The use of Augmented Reality (AR) in urban planning procedures remains largely underdeveloped, despite the ongoing digital transition in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AECO) sector. In Portugal, recent legal reforms, such as the introduction of Decree-Law n° 10/2024, mandate the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the permitting processes. This creates new opportunities for AR-based applications for BIM model visualization. This paper explores how BIM can be simplified and securely adapted for AR visualization, in the context of the emerging BIM permitting reality in Portugal. To address data privacy concerns, an automated methodology that filters IFC models by applying JSON-based dictionaries is proposed. This methodology removes sensitive metadata and retains only exterior elements. The resulting lightweight models are suitable for AR applications on handled devices. A case study demonstrates the script’s effectiveness. The methodology aligns with Portugal’s evolving permitting ecosystem, leveraging the emerging BIM data for means of AR visualization, while respecting BIM data privacy regulations.