# Argentina rural land ownership regulation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-rural-land-ownership-regulation
> Updated: 2026-09-30T08:50:53.000Z. Sources: 69. Developments: 2.

In the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, the enforcement of National Law 26.737 created regulatory bottlenecks in the real estate market. While the province maintained a low overall foreign ownership rate of 1.71%, the law required a 15% ownership cap to be applied strictly on a per-department basis. This led to the Garay Department exceeding the legal limit with a concentration of 15.73%, necessitating Prior Authorization Certificates from the National Registry of Rural Lands for transactions.

However, the legal landscape shifted when the Supreme Court of Argentina revoked a previous ruling that had declared the repeal of the Rural Land Law unconstitutional. The Court determined that the plaintiff, Centro de Ex Combatientes Islas Malvinas La Plata (CECIM), lacked the legal standing to bring the collective action. Justices Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz, and Ricardo Lorenzetti argued that territorial sovereignty is not a collective right that can be defended through such legal mechanisms, meaning no judicial controversy was properly configured.

While the Court clarified it did not rule on the actual constitutionality of Article 154 of Decree 70/2023, the practical effect is the reinstatement of the repeal of the Land Law. This removes previous restrictions on foreign land acquisition, including the 15% cap and limits on individual holdings in certain zones, such as the 1,000-hectare limit in the core agricultural zone, allowing foreign individuals and entities to acquire land without those restrictions. The ruling has drawn criticism from CECIM and various political sectors who argue it facilitates the foreign acquisition of Argentine territory. Following the decision, the government is reportedly considering legislative strategies to further protect the decree from future challenges.

## Claims

- The Supreme Court revoked the ruling that had declared Article 154 of DNU 70/23 unconstitutional. (disputed by 21 sources)
- The Court clarified that its decision does not constitute a judgment on the constitutionality of Article 154 of DNU 70/2023. (disputed by 18 sources)
- The decision was signed by judges Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz, and Ricardo Lorenzetti. (corroborated by 21 sources)
- The Court rejected the lawsuit because the plaintiff, CECIM, lacked legal standing. (corroborated by 20 sources)
- The Centro de Ex Combatientes Islas Malvinas La Plata (CECIM) filed an amparo against the National Executive Power. (corroborated by 16 sources)
- The ruling effectively reinstates the repeal of the Land Law, allowing for foreign land purchases without the previous 15% limit. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- The former Land Law (Law 26.737) limited foreign ownership of rural land to a maximum of 15% at national, provincial, and departmental levels. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The Court ruled that territorial sovereignty is not a collective right under Article 43 of the Constitution. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The ruling removes the 1,000-hectare limit in the core zone for foreign land ownership. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-30: Argentina Supreme Court reinstates repeal of Land Law, lifting foreign ownership limits

Argentina's Supreme Court revoked a ruling against Decree 70/2023, reinstating the repeal of the Land Law and removing limits on foreign ownership of rural territory.

67 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-supreme-court-reinstates-foreign-land-purchase-provisions

### 2026-09-18: Foreign land ownership limits exceeded in Santa Fe's Garay Department

Foreign land ownership in Argentina's Garay Department has exceeded the 15% legal limit, triggering regulatory scrutiny under National Law 26.737 despite low provincial averages.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/foreign-land-ownership-limits-exceeded-in-santa-fes-garay-department

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Cite as: Argentina rural land ownership regulation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentina-rural-land-ownership-regulation