The most desirable and expensive land in Costa Rica is beachfront. Beachfront property is more commonly know as "concession property." In Costa Rica, 95% of beachfront property is concession property and is governed by the Shoreline Zone Law. The majority of coastal resorts are located on the beach in what is known as the " maritime zone " or " zona marítima". The maritime zone is a 200 meter wide strip of land running parallel to the coast, starting at the high tide line. This 200 meter strip is divided into a 50 meter strip closest to the shore (" inalienable zone ") where no development can take place, and the remaining 150 meters, which can be leased from the local municipality, and developed after the filing of a regulatory plan with the government. Most vacant beachfront land does not have a regulatory plan filed, as this is usually done just prior to development of the property. The regulatory plan is the most time consuming and costly phase of obtaining the land lease, known as a "concession", and is best accomplished through professionals. With proper planning, a concession can be obtained during the time that the proposed development is in its planning stages. For those interested in developing land within the maritime zone, professional assistance is necessary to safeguard your investment. Unlike fee simple property, foreigners do not have the same rights as citizens when it comes to leasing shoreline zone concession land. The law establishes that foreigners cannot be majority owners of concession land. A foreigner can, however, enter into a partnership with a Costa Rican citizen where the Costa Rican national appears as the majority holder of the concession land. An exception to this prohibition applies to foreigners who have resided in Costa Rica for at least five years, who can also appear as majority holders of a concession.