What documents do I need to build in Costa Rica?

To build in Costa Rica, you need: Property Certification, Cadastral Plan, Soil Study, Municipal Property Declaration, Land Use Certificate, Water Availability Letter, Electricity Availability Letter, and Tax Compliance verification. Additional documents may be required if your property adjoins water bodies or national roads.

How long does it take to obtain building permits in Costa Rica?

The permit process in Costa Rica typically takes 2-6 months depending on the municipality and project complexity. Having all required documents ready before starting can significantly speed up the process.

Can foreigners build property in Costa Rica?

Yes, foreigners have the same property rights as Costa Rican citizens and can freely build and own property. A Power of Attorney (POA) may be needed if you'll be out of the country during construction phases requiring legal approval.

What is a Plano Catastrado?

A Plano Catastrado (Cadastral Plan) is an official survey showing your property's location and dimensions within the national cadastral map. It's issued by the National Registry and gives your property a unique identification number.

Do I need a soil study to build in Costa Rica?

Yes, a geotechnical soil study (Estudio de Suelo) is mandatory. It assesses whether the soil can support your intended structure and provides parameters for calculating the drainage system.

Requirements Checklist

Mandatory requirements for duly building in paradise Costa Rica

Please review the following checklist as it details all the documentation necessary for the design and permits approval of any construction project in Costa Rica. Mark the compliance status for each requirement and send it back to us, attaching all the documents that you already have.

If you have missing documents, let us know if you need help with the procedure for obtaining them. If you have any documents in "obtaining" status, please inform us of the estimated time frame for those procedures.

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Download the checklist document to fill it out offline and send it back to us.

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MISSING REQUIREMENTS?

DON'T WORRY!

WE'VE GOT AN IDEA FOR YOU

If you're missing any of these requirements we offer our professional assistance as part of our resoluteness for unparalleled service. While others might miss to inform you or even deliberately avoid it, we want to protect your investment by being thorough, ensuring diligence on every aspect, preventing hazards on every step.

OUR OFFER:

For a $200 fee we will take care of the entire procedures for obtaining any requirements you're missing from the previous list. If the viability study result is positive and if we continue with the project, the retainer amount will be deducted from the construction contract. If you want to receive this service, we'll require a POA for being able to obtain the requirements on your behalf.

Requirements Checklist

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Fill Online Form

MISSING REQUIREMENTS?

DON'T WORRY!

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