Can you build on 5,000 m2 Plots? DL 3.516 Regulations in Chile

Regulations and Legal Framework: Decree Law 3.516

Building on a 5,000 square meter leisure plot is the dream of many families seeking to escape the city. However, there is a common confusion: Is it legal to build if the land is agricultural?

The short answer is yes. Decree Law 3.516, enacted in 1980, establishes the rules on the division of rustic properties. Although its original objective was to preserve agricultural soil, it explicitly permits the construction of housing for the owner and their workers (tenants).

Important: Legally, you are not buying land in a "rural residential neighborhood," but an agricultural property where you are allowed to live. This changes the rules of the game compared to a house in the city.

Fundamental Requirements to Avoid Fines

To ensure your house does not have Final Reception problems or demolition orders (something increasingly audited by the State Defense Council), you must strictly comply with:

1. Constructibility Coefficient: Check the Communal (or Intercommunal) Regulatory Plan. In rural zones, usually only a small fraction of the land is allowed to be built upon (e.g., 10% or 20%).
2. Property Destination: The house must have residential destination. You cannot, for example, build a factory or a hotel without a commercial land use change, which is much more complex.
3. Prohibiting Change of Destination (Article 55): You cannot urbanize the land (pave streets, install city-type public lighting) without authorization from the SAG and the Housing Seremi.

Basic Services in Rural Zones

Unlike the city, on a plot you are responsible for your services. This is where our Canadian system shines for its versatility.

1. Drinking Water

If there is no Rural Potable Water (APR) network to connect to, the most common solution is the deep well.

• Regulations: The well must be registered with the General Directorate of Water (DGA).
• Canadian Houses Solution: We design the pressure system (submersible pump and hydropneumatic tank) to guarantee constant pressure in all house showers, matching urban comfort.

2. Sewage

There is no public sewage system.

• Traditional Solution: Septic tank and absorbent well.
• Modern Solution: Sewage treatment plants. These allow recovering water for irrigation (subterranean), vital in drought zones.
• Requirement: Every private system must be approved by the Health Seremi. We manage the private sewage project to obtain this resolution.

Logistics and Construction Challenges

Building far from the city increases the cost of the work due to transport ("freight") and labor availability.

Why is the Canadian System Ideal for Plots?

1. Lower Impact on the Land: Being lighter structures than concrete, we do not require destructive heavy machinery (like giant backhoes) that damage the natural environment of your plot.
2. Assembly Speed: By prefabricating industrialized panels and assembling on-site, we reduce the time crews stay on your land. Fewer people, less noise, less trash.
3. Superior Thermal Insulation: Plots are usually colder or windier than the city. Our continuous thermal envelope guarantees that your country house is warm in winter without spending a fortune on firewood or gas.

Conclusion

Building on 5,000 m2 is totally viable and an excellent life investment. The key is not to improvise. The legal framework exists and is clear; you just need a team to navigate the bureaucracy for you while you plan your garden.