Ocean Front Property Maritime Zone Laws in Costa Rica

MARITIME ZONING LAW IN COSTA RICA.

Remember that before reading this 37.5 acres of land is titled and not in the maritime zone, the other 10 acres is subject to these laws like all ocean front in costa rica. All permits from the local municipalities are to date and in perfect order.

Since the promulgation of the Maritime Zoning Law number 6043 and its reforms, of March 1977 properties that are located within this zone but were not registered in the Public Registry. The law allows the government to grant leases called Concessions for the occupation and use of this area for terms that range from five to twenty years.

For a better understanding of these restrictions, they are found in "THE LAW OF TERRESTRE MARITIME ZONE".

"The maritime zone encompasses two hundred meters of beach frontage which is owned by the Costa Rica government. The 200 meters regulated by the Maritime Law extend all over the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Republic and any of its nature, terrains, rocks that are exposed at low tide." (Article 9)

"The maritime zone is composed of two sections: The PUBLIC ZONE which is the first 50 meters of tideland and the areas that are left exposed during the low tide, the RESTRICTED ZONE is the remaining 150 meters inland ." (Article 10)

"In the case of properties properly registered in the Public Registry, that are located wholly or partially in the public zone , the use of the same will be allowed to conform with agreements from the corresponding municipality, the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism and the National Institute of Housing and Development" (Article 25)

"All plans of urban or tourist development which affect the maritime zone, should be approved by the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, as well as all the official organizations that have the authority to revue these plans, according to the law. These authorities can intervene in any tourist activity and development in the Maritime Zone or access those persons or companies that can have any concessions. In the same way, these authorities can intervene when foreign entities are involved in tourist related enterprises whose capital for the development remains more than 50% Costa Rican ownership…" (Article 31)

"Only in the RESTRICTED ZONE can concessions be given when referring to the maritime zone, unless there are special dispositions of this Law…" (Article 39)

"The concessions will be for the use and enjoyment of the particular areas in the restricted zone, under the terms and conditions that this Law establishes…" (Article 41)

"It is prohibited to give or compromise, in any way or to transfer or sublet totally or partially, the concessions or the rights derived from them, without the express consent of the corresponding municipality and the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism or the Institute of Land and Colonization, depending on the case, the contracts or acts will lack authenticity those who violate this disposition…" (Article 45)

Full details of Maritime Zone Laws can be found here: