DAP (Derechos de Alumbrado Público) (Public Lighting Fee)dah-p (deh-REH-chos deh ah-loom-BRAH-doh POO-blee-koh)
DAP (Derechos de Alumbrado Público) is a municipal fee charged to recover the cost of providing and maintaining public street lighting in Mexico. Article 115 of the Mexican Constitution assigns municipalities responsibility for public lighting service, and DAP funds the electricity, operation and maintenance of street lights throughout the municipality.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 9 November 2026
How it works
DAP typically appears as a line item on the CFE (Comisión Federal de Electricidad) electricity bill, though some municipalities collect it through the municipal treasury when owners pay predial (property tax). Seven of eleven Quintana Roo municipalities collect DAP, totaling over MXN 480 million in 2025. The amount varies significantly by municipality and calculation method. Mexico's Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that calculating DAP as a percentage of electricity consumption is unconstitutional; it must instead reflect the actual cost of public lighting service. Playa del Carmen (Solidaridad) divides the annual cost of public lighting by the number of CFE users, with a cap of 2.5 percent of consumption since 2019, while six other Quintana Roo municipalities previously charged 5 percent of electricity consumption. A typical Playa del Carmen residence consuming 500 kWh bimonthly and paying approximately MXN 1,500 to 2,000 in electricity would pay roughly MXN 40 to 50 in DAP per billing cycle, or about MXN 240 to 300 annually. When selling or buying property, DAP (like predial) must be current with no outstanding debt for the notary to register the transfer. Foreign buyers should confirm with the seller or notary that all DAP payments are up to date before closing and can verify tax status on municipal portals or through their closing agent.