An American couple has been ordered to pay a significant fine for violating P.E.I.'s land ownership laws.

Melvin and Sylvia Griffin acquired a piece of land almost 75 hectares over the allowed maximum.

Under P.E.I.'s Lands Protection Act, non-residents can own a maximum of two hectares of land.

In 2003 the Griffins were looking to purchase about 76 hectares of land Pleasant Grove, north of Charlottetown. The land included two-kilometres of shore frontage along the Winter River. The Griffins applied for special approval from cabinet to buy the larger property, but their application was denied.

The Griffins went ahead anyway and purchased the land in someone else's name, lending a local man the money to buy it. They then set up a company and started selling lots.

Government officials took note of the activity, and in February of last year the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission ordered the Griffins to provide documents of the original purchase. The couple didn't comply.

IRAC held a public hearing in November, and the Griffins admitted to violating the act. The commission levied $37,800 in fines. It also ordered the Griffins to re-apply to purchase the entire property, even though some of the lots were already sold, under their own names.

They have until the end of March to apply and pay a minimum of $9,000.