Saudi Building Code Application Law

Royal Decree No. M / 43 dated 26/4/1438H

Royal Decree No. M / 15 dated 19/1/1441H (Amendments of the law)
 Saudi Building Code Application Law
Article 1:

The following terms and phrases - wherever they appear in this law – shall have the
meanings given before each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

The Ministry: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

Municipal body: the secretariat or the municipality.

National Committee: The National Committee for the Saudi Building Code.

Code: The Saudi Building Code, which is the set of conditions, requirements and the following
executive regulations and annexes related to building and construction to ensure public safety
and health.

Law: The Saudi Building Code Application law.

Regulations: executive regulations of the law.

Building: What is constructed and made ready for use and occupation, and is classified in the
code.

Designer: A licensed person of natural or legal nature who is authorized by the owner to make
studies and designs to meet his needs and requirements according to the code.

Contractor: The licensed person of a natural or legal capacity whom the owner assigns to carry
out construction, installation, commissioning or maintenance works in accordance with the code.

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Supervisor: A licensed person of a natural or legal nature who is authorized by the owner to
perform the supervision works.

Building permit: a permit for building issued by the municipal body.

Occupancy certificate: Permission to occupy the building issued by the municipal body after
ensuring that it matches the code.

Practice license: A permit issued by the competent authority for individuals, bodies,
establishments and companies to carry out studies and designs, implementation or supervision,
according to the code.

Relevant authorities: The relevant government agencies according to their competence to

monitor the implementation of the code, namely: the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the
Ministry of Interior (Directorate General of Civil Defense), and the Ministry of Energy, Industry
and Mineral Resources.

Violation: every violation to the code, intentional or unintentional.

Dangerous Violation: Every violation to the code that results in endangering lives or property.

Article amendments

Article Two :

1- The code shall apply to all construction works in the public and private sectors, including the
design, implementation, operation, maintenance and amendment of the building, and also
applies to existing buildings in the event of their restoration, change in use, expansion or
modification.

2- The application of the code shall be gradual according to the regulations within a period not
exceeding five years from the date of the law's enforcement.

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3- It is forbidden to apply any code - after applying the law according to the gradual application
referred to in clause (2) of this article - other than the Saudi code.

Article Three:

Without prejudice to the right of the relevant authorities to exercise their duties and powers in
accordance with their regulations, the Ministry shall monitor the application and control of the
code.

Article Four:

The National Committee shall undertake the following:

1- Study the comments received about the code, and propose the necessary amendments
to update and develop it, in coordination with the competent authorities. These
amendments shall be issued by a decision of the Minister of Commerce and Investment,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Organization for Standardization,
Metrology and Quality.

2- Prepare scientific and technical guidelines and explanations on the code, and participate
with the competent authorities in preparing training and qualification curricula and
plans, and conduct workshops, seminars and conferences related to the code.

3- Represent the Kingdom in relevant regional and international technical organizations

and committees, after coordination with the competent authorities.

Article Five:

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The code shall be updated and reissued every five years by decision of the Minister of Commerce
and Investment, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Organization for
Standardization, Metrology and Quality.

Article Six:

Compliance with the code - after applying the law in accordance with the gradual application
referred to in clause (2) of Article (two) of the law- is one of the requirements for obtaining
building, restoration, modification or change of use licenses.

Article Seven:

Design, supervision, and implementation shall be made under contracts with professionals
holding practice licenses.

Article Eight:

The designer, the contractor and the supervisor shall carry out the work assigned to them according
to the code.

Article amendments:

Article 9:

The building may only be occupied under an occupancy certificate according to the occupancy
classification in the code, and in accordance with the procedures and terms determined by the
regulations. The occupancy certificate is a prerequisite for the delivery of services.

Article amendments:

Article ten:

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Anyone who violates the code must remove the violation or correct it in accordance with the
code within a period to be determined by the relevant authority, and the violator shall be notified
with the same. If the violator does not remove or correct the violation during the specified period,
the relevant authority shall refer the violation to the committee stipulated in Article (Fourteenth)
of the law as defined by the regulations.

Article Eleven:

When the violation is dangerous, the relevant authority must notify the violator with it, stop the
building, part, or section that constitutes hazards, or prevent occupancy or evacuate the building
until the violator removes or corrects the violation in accordance with the code, and refer the
violation to the committee stipulated in Article (14) ) of the law within a period not exceeding five
working days from the date of discovering the violation.

Article Twelve:

Subject to the provisions stated in Articles (ten) and (eleven) of the law, whoever violates the
code or any of the provisions or regulations of the law shall be punished with any of the
following or both of the following penalties:

1- A fine not exceeding one million riyals for a single violation in a single building.

2- Suspend the practice license for a period of no less than one month and not exceeding
one year.

Article Thirteen:

The violations to the code shall be recorded and documented by code qualified specialists from
the relevant authorities, who shall be nominated by a decision issued by their bodies, provided

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that the violation is recorded in accordance with a minutes in which the information shall be
recorded in accordance with the regulations.

Article Fourteen:

1- By a resolution of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, a committee (or more)
shall be formed in each of the regions of the Kingdom - according to the need - from
specialists from the relevant authorities, provided that the number of its members shall
not be less than (three), among whom there is a legal qualification, and issue - by
decision of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs - the rules of work of these
committees and their procedures and remunerations of their members.

2- This committee shall consider violations and inflict the penalties stipulated in Article
(Twelve) of the Law, and these decisions may be challenged before the Board of
Grievances in accordance with its law.

Article Fifteen:

The National Committee shall prepare - within one year from the date of publication of the law-
the regulations, including a regulation that includes classification of code violations, and it shall
be approved by a decision of the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Chairman of the Board
of Directors of the Saudi Organization for Standardization, Metrology and Quality, and it will be
published in the Official Gazette.

Article Sixteen:

This law shall apply one year after the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, and it shall
supersede all provisions in conflict with it.

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 Saudi Building Code Application Law
Royal Decree No. M / 43 dated 26/4/1438H
Royal Decree No. M / 15 dated 19/1/1441H (Amendments of the law)
Amendment to Saudi Building Code Enforcement Law
Royal Decree No. M / 15 dated 19/1/1441H
Article 1:
Add the "Saudi Organization for Standardization, Metrology and Quality" to definition
of (the relevant authorities) stipulated in Article (1).

Article 8:
Add a paragraph bearing number (2) to Article (8) to read as follows:
The designer supervising construction of the building and the executer have to be
collectively responsible for compensating the owner for what happens in a certain
period comprising the whole or partial demolishment and any defect that threatens
building strength and safety including hidden defects. The necessary regulations will
determine the provisions necessary thereto.

Article 9:
Delete the phrase “The occupancy certificate shall be a prerequisite for the delivery of
services” set forth at the end of Article (9) so that it reads as follows: “The building
may only be occupied based on an occupation certificate according to the classification
of occupancy included in the Code, in accordance with the procedures and terms
determined by the Regulations”.