U.S. Territories · Puerto Rico · October 24, 2026
Puerto Rico Catastro Digital: Find a Parcel and Its Number
How to use CRIM's free Catastro Digital to find any Puerto Rico property and its número de catastro, and how the catastro differs from the Registro.
In the 50 states, each county usually keeps its own parcel map. Puerto Rico is different: there is one cadastre for the whole island and all 78 municipios. It is kept by CRIM, the Centro de Recaudación de Ingresos Municipales (Municipal Revenue Collection Center), which assesses and collects property tax for the municipalities. CRIM publishes it free as the Catastro Digital.
Catastro Digital opened with no login when we checked on October 24, 2026. The interface is in Spanish.
Step by step: find a parcel
- Open Catastro Digital with the button above. Close or accept the splash screen.
- Search. The search tools let you look up a property by address, by cadastral number or by other criteria, depending on the tool. You can also pan and zoom on the map.
- Zoom in until parcel lines appear. On the main island, Vieques and Culebra, parcels draw once you're close enough.
- Click a parcel to open its details: the número de catastro (cadastral number) and the information CRIM publishes for it, such as area and tax-related details.
- Note the cadastral number exactly. It's the key to CRIM's records for that property.
Useful Spanish terms
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Catastro | Cadastre (the tax map) |
| Número de catastro | Cadastral (parcel) number |
| Municipio | Municipality (Puerto Rico's county equivalent) |
| Barrio | Ward or district within a municipio |
| Finca | A registered property in the Registro de la Propiedad |
| Segregación | Subdivision of a parcel |
| Calificación | Zoning |
Catastro vs Registro
This is the most important thing to understand about land records in Puerto Rico. There are two separate systems:
- The catastro (CRIM) is the tax map. It identifies parcels by número de catastro for assessment and property tax.
- The Registro de la Propiedad (Property Registry), part of the Department of Justice, records legal ownership and liens. Properties there are identified by finca number, with the registry section (demarcación), volume (tomo) and page (folio) where they were recorded.
The two numbers are different, and one doesn't automatically lead to the other. Matching a CRIM parcel to its finca is usually the first job in a Puerto Rico title search. The Registro's digital system is called Karibe. See our finca number vs catastro number guide.
Tips for U.S. buyers
- Zoning. Check the Junta de Planificación (Puerto Rico Planning Board) zoning (calificación) for the parcel before you buy.
- Flood zones. Many coastal and low-lying parcels are in FEMA flood zones. Check the FEMA flood maps.
- Informal subdivisions. Rural lots are sometimes divided informally without a completed segregación. The CRIM parcel may not match what you're shown on the ground, and the finca in the Registro may still be the larger parent property.
- Property tax status. CRIM handles property tax. Ask the seller for evidence that taxes are paid; debts can follow the property.
- Hire local professionals. A Puerto Rico attorney-notary and a licensed surveyor (agrimensor) are essential for a purchase.
On the Platbookmapper map
Every Puerto Rico municipio appears on our U.S. county map, and the territory has its own page with the official viewer.
A worked example
Say you're looking at a house listed in Rincón.
- Open Catastro Digital and search the address, or pan to Rincón and zoom in.
- Click the parcel and note the número de catastro.
- Compare the parcel outline with the listing photos and the satellite view.
- Check the zoning and flood zone.
- Ask the seller (or your attorney) for the finca number and registry details, then have the title searched in the Registro de la Propiedad.
Reading what Catastro Digital shows
When you click a parcel, the details panel can include several kinds of information. Look for:
- The número de catastro, the parcel's ID in CRIM's system.
- Location details, such as the municipio and barrio.
- Area, as recorded by CRIM.
- Tax-related information that CRIM publishes for the parcel.
Treat the area as CRIM's figure, not a survey. If it differs from the listing or the deed, ask why: the CRIM parcel may predate a segregación, or the deed may describe the land differently.
Layers worth turning on
Catastro Digital lets you add layers on top of the parcels. Depending on the version, you'll find aerial imagery, municipal boundaries and barrios, roads and other reference layers. Imagery is the most useful for comparing the parcel lines with buildings, walls and roads on the ground.
Why Puerto Rico has one cadastre
Property tax in Puerto Rico is a municipal tax, but it's assessed and collected centrally by CRIM on behalf of all 78 municipios. That central role is why Puerto Rico has a single island-wide tax map, while in the states each county keeps its own. It also means one search tool covers the whole territory.
After a hurricane
Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 damaged or destroyed many buildings, and some properties were rebuilt informally. If a property was rebuilt or expanded, compare the CRIM records, the deed and what's on the ground, and ask about permits.
Catastro Digital on a phone
The viewer works in a mobile browser, though the interface is easier on a larger screen. If you're visiting a property, find it on the map beforehand and save the número de catastro, so you can compare the parcel with what you see on site.
When the parcel isn't there
If you can't find a parcel, try searching by the municipio and barrio and zooming in, or search a neighbouring property and step across. New subdivisions and informal lots may not be drawn yet. If you have a deed or tax bill, use the catastro number on it.
Common questions
Is Catastro Digital free? Yes. It opened with no login when we checked.
Is it in English? The interface is in Spanish.
Does the catastro show who legally owns the property? CRIM's tax records may list a taxpayer, but legal ownership is recorded in the Registro de la Propiedad.
What's the difference between the catastro number and the finca number? The catastro number is CRIM's tax parcel ID; the finca number is the Registro's property record.
Related guides
- Puerto Rico finca number vs catastro number
- Parcel maps for the U.S. territories
- All U.S. territories
Sources
- CRIM Catastro Digital opened and checked October 24, 2026.
- Registro de la Propiedad: Karibe.