Location Agreements

Here is how this works in practice. Mexican location agreements draft against a layered ownership and stewardship regime that we handle document-by-document. Private property follows the federal Civil Code and state property law with notarial sign-ups (Notario Público) for high-value or sustained-use agreements. Our entertainment counsel structures bilingual Spanish-English contracts that survive both Mexican courts and US distribution due diligence. INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia) authorizes filming at each pre-Hispanic archaeological zone. The list covers Teotihuacán (UNESCO 1987), Chichén Itzá (UNESCO 1988, Yucatán), Palenque (UNESCO 1987, Chiapas), Monte Albán and Mitla (UNESCO 1987, Oaxaca), Uxmal (UNESCO 1996), Tulum, Coba, El Tajín (UNESCO 1992, Veracruz), Xochicalco (UNESCO 1999, Morelos). Through formal use agreements that govern crew zones, lighting placement, set-dressing limits, and restoration deposits.

Here is the breakdown. On the ground, INBAL (Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura) administers heritage-build style agreements at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and colonial baroque sites. CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas) authorizes filming in biosphere reserves, national parks, and covered coastlines. Examples have the Yucatán cenotes, Sumidero Canyon, Copper Canyon, and the Lacandon jungle.

Here is the short of it. Ejido (communal land) agreements are the unique Mexican structure that global shoots most often misjudge. Roughly half of Mexico's rural land is held in ejido or comunidad indígena tenure. Any commercial filming there needs asamblea ejidal (community assembly) approval, not just a person signature — our counsel scopes the community-relations timeline (mostly 4-8 weeks) and structures use fees, day-rate compensation, restoration deposits, and community-gain inputs into the agreement.

Here is what that looks like on the ground. On the ground, SECTUR-named Pueblos Mágicos (35 nationally. The list covers San Cristóbal de las Casas, Pátzcuaro, Tepoztlán, Bernal, Real de Catorce, and others) need city planning layered on top of private agreements. UNESCO World Heritage centres. Xochimilco (1987), Centro Histórico CDMX (1987), Oaxaca historic center (1987), Puebla historic center (1987), Guanajuato (1988), Morelia (1991), San Miguel de Allende (2008) — add federal heritage-impact clauses. Specialty venues — Fox Baja Studios water tanks (Titanic 1997 onward), Casa Azul Frida Kahlo Coyoacán, Estudios Churubusco — carry studio-specific master agreements. Our team also handles Acapulco's 1950s-60s Hollywood-era venues, Durango's Western-heritage rancho locations, and Día de Muertos community-event agreements with city authorities in Mixquic, Janitzio, and Pátzcuaro.