A new decree by The Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will now enforce height and density restrictions within four kilometers of the coast in Guanacaste.
This is an emergency zoning plan that would apply to any areas that do not have current zoning plans. In the case that a new zoning plan is to come into play it would be replaced by the existing plan. This came about after numerous complaints by Guanacaste residents that the construction of towers and condos is out of control and not being overseen by the Municipality or any government officials.
This decree is to cover the next 4 years of this province and eventually set the standard for the province of Guanacaste. The accelerated development in the area has sparked this decree and hopefully will slow down the saturation of construction in this area which some think has become out of control.
This new Decree breaks down into four simple categories. Land within 50 meters of the high-tide line remains public property, and construction within that limit is strictly forbidden without special permission, in accordance with Maritime Zone Law.
The next 150 meters also falls under the Maritime Zone Law, but this may be superseded by municipalities through concessions. This restriction also applies to legally titled land under the Maritime Zone.
The 800 meters after the Maritime Zone is to be classified as “intermediate” zone. Any buildings in this area will not be allowed to raise more than five stories. The building heights with the next 3 kilometers will be restricted to a maximum of eight floors, although this does not prevent all the developers who presented plans 6 months prior to this law from building structures higher than the restrictions, they will be exempt from this new law.
Guanacaste remains the province with the second most construction growth just behind San Jose, according to the Association of Engineers and Architects. The Government of Costa Rica has plans to extend the decree to other coastal areas in the country to make sure they do not let things grow to high.