Construction Permits, Licenses & DRO

We handle all construction permits and licenses in Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cancun — building license, land use, Responsible Works Director (DRO), SEMA environmental authorization and Civil Protection. Build legally, without the bureaucracy. 18+ years and 196 projects.

What is a DRO? The Responsible Works Director is a licensed professional who is legally accountable for your project before the city. Without a DRO the build is illegal and cannot be registered on the deed. We include the DRO in every project.

Permits & Paperwork We Handle

Building License

Mandatory municipal license for any new build, addition or structural renovation.

Land Use (Uso de Suelo)

Certificate confirming your project and density are allowed on the lot.

DRO (Responsible Works Director)

Licensed professional who signs and is legally accountable for the works before the city.

SEMA Environmental Authorization

Mandatory across the Tulum municipality; we handle the study with a 100% approval record.

Civil Protection & CFE

Civil Protection approval (commercial) and the CFE electrical project for the hookup.

Signed Construction Documents

Architectural, structural and MEP drawings signed by the DRO, ready to file.

What is a DRO and Why is it Mandatory?

The Responsible Works Director (DRO) is a licensed architect or engineer with municipal registration who signs the project and is legally accountable for the works before city hall: structural safety, code compliance and supervision. In Quintana Roo, no construction license is issued without a DRO. Building without one is illegal, risks fines and stop-work orders, and makes it impossible to register the addition on the deed. Recrea works with in-house architects and DROs: we include the DRO in every project and coordinate all paperwork — license, land use, SEMA, Civil Protection — so your build is 100% legal.

Permit Costs & Timelines (2026)

Permit	Cost	Time
Building license	~1–3% of build value	3–6 weeks
Land use + DRO	$8,000–$25,000 MXN	2–4 weeks
SEMA environmental authorization (Tulum)	$50,000–$150,000 MXN	2–4 months

Helpful guides: Architects · Cost to build · Permits & SEMA

Areas We Serve

We handle permits and DRO across the Riviera Maya: Playa del Carmen (Solidaridad), Tulum (SEMA), Cancun (Benito Juarez, FONATUR), Puerto Aventuras and Akumal.

Why Choose Recrea

In-house DRO and architects — 100% legal work, no outsourced paperwork
100% SEMA approval record in Tulum
All paperwork handled — license, land use, Civil Protection, CFE
DRO-signed construction documents, permit-ready
IMSS-registered workers — legal, insured work
Fixed-price paperwork budget, no surprises

What Our Clients Say

"Recrea handled the entire license, DRO and SEMA for our house in Tulum. It went through without a single issue and 100% in order."

David & Sarah M., Tulum

"I needed a DRO and the permits for my lot. Fast, professional and legal."

James R., Toronto

WhatsApp — 2 min

Call: 984 452 5333

Ask us about your permits

Frequently Asked Questions

A licensed architect or engineer with municipal registration who signs the project and is legally accountable for the works before city hall — structural safety, code compliance and supervision. It is mandatory to obtain the construction license.

Yes. In Quintana Roo (Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Cancun) no construction license is issued without a DRO. Building without one is illegal, risks fines and stop-work orders, and prevents registering the work on the deed.

The municipal license is around 1–3% of build value, plus land use and DRO fees ($8,000–$25,000 MXN). In Tulum, add SEMA ($50,000–$150,000 MXN).

3–6 weeks for the license; in Tulum, 2–4 additional months for SEMA. We process everything in parallel to speed up the start of construction.

The mandatory environmental permit across the Tulum municipality for any construction. It costs $50,000–$150,000 MXN and takes 2–4 months. Recrea handles it with a 100% approval record.

Ask about your permits and DRO

All paperwork handled. DRO included. Reply in 2 minutes.

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DRO included18+ Years196+ Projects100% SEMA approval100% legal work