In Costa Rica, all naturally occurring sources of fresh water are the property of the State. The regulation of use and distribution of fresh water is controlled entirely by the State, through the State Water and Sewer Regulator (AyA), a Community Water and Sewer Association (ASADA), which is under the [...]
What are the Most Common Forms of Holding Real Property Interests in Costa Rica? In Costa Rica, the three common forms of holding real property interests are Registered Title Properties, Right of Possession Properties, and Concession Leasehold Properties. Each of these three real property interests has distinct characteristics and should [...]
What Are the Considerations for Purchasing Pre-Construction (Pre-Sales) Properties in Costa Rica? In Costa Rica, there is currently a residential construction “boom” and the offerings for Pre-Sales property purchases by Developers is abundant, particularly in the beach tourist-oriented areas and in the Central Valley, in or close to the San [...]
Registered Title Properties Most properties in Costa Rica are properties with an independently registered Property Title in the National Registry. Each such property comes with a registered Survey Plan indicating the property size, the property boundaries, and the property location. The Survey Plan number is annotated on the registered Property [...]
In 1977, Costa Rica passed the Maritime Zone Law, which established property ownership rights for beachfront property in Costa Rica. Under the Costa Rica Constitution, the initial fifty meters inland from the high-tide line on beachfront properties, as established by the Costa Rica National Geographic Institute, has always been reserved for public use and [...]
