Before you can register a company in Brazil, you must confirm that your chosen business activity is allowed at your intended address. This verification is called the viability consultation (consulta de viabilidade), and skipping it is not an option — it is a mandatory step in the REDESIM company registration process.

What Is the Viability Consultation?

The viability consultation checks two things simultaneously:

1. Company name availability: Whether your proposed business name (razão social) is already in use in your state
2. Location and activity compatibility: Whether your business activity (CNAE code) is permitted at the address you plan to register

The consultation is submitted through the REDESIM portal (Rede Nacional para a Simplificação do Registro e da Legalização de Empresas e Negócios), which connects federal, state, and municipal databases.

Why Zoning Laws Matter

Brazilian municipalities have zoning regulations that restrict certain business activities in specific areas. A residential zone may not allow industrial activities. A commercial zone may restrict certain types of retail. These rules vary significantly by city.

Common Zoning Restrictions

Zone type	Typically allowed	Typically restricted
Residential	Home offices, small services	Manufacturing, retail stores
Mixed use	Services, small commerce	Heavy industry, large warehouses
Commercial	Most business activities	Heavy industry, hazardous materials
Industrial	Manufacturing, logistics	Residential, schools

If your activity is not compatible with the zone, your viability consultation will be denied, and you cannot proceed with registration at that address.

The REDESIM Process Step by Step

Step 1: Access the Portal

Visit the REDESIM portal (redesim.gov.br) or your state’s Junta Comercial (commercial registry) website.

Step 2: Fill in the Consultation

Provide:

• Proposed company name (up to 3 options)
• CNAE codes for your business activities
• Full address where the company will be registered
• Company type (MEI, ME, EPP, LTDA, etc.)

Step 3: Wait for Analysis

Processing time varies by municipality:

• Large cities (São Paulo, Porto Alegre): 1–5 business days
• Smaller cities: Can take up to 15 business days
• Integrated municipalities: May be instant through automated systems

Step 4: Receive the Result

The consultation returns one of three outcomes:

• Viable: You can proceed with company registration
• Viable with conditions: Allowed but with specific requirements (e.g., fire department approval)
• Not viable: The activity is not permitted at that address

What Happens When It Is Not Viable?

If your consultation is denied, you have two options:

1. Change your address to a location where your activity is permitted
2. Change your CNAE codes if your business can operate under a different classification

This is where a virtual office provides a significant advantage.

How Virtual Offices Simplify Viability

Virtual office providers like SedeFiscal operate from commercially zoned properties that have already been approved for a wide range of business activities. When you use a SedeFiscal fiscal address:

• The address is in a commercial zone compatible with most service and commerce CNAEs
• IPTU and AVCB documentation is already in place
• The property has prior authorization for multi-company registration
• Viability consultations for standard activities are routinely approved

This eliminates the most common reason for viability denial — zoning incompatibility — and prevents delays that can push your company formation back by weeks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using a home address without checking zoning: Many residential addresses fail viability for common business activities
• Choosing too many CNAE codes: Each additional CNAE is checked against zoning rules. Add only what you actually need.
• Ignoring the secondary activity check: Your secondary CNAEs are also verified, not just the primary one

After Viability Approval

Once your viability consultation is approved, you receive a protocol number that is valid for a limited period (usually 30–90 days). Use this window to complete your company registration at the Junta Comercial and then proceed to CNPJ registration with the Receita Federal.

The viability consultation may seem like bureaucratic overhead, but it protects you from registering a company at an address where you cannot legally operate. Getting it right the first time saves weeks of rework.

← Back to blog