This paper aims to considering whether protected areas are barrier the development of housing opportunities in rural areas. Research in this area will be conducted in the following aspects: legal, spatial and social. The case studies will be presented in situations where these areas were incentive for potential investors to build on the area, and on the other hand they will be indicated aspects, where legal restrictions may constitute a barrier to settle in the area. The above considerations will be indicated for sustainable development, which should be the desired state for any space, including rural areas.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/enviro.2017.066