Articles 71–72 of Ley 7554 protect scenic landscapes and visual quality. Used against billboards on highways, oversized signage, and incongruous coastal development.
Los artículos 71–72 de la Ley 7554 protegen el paisaje escénico y la calidad visual. Se invocan contra vallas publicitarias en rutas, rotulación excesiva y desarrollo costero incongruente.
43 documents in this topic.
Decreto 383202014
Declaratoria de Conveniencia Nacional para Recuperación del Parque Metropolitano La Sabana
Executive Decree 38320 declares the sanitation, reforestation, maintenance, monitoring, and evaluation activities carried out under the public-interest project 'Recovery of Metropolitan Park La Sabana' to be of national convenience. This declaration empowers the involved public institutions to coordinate actions and manage resources for the ecological and…
Decreto 367212011
Modelo de Valoración de Vulnerabilidad ante el Riesgo de Desastres aplicable a Amenazas Naturales
This executive decree creates a vulnerability assessment model for disaster risk from natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. The National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Response (CNE) is responsible for defining, coordinating, and administering the model, which must be evaluated and adjusted every two years. The model is…
Decreto 358602010
Reglamento para la prevención de la contaminación visual
This regulation, issued in compliance with a Constitutional Court ruling, establishes general technical guidelines for evaluating and preventing visual pollution in Costa Rica. It is based on the Environmental Organic Law and defines visual pollution as actions, works, or installations that exceed maximum allowable limits set by technical standards,…
Decreto 318492004
Reglamento General sobre los Procedimientos de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental (EIA)
This executive decree defines the general requirements and procedures for obtaining environmental viability (license) and environmental registries (permits) for new activities, works, or projects that may impact the environment. It establishes the Initial Environmental Assessment process through forms D1, D2, and D3, based on the Potential Environmental…
Decreto 292532000
Reglamento de los Derechos de Vía y Publicidad Exterior
Executive Decree 29253-MOPT establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for managing national road rights-of-way and outdoor advertising in Costa Rica. It grants the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) exclusive authority to authorize, oversee, and regulate the installation of advertisements, billboards, signs, and urban furniture on public…
Res. 03462-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión del MOPT en remover publicidad ilegal en Ruta 160
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo appeal against the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) for failing to resolve a complaint about illegal advertising structures within the right‑of‑way of National Route 160 (Belén–Sámara stretch). The complainant, who filed the complaint on September 4, 2025, argued that the billboards obstruct…
Res. 08044-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación visual por acumulación de cableado en San Ramón
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by residents of San Ramón against the Municipality, ICE, and SUTEL, due to visual pollution caused by excess and disorderly telecommunications cabling on posts in the urban center. The Chamber held that chaotic wire accumulation constitutes visual pollution affecting the right to a healthy and…
Res. 14326-2026 Sala Constitucional2026 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación visual por exceso de cableado en San Ramón
The Constitutional Court reviewed multiple citizen complaints regarding visual pollution caused by excessive and disorderly wiring on poles in the canton of San Ramón. The claimants filed complaints with the Municipality of San Ramón, ICE, and SUTEL, alleging violations of the right to a healthy environment and to prompt justice. The Court held that the…
Res. 15334-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Derecho de petición y acceso a información sobre planes de confinamiento de ruido en Caribe Sur
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a citizen who requested from the Ministry of Health a comprehensive list of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in the Southern Caribbean region, along with their respective noise confinement plans. Although the information was requested on March 17, 2025, no response had been received by the time…
Res. 26598-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo por contaminación visual en Ruta Nacional 160
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo appeal filed against the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT) regarding illegal advertising billboards along National Route 160, between Belén and Sámara. The appellant claimed that the MOPT's failure to remove these structures violated the right to a healthy environment, road safety, and health. The…
Res. 41789-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Desobediencia en amparo por ruido ambiental en Turrialba
The Constitutional Chamber reviews a non‑compliance claim filed by the protected party, who alleged that the Turrialba Health Area failed to comply with ruling no. 2025028367 of September 5, 2025. That ruling granted the amparo and ordered the authority to process her noise complaint against a bar and notify her of the outcome within one month. The…
Res. 41070-2025 Sala Constitucional2025 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión de respuesta a denuncia sobre rótulos ilegales en ruta 32 afecta seguridad vial
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo action against the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) and the Road Safety Council (COSEVI) for failing to formally respond to a complaint about illegally installed billboards on National Route 32 and in San Isidro de Heredia. The claimant argued that these structures posed a road safety risk and…
Res. 00370-2024 Sala Constitucional2024 · Sala Constitucional
Ruido de ferretería El Lagar no vulnera derechos fundamentales
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses an amparo appeal against the Ministry of Health and the Municipality of Alajuela for alleged failure to address complaints of noise and environmental pollution from the commercial establishment El Lagar. The appellant claimed that noise, truck emissions, and road obstruction affected her health and her family's telework…
Res. 27541-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Protección del pórtico Neptuno en Heredia y principio precautorio en el patrimonio cultural
The Constitutional Chamber partially upheld an amparo action against the Municipality of Heredia and the National Learning Institute (INA) for demolishing a historic portico that once housed the Neptuno sculpture by artist Fadrique Gutiérrez Flores. The Chamber ruled that even though the structure lacked a formal declaration as architectural-heritage,…
Res. 28314-2023 Sala Constitucional2023 · Sala Constitucional
Amparo contra bar La Cuevita por contaminación sónica en Pavas
The Constitutional Chamber ruled on an amparo filed by a resident of Pavas against the Ministry of Health and the Municipality of San José, alleging failure to control noise pollution from Bar La Cuevita. The petitioner claimed that for nearly a year the establishment held public events with karaoke and amplified music until the early morning hours,…
Res. 24277-2020 Sala Constitucional2020 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación sónica por práctica diaria de batería musical en residencial
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo filed by neighbors of Residencial Abedules in Curridabat against the Ministry of Health, alleging noise pollution caused by daily drum practice for at least four hours, generating noise and vibrations that harm the health and quality of life of the petitioners, including elderly persons, a child with cerebral…
Res. 07784-2016 Sala Constitucional2016 · Sala Constitucional
Reglamento de contaminación visual carece de parámetros técnicos
The Constitutional Court dismisses a claim of unconstitutionality against Decree No. 35860-MINAET, the Visual Pollution Prevention Regulation. The plaintiffs argued that the regulation is insufficient because it lacks technical parameters to regulate activities affecting the landscape, merely referring to other regulations, some of which do not yet exist.…
Res. 00989-2012 Sala Constitucional2012 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación sónica en fiestas de Urbanización Chorotega
The Constitutional Chamber reviewed an amparo action filed by a resident of Urbanización Chorotega in Cañas against the Ministry of Health, the Municipality of Cañas, and the Public Police, for noise pollution caused by authorized festivals. The complainant alleged violations of the right to a healthy environment, health, privacy, and timely response, as…
Res. 21258-2010 Sala Constitucional2010 · Sala Constitucional
Municipalidad no puede modificar suelo en Zona Protectora Cerros de Escazú
The Constitutional Chamber upheld an unconstitutionality action against articles of the Mora Regulatory Plan Zoning Regulation (2001) that changed land use within the Escazú Hills Protective Zone, established by Executive Decree. The Chamber held that municipalities lack jurisdiction to modify land use in Protected Wilderness Areas, which are subject to…
Res. 05897-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Publicidad exterior y Plan Regulador de Escazú no violan derechos constitucionales
The Constitutional Chamber dismisses a writ of amparo filed by several outdoor advertising companies against the Municipality of Escazú. The plaintiff alleged that the denial of permits to install billboards and advertising hoardings, based on the cantonal Regulatory Plan, violated the right to commerce, to free enterprise, and the principle of normative…
Res. 11696-2008 Sala Constitucional2008 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión de reglamentar contaminación visual del art. 71 LOA
The Constitutional Chamber grants an amparo action against the Minister of Environment and Energy for failing to regulate Article 71 of the Environmental Law (No. 7554), which mandates the Executive to adopt measures to prevent visual pollution. The Court finds that, since 1995, the law requires such regulation and that thirteen years have elapsed without…
Res. 12313-2006 Sala Constitucional2006 · Sala Constitucional
Omisión de respuesta a denuncia por contaminación visual en ruta nacional
The Constitutional Chamber granted an amparo filed by a citizen who reported the proliferation of advertising signs along the right-of-way of National Route One, causing visual pollution. He requested their removal from the MOPT's Department of Road Inspection and Demolitions, but after more than two years had received no definitive response. The Chamber…
Res. 06324-2003 Sala Constitucional2003 · Sala Constitucional
Contaminación visual y exigibilidad del EsIA en el valle de Orosi
The Constitutional Chamber reviews an amparo action against agroindustrial company Pelarica S.A. and several public entities for visual pollution and other environmental damage in the Orosi Valley. The Chamber finds that the approximately 15-hectare white-plastic greenhouse complex severely harms scenic beauty, which is constitutionally protected as part…
C-053-20242024
Plan regulador costero como requisito previo para concesiones de marinas y atracaderos turísticos
The Attorney General's Office analyzes whether a coastal regulatory plan is required to grant concessions in the maritime-terrestrial zone for marinas and tourist docks. It holds that the concession requires the prior existence of a coastal regulatory plan, under Laws No. 6043 and 7744, as a territorial planning instrument. It states that the reformed…
C-083-20222022
Alcance del impuesto sobre rótulos y vallas en Acosta
The Attorney General's Office analyzes the scope of Article 22 of Law No. 8649, Municipal Tax Tariff of the Canton of Acosta, which establishes a tax on advertisements and signs. The query, raised by the Internal Audit of the Municipality of Acosta, seeks to determine whether this tax applies to any individual or political party installing signs or…
C-144-20182018
Permisos de publicidad exterior en la red vial cantonal
The Attorney General's Office (PGR) addresses whether a municipality may authorize the placement of signs, billboards, and advertisements on cantonal road rights-of-way despite the general prohibition in Article 28 of the General Public Roads Law. The PGR concludes that, although public roads are inalienable public domain assets and Article 28 prohibits…
C-251-20182018
Imposibilidad de anular permiso de uso de suelo y construcción de valla publicitaria
The Attorney General's Office analyzes the request of the Municipality of Montes de Oca to declare the absolute, evident, and manifest nullity of two administrative acts: land use permit No. 826-2014 and construction license No. 3460-2016, related to the installation of a billboard in a mixed-use zone. Compliance with the formal requirements of Article 173…
C-047-20132013
Permisos y lucro en colocación de publicidad exterior en derecho de vía
The Attorney General's Office (PGR) issues a legal opinion on the legality of granting authorizations to private companies to place informative tourist signs, billboards, and other structures in the right-of-way of the national road network, as well as the possibility of profit, extensions, and jurisdiction over cantonal routes. It concludes that the MOPT…
C-281-20112011
Imposibilidad de instalar rótulos comerciales en escuelas y edificios públicos
The Attorney General's Office declines jurisdiction over the administration of public assets and government contracting, deferring to the Comptroller General's exclusive competence. However, on the normative question of installing commercial signs on public buildings and schools, it concludes there is an express legal prohibition under Article 32 of the…
Reglamento municipal 0 (Municipalidad de Moravia, 20/06/2025)2025
Reglamento para el uso de áreas públicas del Cantón
This regulation issued by the Municipality of Moravia establishes rules for the use and protection of the canton's public spaces, such as parks, green areas, squares, and boulevards. It defines municipal powers and duties, including the possibility of delegating the administration of these spaces to community organizations through agreements. It regulates…
Reglamento municipal 130-H2025
Reglamento de Paisaje del Cantón de Oreamuno
This Regulation, part of the Urban Master Plan of the Canton of Oreamuno, establishes rules for the protection, planning, and recovery of the landscape within the Landscape Interest Zone defined in the zoning map. Its goal is to safeguard the common heritage of the landscape, promoting sustainable development in harmony with the rural environment. It…
Reglamento municipal 0 (Municipalidad de Puriscal, 10/11/2023)2023
Reglamento de Parques y Zonas Verdes de Puriscal
The Parks and Green Areas Regulation of the Municipality of Puriscal sets rules for the use, conservation, and administration of parks, gardens, and public green areas in the canton. It prohibits damage to flora, fauna, and urban furniture; regulates leashed dogs and excrement cleanup; and conditions sociocultural, commercial, or mass events on prior…
Reglamento municipal 092012
Reglamento sobre el uso, mantenimiento y protección de parques y espacios públicos de la Municipalidad de Belén
This Regulation establishes a detailed legal framework to govern the use, maintenance and protection of parks and public spaces in the canton of Belén, including active and passive recreation areas, boulevards and green zones. It defines the rights and duties of users, hours of use, permitted and prohibited activities, and liability for damages. It…
Reglamento municipal 872011
Reglamento de Parques, Jardines o Zonas Verdes Públicos del Cantón de San Ramón
This municipal regulation establishes the legal framework for the use, protection, and maintenance of public parks, gardens, and green areas in the canton of San Ramón. It defines the rights and obligations of users, prohibits acts that damage flora, fauna, urban furniture, and infrastructure, and regulates the holding of sociocultural, recreational,…