DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

Costa Rica - Construction, Permits & Engineering

Before you purchase a piece of Costa Rica Real Estate with the intention of building on it, you should conduct some preliminary research on the property to ensure that there won't be a problem obtaining a building permit. First, determine if the lot has basic services such as water, electricity, telephone and drainage. Second, make sure there are no restrictions placed on the lot that could result in the denial of a construction permit. It will not be enough to check the Public Registry. You should also check the MINAE, SETENA, MOPT, Ministerio De Salud, INVU and the municipality where the piece of real estate is located. 

Once you have decided to build in Costa Rica, you should know that you will face a maze of governmental processes and regulations. Costa Rican law requires that any application for a construction permit be presented by a licensed architect or engineer.  It is therefore advisable to contract a reputable, licensed architect or civil engineer to guide you through the construction process.  All Costa Rican architects and engineers must be licensed by the Costa Rican Association of Engineers and Architects - CFIA. Like many of the other Costa Rican governing bodies, this organization has established a fee schedule that can be charged by its members. Most CFIA fees are based upon a percentage of the value of the construction project. According to the regulations of the CFIA in Costa Rica, the involvement of a licensed architect/engineer in a construction project is separated into two phases. Phase 1 is construction plans and permits, and phase 2 is control and execution.  If you are interested in constructing a home or a development in Costa Rica, contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate for more information and resources.

Costa Rica - Development

Many of the same resources that exist in the United States for Developers are also available for Developers here in Costa Rica.  The trick is to find them! Many other Real Estate Companies limit your access to information so they can control the playing field. This is done for a number of reasons, one of the most unfortunate being that they stand to benefit financially along the way from the different vendors that they do decide to recommend.  This is not how we do business! It is for this reason that we are constantly updating and adding to the information that we have available on our website.  The more we can inform you and make you familiar with the processes here the better it is for everyone involved.  Of course, being that we are in a Spanish speaking country, many of these resources are only available in Spanish.  If you are not familiar with the language and you have questions about the content of any of the pages below, please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate for assistance with Developing in Costa Rica.

This site includes an assortment of information on rules and regulations regarding condominiums including certain required permits, documents and processes.  It is a vital resource for anyone considering or interested in developing real estate in Costa Rica.                

http://www.tramitesconstruccion.go.cr/

This site includes direct links to an assortment of government agencies that are useful not only for anyone purchasing property here in Costa Rica, but also for those who plan on doing any sort of real estate development here in Costa Rica. 

http://www.gobiernofacil.go.cr/

Costa Rica Building

When it comes to building a house in Costa Rica, Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company can help you navigate the building process. You will find detailed information above concerning Costa Rica real estate development, including Costa Rica building code information.

If you have any questions about building a home in Costa Rica, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are well-versed in Costa Rican real estate and development rules and regulations, and can help you build your ideal property in this beautiful country. We look forward to working with you!