Cancún, Quintana Roo — Six irregular housing developments and subdivisions have been shut down by municipal authorities in Benito Juárez, home to Cancún, for a range of violations including missing permits and construction in prohibited areas. Two additional projects remain under review, according to Nahielli Orozco Lozano, head of the city’s Secretariat of Ecology and Urban Development.
Orozco Lozano stated that updates to the Urban Development Plan and the Local Ecological Zoning Program are being made to address growth along Huayacán Avenue, where new housing, businesses, and restaurants have strained water and sewer infrastructure. The concessionaire is only now introducing service lines in the area.
“Currently there are no permits there. It is a fundamental requirement that the developer must fulfill, in addition to guaranteeing all services,” she said.
Between 2025 and 2026, authorities closed 121 irregular lot developments lacking permits or selling land without proper documentation. During the current administration, six projects have been shut down in coordination with the State Prosecutor’s Office when evidence of potential crimes related to illegal land sales is found.
Orozco Lozano urged prospective buyers to check with the municipal secretariat to verify that a property has the necessary approvals to avoid risking their investment. She warned that taking possession of a lot does not guarantee the right to build, as many settlements lack authorized land use, basic infrastructure, or urbanization permits.
The areas where such irregular offers are most frequently detected include Bonfil, the Libramiento, northern Cancún, and the limits with Isla Mujeres, where urban expansion and land sales continue. Developers seeking a subdivision license must guarantee potable water, drainage, and roads as prerequisites for obtaining authorization and marketing the project.
