La Pampa proposes provincial land law to restrict foreign ownership

Governor Sergio Ziliotto of La Pampa has submitted a bill to the provincial legislature to establish a regulatory framework for rural lands, citing the absence of national legislation. The proposed law seeks to prohibit the sale of lands containing strategic natural resources—such as rivers, aquifers, wetlands, and native forests—or those located in protected areas to foreign individuals and legal entities.

The initiative also strictly prohibits foreign states and companies with foreign state participation from holding title to rural lands. For other foreign entities, the bill imposes limits on land possession based on regional productivity, ranging from 1,000 to 20,000 hectares, and sets a maximum foreign ownership cap of 15% at both provincial and departmental levels.

Legal justifications for the bill are rooted in provincial competencies over land use and natural resources as outlined in the National Constitution. Exceptions to these restrictions may apply to foreigners with at least 10 years of residency, or 5 years if they have Argentine children or are married to an Argentine citizen.