CNAE codes for builders, contractors and installers in Brazil
The main CNAE code for construction companies in Brazil is 4120-4/00 – Construção de edifícios (Construction of buildings). Developers use 4110-7/00, renovation contractors 4399-1/03 and engineering firms 7112-0/00. To prospect this segment, search codes 4120-4/00, 4110-7/00, 4399-1/03, 4330-4/04, 4321-5/00, 4322-3/01, 7112-0/00 as both primary and secondary CNAE, keep only active CNPJs, then filter by company size and city.
CNAE codes for construction companies
CNAE (Classificação Nacional de Atividades Econômicas) is Brazil's official activity classification. Every company registered with a CNPJ declares one primary CNAE and any number of secondary ones. These are the CNAE 2.3 subclasses most used by construction companies:
| CNAE | Official description (pt) | English | When it shows up |
|---|---|---|---|
4120-4/00 | Construção de edifícios | Construction of buildings | Residential and commercial builders |
4110-7/00 | Incorporação de empreendimentos imobiliários | Real estate development | Property developers |
4399-1/03 | Obras de alvenaria | Masonry work | Masonry and renovation contractors |
4330-4/04 | Serviços de pintura de edifícios em geral | Building painting | Building painters |
4321-5/00 | Instalação e manutenção elétrica | Electrical installation and maintenance | Electrical contractors |
4322-3/01 | Instalações hidráulicas, sanitárias e de gás | Plumbing, sanitary and gas installations | Plumbing contractors |
7112-0/00 | Serviços de engenharia | Engineering services | Engineering and design firms |
Search primary and secondary CNAE
Many construction companies register their real activity as a secondary CNAE, because the CNPJ was opened under another primary activity or because they do more than one thing. Builders often declare several specialized trade codes (masonry, painting, electrical, plumbing) as secondary. Filtering on the primary code alone misses part of the market.
Who sells to construction companies
Construction buys materials, equipment and services in volume, in cycles tied to project progress.
- Building materials, concrete, steel and precast distributors
- Equipment, scaffolding and machinery rental
- Estimating, project management and BIM software
- Insurance, bonds and project finance
- PPE, uniforms and workplace safety
How to build a list of construction companies in Brazil
- Pick the codes: start with
4120-4/00and add4110-7/00,4399-1/03,4330-4/04,4321-5/00,4322-3/01,7112-0/00depending on what you sell. - Search them as primary and secondary CNAE.
- Keep only active registrations (situação cadastral ativa) to drop unfit, suspended or closed CNPJs.
- Narrow by location (state, city, neighborhood) and company size (MEI, ME, EPP, other). EPP-size builders and above run larger projects; MEI and ME companies are subcontractors and trades.
- Keep companies with contact data (email or phone) and save the filter as a reusable segment.
- Write a segment-specific opener and track replies in a pipeline.
1Lead runs all of these filters in one search over Brazil's public company registry, and its AI suggests adjacent CNAE codes from a plain-language description such as "I rent scaffolding to mid-size builders in Goiânia". The product interface is in Portuguese.
Qualification signals
- 4120-4/00 + 4110-7/00: a builder that also develops its own projects.
- High share capital: capacity for larger projects.
- Branches in other cities: regional operations.
How to approach this segment
Schedule and cost are the core pains. Show savings per project, on-time delivery and payment terms; the decision-maker is usually the site engineer or the buyer.
Example first message (in Portuguese, with translation)
Frequently asked questions
What is the CNAE code for a construction company in Brazil?
4120-4/00, construction of buildings. Property developers use 4110-7/00.
Which CNAE do renovation contractors use?
Usually 4399-1/03 (masonry), combined with painting (4330-4/04), electrical (4321-5/00) and plumbing (4322-3/01).
What is the CNAE code for an engineering firm?
7112-0/00, engineering services.
Where is the official CNAE table?
IBGE publishes it in the CONCLA online search, with the full hierarchy (section, division, group, class, subclass) and notes on what each code includes and excludes.