Beach Front Property Legal Facts

 Owning beach front property is a dream of many. In Costa Rica there are some important legal facts to be aware of before buying beach front property.

• The Maritime Zone (also called the Marine Coastal Zone) covers the first 200 meters of land from the mean high tide line and is divided into two parts:
  • The Public Zone (Zone Publica) - covers the first 50 meters from the high tide line and is intended to ensure that all beaches are available for public use.
  • The Restricted Zone (Zone Restringida ) - covers the next 150 meters from the 50 meter mark to the 200 meter line. This land is available for concessions to be granted on.
• Concessions are granted for up to 20 year terms and are renewable as long as all laws and procedures are followed.
• For foreigners to hold concession rights, they must meet the following criteria:
  • Have lived as a resident of Costa Rica for at least 5 years
  • Or, buy the concession under a Costa Rica corporation that has at least 50% of the corporation owned by Costa Rican citizens

Purchasing concession rights to beach front property requires extra precaution and should be undertaken only after careful review of all the laws and requirements, and with the advice of legal councel.