Supreme Court Backs 500-Meter Rule for Gas Stations

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Gas stations must maintain a minimum distance of 500 meters from one another, according to a ruling by the Second Chamber of Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN). The decision comes despite legal challenges from business owners in the fuel industry.

Legal Battle Over Urban Planning Regulations

The justices upheld Article 35, Section VI, of the Urban Regulations for Service Stations Distributing Gasoline and Liquid Petroleum Products in the State of Quintana Roo. Business owners had sought to overturn the rule, arguing that fuel regulation falls under federal jurisdiction, not state authority.

In their ruling, the justices stated: “The referenced regulations impose a restriction aimed at urban planning and development, grounded in public interest and collective safety. They do not constitute a regulation of technical or operational aspects of hydrocarbons, which remain under federal authority. Such provisions represent measures related to human settlements and civil protection.”

The decision was formalized in Jurisprudence 2a./J. 46/2025 (11a.), issued during the Second Chamber’s final session before judicial reforms took effect.

Local Impact and Legal Challenges

State authorities had been unable to enforce the regulation due to injunctions obtained by gas station owners through amparo lawsuits. In Playa del Carmen, several stations operate in close proximity, including those in the Ejidal neighborhood and along Avenida Colosio near Federal Highway 307.

The ruling now clears the way for enforcement of the 500-meter separation rule, which proponents argue enhances urban safety and prevents market oversaturation.