No. Squatting in Chile is criminalized under the Penal Code and Civil Code, with penalties including fines and imprisonment. The 2020 Ley de Delitos Contra la Propiedad (Law 21.240) tightened enforcement, and the 2026 Reglamento de Regularización de Asentamientos Humanos may further restrict informal occupation.
Key Regulations for Squatting in Chile
- Penal Code (Art. 448-450): Unauthorized occupation of immovable property constitutes usurpación, punishable by 61 days to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to 50 UTM (≈$4,500 USD). Aggravated cases (e.g., violence, occupation of primary residences) escalate penalties to 3–10 years.
- Civil Code (Art. 585-587): Property owners may file desalojo (eviction) within 6 months of occupation via juicio ejecutivo de desalojo, bypassing lengthy civil proceedings. Courts prioritize these cases under Ley 20.850 (2015).
- Municipal Ordinances: Local governments (e.g., Santiago’s Ordenanza Municipal de Usurpación) enforce additional administrative sanctions, including property sealing and community service for squatters. Non-compliance risks municipal liens.
Enforcement agencies include Carabineros de Chile (police) and the Servicio de Impuestos Internos (SII), which tracks illegal occupations for tax evasion. Owners must provide escritura pública (public deed) and certificado de dominio vigente to initiate evictions. The 2026 regulatory framework may introduce digital property registries to curb fraudulent claims.