MOMAH updates administrative penalties for building violations

Logo of Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH)

Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MOMAH) ratified updating the administrative penalties for municipal violations, adding a new code violation against the illegal subdivision of units within a building without proper authorization.

The ministry stated that penalties include a fine ranging from SAR 5,000 to SAR 25,000 per noncompliant unit, in addition to requiring the violator to correct their status at their own expense, the SPA reported.

However, in cases where removing the violation is structurally infeasible due to potential risks to the building’s safety, the violator will instead be fined an amount equal to 50% of the construction cost of such violation, and will be mandated to rectify the issue and eliminate any resulting harm, the ministry added.

It further clarified that the violator will be given a 60-day grace period to correct the violation after being notified, in accordance with approved procedures that ensure the violations are addressed without compromising the safety of the buildings or their occupants.

The ministry also noted that this move is part of its ongoing efforts to regulate the urban ecosystem, ensure the safety of buildings, and enforce compliance with approved municipal regulations and licensing requirements.