Costa Rica modifies pier construction regulations

Costa Rica has modified marina and pier construction regulations, making it easier to obtain a permit from marinas and touristic piers authority Cimat.

The authority may now grant permits without the initial consent of environmental authority Setena, but Setena approval is still required later on to obtain the concession.

Processes handled by the college of engineers and architects have been digitized, reducing costs.

Modifications have also been made for projects planned next to private property, designating the preliminary design a planning instrument rather than a coastal regulation plan, which was previously required but not always applicable. 

“These regulations are part of the improvements to boost development and coastal economic areas that are very suppressed. Today we can state that we have a document that will allow dynamism for the development of coastal areas and marinas,” the head of the marinas and touristic piers association, Grethel Fernández, said, according to media reports.