Hi Les,
All great questions. I’ll tackle them as best I can and then put you in touch with someone with years of experience in Arenal real estate.
As far as building guidelines in gated communities, I’ve seen some have convenants while others have more freedom. It depends on the place.
If you buy bare land whether you use septic or have to dig a well also depends on the location. Some spots closer to the towns of Nuevo Arenal and Tilaran have city water and sewer. But if your place is farther out, it’s less likely.
Building permits / codes are handled by the municipality. I couldn’t find a copy online. But a builder in the area should be able to let you know.
A great resource in Arenal is Terry Moran at http://www.moranlakearenal.com
He’s been in real estate there for many years and has a lot of knowledge of the area.
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