Before a remodel or a big repair starts there are two things to settle, and neither is the paint colour: whether the work needs a permit, and who insures the workers. The law answers both, and both can get expensive if left for later.
Do I need a permit?
The Construction Law says all building work must have a licence from the municipality. What changes with size is whether you also need a professional registered with the CFIA, the federated college of engineers and architects.
| Type of work | CFIA professional | Municipal permit |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance and minor repair: painting, gutters and downpipes, replacing roof covering, floor and ceiling finishes, plaster repairs, plumbing repairs, retiling and replacing bathroom fittings, drywall partitions | No | Depends on the canton. Ask your municipality. |
| Minor works (obra menor): repairs, remodels and extensions worth up to ten salarios base (₡4,622,000 in 2026) | No | Yes, always |
| Everything else, and any work that changes the structure or the electrical or mechanical systems | Yes, with plans filed with the CFIA | Yes, always |
Three points:
- The national INVU regulation adds a size limit to minor works: up to 30 m² of construction, and up to 20 linear metres for walls and fences.
- You can't split a large job into several small ones: the law has new minor-works applications on the same property refused for twelve months if a larger project is being broken up.
- Each municipality has its own regulation. Some require a minor-works permit even for replacing a roof or gutters. A phone call before you start avoids a stop order later.
Workers' compensation insurance
The Labour Code requires every employer to insure their workers against occupational risks (riesgos del trabajo) with the state insurer, INS. What matters to you is who the employer is on your job.
| How you hire | Who insures |
|---|---|
| A company or contractor with its own employees | The company, with its own policy. Ask for the certificate of cover (constancia de vigencia de la póliza) issued by INS. |
| You pay a foreman (maestro de obras) and labourers directly | The prudent assumption is that you are the employer. The policy for that is RT-Construcción: short-term, for someone who is not in the building business and is insuring the workers on a job on their own property. |
| Someone who comes a few days a month for maintenance | You, with RT-Hogar or RT-Ocasional. They cover occasional workers for up to five days a month in total, and do not cover construction work. |
| A self-employed tradesperson working alone | Outside the compulsory scheme. They can insure themselves voluntarily. |
Whether a particular arrangement counts as employment depends on how the work is done. If in doubt, ask INS before you start: the policy costs far less than an accident.
If you hire by the day
The 2026 minimum-wage decree sets these amounts per ordinary working day in the private sector. They are the legal minimum for an employee, not what a self-employed tradesperson charges for a job:
| Occupation | Minimum per day |
|---|---|
| Construction labourer (peón) | ₡12,436.41 |
| Builder, painter, plumber, electrician, carpenter | ₡13,991.86 |
| Foreman (maestro de obras) | ₡16,244.50 |
Before you start
- Call the municipality and ask which permit your job needs.
- If you need a professional, look them up in the CFIA members' list.
- Agree in writing who insures the workers, and ask for the certificate of cover.
- Get at least three quotes for the same scope: see how to compare them.
- Check the business exists: see how to look it up with Hacienda.
New electrical installations, extensions and rewiring also need an engineer to sign them off before the electricity company will make the permanent connection, so raise it with your contractor early.
Sources (checked 3 October 2026): Construction Law No. 833, articles 74, 83 and 83 bis; CFIA, Regulation on Contracting Consultancy Services, article 10; INVU, Construction Regulation; 2026 salario base, ₡462,200 (Circular 246-2025 of the Judiciary's Consejo Superior); Labour Code, articles 193, 194, 201–203, 221, 231 and 310; Electrical Code regulation, Decree 36979-MEIC, article 5; INS, Riesgos del Trabajo, 2025 general conditions and technical standard; MTSS, 2026 list of minimum wages by occupation (Decree 45303-MTSS).
This guide is general information: rules and prices change, and every job is different. Check the details with the official source before you decide.
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