By Heredia, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s construction activity experienced robust growth during the first nine months of 2026, registering an overall surge of 12.8% in intended building projects compared to the same period in 2025. Data provided by the Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA) shows that total registered construction space reached 8,317,521 square meters between January and September, marking an increase of 942,026 square meters over the prior year’s figures.
The expansion was overwhelmingly propelled by the industrial sector, which consolidated its role as the primary engine of nearterm national buildout. Industrial construction intentions registered a staggering 55.7% leap, jumping from 758,360 square meters recorded during the first three quarters of 2025 to 1,180,767 square meters in 2026. This dynamic reflects growing confidence from domestic and international logistics and manufacturing firms expanding footprint in the Central American country.
To gain a comprehensive legal perspective on the recent surge in Costa Rica’s construction sector, TicosLand.com spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica.
The current momentum in Costa Rica’s construction market offers significant investment opportunities, but navigating the regulatory landscape remains crucial. Developers must ensure strict compliance with municipal zoning codes, SETENA environmental assessments, and water resource approvals from early planning stages to safeguard their investments and guarantee sustainable project execution.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
As Costa Rica’s real estate and construction sectors continue their upward trajectory, aligning rapid development with rigorous environmental and regulatory compliance is clearly essential for securing lasting, sustainable growth. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal perspective on how developers can successfully navigate this dynamic market.
A closer look at the sector breakdown illustrates how critical warehouse and manufacturing site projects were in sustaining overall momentum across Costa Rica’s real estate ecosystem.
This performance was leveraged by the development of warehouses and production infrastructure, which increased by 46.4%. Urban works occupied second place in relevance with 1,934,896 m², representing a 19.7% increase. Together, both sectors contributed 78.6% of national growth. On the other hand, commercial works suffered a 5.6% decline, heavily impacted by a 51.3% drop in office development, even though retail commercial spaces managed to grow by 3.6%.
Ing. Fernando Escalante, President of CFIA
While industrial space grabbed headlines for its growth rate, residential building maintained the largest absolute market share. Residential projects accounted for 32.5% of all national registrations, translating to 2,703,241 square meters. Though overall residential growth was modest at 0.5%, social housing initiatives proved to be a notable bright spot, expanding by 9.1% to cover 440,015 square meters.
Geographically, growth trajectories revealed a striking divergence between traditional central administrative hubs and rapidly industrializing provinces. Heredia emerged as the premier regional growth driver with a 55.7% increase in registered square meters. Coastal and regional provinces followed close behind, with Puntarenas posting a 26.2% jump, Guanacaste rising 25.5%, Limón increasing by 18.8%, and Alajuela advancing 7.3%. Conversely, central urban provinces Cartago and San José registered contractions of 19.0% and 2.4%, respectively.
At the local municipal level, 52 out of Costa Rica’s 84 cantons posted year-over-year gains in registered construction volume. The central canton of Heredia claimed the top spot nationwide in overall space, registering 607,701 square meters—a spectacular 201.9% increase. Highlighting localized industrial shifts, Tilarán saw an astonishing 313.9% surge (68.8% of which was industrial), while Río Cuarto grew 266.0% (58.2% industrial). Rural cantons such as Buenos Aires grew 275.8% driven by urban infrastructure, and Mora surged 255.1% due to sanitary infrastructure investments.
Early-stage indicators from CFIA’s Topographic Project Administrator (APT) platform also signal continued pipeline activity. Land surveying plans registered nationwide rose 6.4% during the nine-month period to reach 78,043 filings. Puntarenas and Heredia led growth in survey filings with increases of 15.1% and 14.3%, while Alajuela and San José combined to absorb 42.3% of all preliminary surveying procedures nationwide.
This 12.8% growth is not just about square meters; it also represents a direct reactivation in job creation and investment in the country. The rebound of the industrial sector demonstrates that Costa Rica continues to consolidate itself as a strategic destination for logistics and manufacturing operations, energizing key areas outside the Greater Metropolitan Area such as Puntarenas and Guanacaste.
Ing. Javier Chacón Hernández, Executive Director of CFIA
The statistical trend underscores a fundamental structural evolution in Costa Rica’s real estate market. As remote work patterns permanently reshape commercial office demand in metropolitan San José, capital is increasingly shifting toward industrial facilities, production infrastructure, and decentralized development corridors outside the capital valley.
For further information, visit cfia.or.cr
About Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA):
The Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica (CFIA) is the official governing organization overseeing engineering and architecture professionals across the nation. Through its digital platforms and Topographic Project Administrator (APT), CFIA records construction plans, regulates professional practice, and compiles critical statistical data on real estate development and infrastructure trends in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a beacon of legal practice, grounded in unyielding principles of integrity and a drive for professional excellence. Navigating complex legal landscapes for a diverse clientele, the firm consistently merges traditional expertise with cutting-edge innovation. Beyond its core practice, Bufete de Costa Rica champions public legal literacy, believing that demystifying the law equips citizens to build a more equitable, enlightened, and self-reliant society.
