
construction in violation of code
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →