Environmental Permits and Institutional Procedures
We assist developers, property owners and businesses in identifying requirements, preparing technical documentation and managing procedures before the relevant authorities.
Each project requires a different approach. Find the appropriate procedure by need or institution and explore Geo Costa Rica’s specialized services.
What Does Your Project Need to Resolve?
Procedures are not interchangeable: they depend on the activity, the resource involved and the project’s administrative status.
Environmental Approval and Compliance
Environmental assessments, forms, compliance monitoring and other project procedures.
Wells, Water Concessions and Watercourses
Water use rights, drilling, works in watercourses and wastewater discharges.
Hydrogeological Technical Opinions
Technical assessments and reassessments concerning groundwater conditions.
Drinking Water and Sewerage
Service availability, discharges and exemptions.
Sanitation and Public Health Obligations
Wastewater treatment and disposal, plans and sanitary orders.
Mining and Concessions
Mining procedures, public-domain watercourses and mineral processing plants.
Select an Institution
Access each institution and its specialized procedure pages. The following catalog allows you to explore each procedure individually.
Dirección de Agua
Water Use, Watercourses, Discharges and Concessions
Ministry of Health
Wastewater, Plans and Public Health Requirements
Studies Supporting Natural Hazard Requirements
When an authority requests an assessment of flooding, slopes, faulting or other hazards, a project may need specialized technical studies. This support does not imply that Geo Costa Rica offers a single dedicated application procedure before the CNE.
Explore Natural Hazard Services →Permits and Procedures Catalog
Explore the procedures of each institution. The linked pages explain the scope and specific considerations of each process.
SETENA
Environmental assessment procedures, specialized forms, compliance monitoring and project-related obligations.
Dirección de Agua
Drilling permits, concessions, works in watercourses, wastewater discharges and existing water rights.
- Water Well Drilling Permits →
- Water Use Concessions →
- Water Body Technical Determinations →
- Permits for Works in Watercourses →
- Wastewater Discharge Permits →
- Well Sealing Procedures →
- Management of Existing Water Concessions →
- Hydropower Water Concessions →
- Water User Associations →
- Other Water Directorate Procedures →
SENARA
Technical opinions, detailed investigations and reassessments related to groundwater conditions.
AyA
Requests and permits concerning service availability and sanitary sewerage.
Ministry of Health
Procedures related to treatment systems, wastewater, sanitary orders and specialized plans.
Geology and Mines Directorate
Procedures involving mining activity, public-domain watercourses, mineral processing plants and existing concessions.
From Requirements to a Complete Application
There is no single application file that fits every project. The process is adapted to the procedure, its current status and the available information.
Define the Requirement
We review the project type, location, existing official correspondence or requests for additional information, and stage of development.
Determine the Institutional Pathway
We identify applicable procedures, available information and supporting documentation that may be required.
Prepare Documentation
We organize the application file and carry out or coordinate technical studies according to the required scope.
Support Follow-up
We assist with submission and responses to observations and requests within our professional scope.
Technical Studies Supporting Applications
Specialized reports provide the technical basis for certain decisions and procedures; they do not, by themselves, constitute institutional authorization.
Each Study Addresses a Specific Question
Some procedures require interpreting site conditions, water resources, geology, natural hazards or environmental constraints. The type and depth of investigation depend on the project and the authority’s requirements.
For this reason, we distinguish administrative procedures from the technical investigations that may support them. Not every project needs every type of study.
Need to Start a Procedure or Respond to an Official Request?
Tell us the institution involved, the project type, its location and, if available, the official request received. We can review the relevant procedure and the technical documentation that should be prepared.