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What are the state territorial reserves under Article 122, and how many meters of coast, lake or river can never be private property?

According to the cited documentsTo be confirmedLand and property

Ocean coastlines (Pacific and Atlantic)

3 km from the high-tide line

In forceConstitution

Art. 122 of the Constitution reserves to the state the ownership of four strips: 3 km along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts measured from the high-tide line, 200 m around lake shores, 100 m on each side of the banks of navigable rivers and 50 m around the springs and water sources that supply towns. Within them a private party cannot be the owner; only a lease from the state through OCRET is possible. Excepted are properties located in urban zones and rights recorded at the Registry before 1 March 1956; to acquire properties covered by those exceptions foreigners need authorization from the Executive, and where properties have been declared national monuments or lie within monumental complexes the state holds a preferential right over any transfer.

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  • Lake shores200 mIn forceConstitution
  • Navigable riverbanks100 m on each sideIn forceConstitution
  • Springs and water sources supplying towns50 m from the spring sourceIn forceConstitution
  • Cut-off date for excepted recorded rights1 March 1956In forceConstitution

Sources

  • Constitution

    Constitución Política de la República de Guatemala, Art. 122

    • Ocean coastlines (Pacific and Atlantic)
    • Lake shores
    • Navigable riverbanks
    • 2 more figures
    guatemala.justia.comAccessed Aug 19, 2026Go to the source
  • Constitution

    Constitución Política, texto oficial en PDF

    • Ocean coastlines (Pacific and Atlantic)
    • Lake shores
    • Navigable riverbanks
    • 2 more figures
    minfin.gob.gtAccessed Aug 19, 2026Go to the source