Ejido / Ejidal Land (Communal Agrarian Land)eh-HEE-doh
Ejido land is socially owned by ejidal communities; ejidatarios generally hold rights to use and enjoy their parcels, while the ejido—not the Mexican state—owns the land. Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution, reformed in 1992, and the Ley Agraria (Agrarian Law) of February 26, 1992 govern ejidos.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 10 November 2026
How it works
Historically, ejido land could not be sold or given legally to third parties; it was only possible to inherit. The 1992 reform of Article 27 and the 1993 Agrarian Law created the route to conversion: a community may vote to convert parcels to full private ownership (dominio pleno), after which the land leaves the social property system and can be sold, mortgaged and transferred like any other private property. Conversion to dominio pleno requires a two-thirds majority vote. The Registro Agrario Nacional (national agrarian registry) issues the dominio pleno title; until this is done the land is not transferable to a foreigner. Since 1992, about 5 percent of ejido land has converted, concentrated in irrigation, tourism and urban-expansion zones; just over half of Mexico's territory is communally held social property. Buying unconverted ejido land is a serious legal risk for foreign buyers, as the transaction is void and the buyer acquires no valid title.