Property
Instituto de la Propiedad registry and a coastal restriction
The Instituto de la Propiedad administers a unified registry covering land, commerce and intellectual property. Foreigners face a constitutional restriction on land within 40 km of coastlines and borders, with a narrow urban-plot exception.
Key rules
- Transfer requires an escritura pública and inscription in the Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble.
- Article 107 bars foreigners from land within 40 km of the coast or a border, except urban plots for residence or business.
- The Ley de Propiedad created a folio real system and a titling process for informal holdings.
- Garífuna and indigenous communal tenure is protected, and the Inter-American Court has ruled against Honduras for failing to demarcate it.
- Adverse possession runs ten years with title, twenty without.
Governing law
- Ley de Propiedad (Decreto 82-2004)Registry, folio real and regularisation.
- Código CivilOwnership and prescription.
- Constitución (Art 107)Coastal and border restriction.
In practice
Coastal purchases by foreigners are commonly structured through a Honduran company, but the structure must be genuine as simulation risks nullity. Order a full registry study, because overlapping titles from earlier reform programmes are common on the north coast.