Building rating systems have become the building sector's primary response to meeting sustainable development challenges. In recent years, these systems have begun to move beyond the limits of single building assessments to cover the sustainability of entire neighborhoods and communities. In doing so, the differences among these frameworks have been reinforced, particularly in how they respond to complex urban issues, such as social inequality, cultural diversity, and technological contexts. This paper presents the strengths and limitations of some of the most well-known rating systems in order to discuss how they address the elements of sustainable development to provide a platform for discussing their applicability to Chile's building sector This is a relevant issue for fast-developing countries like Chile, which lacks a certification system of its own. This case in particular comes at an inflection point in the country's urban development, characterized by the emergence of a series of urban-sustainability-driven public policies that contrast with a building sector that has traditionally relied on international standards to cope with such expectations. The paper concludes with a discussion of key criteria and adaptations for international standards.