The Pousos were created in the Housing Department (Secretaria de Habitação) in November 1996 and in July2003 transferred to the Department of Urbanism (Secretaria de Urbanismo), subject to the Coordenadoria de Orientação e Regularização Urbanística - CRU.

Pousos Work in the urbanized areas in order to develop and oversee the legislation, promote planning, directing construction, license works, and control growth areas, ensuring that equipment and support remain sufficient.