As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate the urban environment and enhance construction safety, the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing has announced an update to the penalties schedule for municipal violations, including the addition of a violation for dividing a building into units that contravene the building permit.
The Ministry explained that the new update aims to control irregular practices that result in dividing buildings or residential apartments without obtaining the necessary permits, due to their negative effects on the urban fabric and unregulated increase in population densities, in addition to their impact on basic services and parking in neighborhoods.
The Ministry clarified that the penalties include imposing a financial fine ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 riyals for each violating unit, while obligating the owner to remove the violation at their own expense. If removal is not possible for structural reasons affecting the building’s safety, the violator will be penalized by paying half the construction cost of the violating part, while correcting the situation and submitting a structural safety certificate from an engineering office accredited by the Ministry.
The Ministry also confirmed a 60-day correction period after officially notifying the violator, to ensure that violations are addressed without compromising the safety of buildings or their residents, emphasizing the need to expedite the correction of violations to avoid regulatory fines.
This update is part of the developmental efforts of municipal and regulatory systems, aimed at raising the level of compliance and improving the quality of the urban environment in Saudi cities, urging owners and investors to adhere to regulations and instructions before implementing any division or modification in buildings.
