Posted by Phil Ternahan on November 25, 1996

This forum is a great idea! It's really the only place I've found that allows people not resident in Mexico the chance to ask questions of those who have the knowledge.

I'm curious about what laws there may be that restrict the development of small villages into large sprawling towns?

Is it only economic activity, location, and land ownership that can keep the character of a place like ajijic from being overwhelmed by population? Is overdevelopment a possibility? This question is being posed due to disturbing news I've heard of Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras where at least one person has reported that most of the trees have been chopped own with bad effects
on the watertable and wells due to the developers who want to build high-priced condos for Northerners, without regard for what the location will support.

It seems a truism that what attracts individuals to a place eventually attracts too many others and the place isn't the same any longer. What do you think?

In Reply to: Zoning laws in Mexico? posted by Phil Ternahan on November 25, 1996

Is it only economic activity,location, and land ownership that can keep the character of a place like ajijic from being overwhelmed by population? Is overdevelopment a possibility? [snip]. It seems a truism that what attracts individuals to a place eventually attracts too many others and the place isn't the same any longer. What do you think?

Development is endemic in any locale with allure, whether it be climate, populace, industry; if it's the quaint and rustic and isolated you crave, then consider Iowa or South Dakota. I think it's a matter of economics more than real estate and preservation of character.

Seriously, while Mexico hasn't zoned itself to death to the extent that parts of the first world have,
it is becoming more and more cognizant of infrastructure requirements. In certain areas, there are historical preservation code; Morelia's was implemented a century ago. The ejido land concept, although eroding today, preserves certain farmlands for the use of indigenous peoples. Other areas of forest preserve have been kept from private ownership. Over development is always a possibility; if you owned a modest property in a small town and were offered a sum far beyond your wildest dreams, you'd sell it in a New York minute, too. Too many "people like us" move in, and there goes the neighborhood!

There are limited building codes, and a permit is required in most urban areas. The permit seems to be more a matter of recognizing improvement for reassessment on the property tax rolls than public safety or asthetics.

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Posted by Marvin Kemel on November 25, 1996

In Reply to: Zoning laws in Mexico? posted by Phil Ternahan on November 25, 1996

Phil: Yes there are zoning regulations but as with most things in Mexico they are enforced haphazardly.
e.g. commercial development is not allowed on some beaches BUT if you are influential (read PRI)
no problemo-build whatever you want. If as a foreigner you want build and it somehow upsets a
local with influence - guess what: YOU LOSE .

But as Steve said Mexico has more important things to worry about.
I do know that you do require permits to build from more than one department.
My experience is limited to Sonora .
I think these matters are local not federal and therefore will vary from estado to estado.
Good Luck

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Posted by steve on November 25, 1996

In Reply to: Zoning laws in Mexico? posted by Phil Ternahan on November 25, 1996

When I was in La Paz, BCS a few years ago, I checked into a piece of property and the zoning laws there. The only building code I could find was that if you built up to the property line and wanted a window on that property line, you had to get the permission of the adjacent property owners. The elec. company also had some requirements for them to hook up the power. There didn't seem to be any other requirements. You could build a commercial building in a residential area with no problems that I could find. As far as urban planning goes, there are so many
other pressing infrastructure problems that I don't think it exists.

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