REAL ESTATE

It is imperative to make sure that any property one wishes to buy has a legitimate title, or is in the process of acquiring one with the Essaouira land registry. In which case, a case number called numéro de réquisition is attached to the property.

Before considering making an offer, one must first file a request for a note de renseignement (info sheet) with the land registry (Agence Urbaine).

This document lists whether and what one can build on the property, the type of building, its total surface area, and more.

For property located outside the urban zone, one of two situations is possible :

1. The land is located in one of the zones earmarked for development. In this case, the regulations that apply, such as minimum area requirements, width of property, distance from neighbor or public passage, etc., are those dictated by the development project.


2. The land is located outside any development project. In this case, the property’s surface area must measure at least one hectare in order to be constructible. For a private dwelling, one may build on up to 2% of the land’s area, with an allowance for one story over the ground floor.

In the case of a Guest House or B&B, one must first file for an accord de principe (preliminary permission). The project is then examined by a commission, to assess its feasibility. Once approved, the project can finally apply for a building permit. The coefficient d’occupation des sols (or COS, constructible land percentage) can, in the case of a business, be increased beyond 2%.