Building a gas station from scratch is one of the most regulated construction projects in Brazil and many other countries. An architectural project for a gas station is not just a set of drawings — it is the legal and technical foundation that determines whether your station gets licensed, financed, and built on time. The Petrol Group has developed gas station architectural projects in 16 countries.
The 3 phases of a gas station architectural project
Preliminary project (anteprojeto): defines the concept, site layout, and feasibility. This is what goes to the environmental licensing authority for pre-approval. Basic project: the level of detail required for building permits from the municipality. Executive project: the complete set of drawings used for construction — every dimension, every material specification, every connection detail resolved before the first excavation. Stations built with only a basic project have 3x more construction problems than stations built with a full executive project.
What the project must cover
A complete gas station architectural project includes: site plan and forecourt layout, structural project (foundations, canopy structure), plumbing (water, sewage, oil/water separator), electrical project with hazardous area classification (NR-20/ABNT IEC 60079), fire protection project (PPCI), underground tank installation project, and accessibility compliance (NBR 9050). All coordinated by a single responsible architect or engineer.
Environmental licensing and the architectural project
The environmental license requires the technical project as its primary input. A poorly prepared project means the environmental authority sends it back with deficiencies — adding 90-180 days to the licensing timeline. Petrol Group has a track record of first-submission approval in 14 Brazilian states.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a local architect or can I use one from another state?
Brazilian law (CAU) allows architects licensed anywhere in Brazil to sign projects nationally, provided they register the ART/RRT in the state where the work is. For licensing efficiency, the architect should know the specific state environmental authority’s requirements.
How long does the full architectural project take?
Single station executive project: 8-12 weeks. Network of 5 stations with common brand standards: 16-20 weeks.
Petrol Group has 25+ years designing gas stations across 16 countries. Explore our service or browse the portfolio.
