Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 11. Real estate and land › Beaches, coast and public domain land

Beaches, coast and public domain land

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Beaches and coasts are public, open to all, and cannot be sold or acquired by possession. The maritime strip runs 60 meters inland from high tide, and Ley 64-00 lists it as public domain. Titles and buildings near the shore need a survey against that line, and the Ministry has demolished structures inside it. Removing land from the public domain takes a law.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar for 29 October 2026, the latest row in its published rate file on the verification date, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Coastal public domain strip	60 meters from high tideLey 64-00 art. 147; Ley 305 de 1968, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Removing land from the public domain	Only by law Ley 108-05 art. 107, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Rivers, lakes, lagoons, beaches and national coasts are public domain with free access, with respect for private property. The law sets conditions and easements.Constitución de 2024, art. 15 paragraph, 2024-10-27 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. Coastal public domain belongs to the State and is inalienable, imprescriptible and cannot be seized. Everyone may enjoy it, subject to national security limits.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 145, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. It includes the shore zone, the 60 meter maritime strip measured from high tide under Ley 305, marshes, low land flooded by tides, and beaches including dunes.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 147 numeral 1, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. Permits and concessions over coastal space need an environmental valuation.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 148, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Public domain is imprescriptible, inalienable and immune from seizure, and it needs no certificate of title. No saneamiento can run on it for anyone.Ley 108-05 de Registro Inmobiliario, as amended by Ley 51-07, art. 106 paragraphs I and II, 2005-03-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Only a law can remove land from the public domain and place it in the State's private domain.Ley 108-05 de Registro Inmobiliario, as amended by Ley 51-07, art. 107, 2005-03-23 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. Coastal land use in municipal plans must meet the criteria of the listed ministries and rest on an impact study.Ley 368-22 de Ordenamiento Territorial, Uso de Suelo y Asentamientos Humanos, art. 60 and art. 61, 2022-12-22 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. Enforcement: the Ministry and SENPA ran an operation in Uvero Alto, La Altagracia, demolishing buildings inside the 60 meters.Presidencia note on the Uvero Alto operation, Official note, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

A beachfront lot at RD$70,000,000 (about US$1,149,412.08) has a title with 100 m to the sea on an old plan. A survey places high tide 30 m closer, so the buildable land starts well behind the first 60 m. Value it on what remains.

Step by step

Commission a survey that plots high tide today.
Compare it with the title plan.
Check Environment Ministry records for any concession or permit.
Do not fence or block access.

Common traps

Ley 64-00 gives two dates for Ley 305: 23 May 1968 in its recitals and 30 April 1968 in art. 147.
The Constitution balances free access with respect for private property, so old titles over the strip raise real disputes. Take advice.
Ley 305 itself was not read in an official copy here. The 60 meters is taken from Ley 64-00 and the Ministry.
The recitals of Ley 64-00 describe Ley 305 as covering coasts, beaches, rivers, lakes and lagoons, so check the setback for inland projects too.

Sources

← Building permits and subdivisionProtected areas and environmental permits →

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