Building Compliance Certificate

Reference: the website of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

Building compliance certificate requirements (commercial buildings)

To get a building compliance certificate, you must meet the requirements and provide the following documents:

1. An occupancy certificate for new buildings.
2. The title deed of the property.
3. The approved building permit.
4. An application submitted through the Balady platform.
5. Approval from the municipality, the local municipal office or an accredited engineering office.
6. All the conditions for the building compliance certificate must be met.

1. Building design

• No windows may be opened in breach of the building regulations or the design conditions for openings.
• The roof parapet must be between 1.5 m at the minimum and 2.1 m at the maximum in height, with no openings in the wall that allow a view through.
• The building must match the permit and the approved drawings with regard to:
  1. Setbacks, with no encroachments (rooms or partition walls in the setbacks).
  2. The entrance, which must match the approved drawings.
• The use of the approved parking in the basement must not be changed.
• A separate staircase must be built to the mezzanine floor in buildings on commercial streets.
• Any concrete roof in the setback must be no higher than (4 m), and may be used only to protect the meters.
• Check that there are no additional built areas in the upper annex or the mezzanine.

2. General site

• A ramp for people with disabilities must be built in line with the simplified guide to universal access standards for facilities.
• Parking for people with disabilities must be provided in front of the ramp, in line with the requirements of the building's permit, for commercial buildings.
• Sewage tanks must be covered with protective covers.
• Pavements must be built along the main streets in line with the regulations and instructions governing them, as set out in the building permit or the approved drawings.
• There must be no dilapidated or unfinished boundary walls.
• The permitted building limits must be respected, and external stairs and vehicle entrances must be within the property boundaries.

3. Visual distortion

• No unsightly barriers (rebar stubs or corrugated metal sheeting) on the setback wall or the roof of buildings on commercial streets.
• No split air-conditioning units on the street-facing facades of buildings on commercial streets.
• No exposed electrical, sanitary or mechanical installations on facades overlooking commercial streets.
• No cracks or damage in the paintwork or cladding of building facades, and no visible rust on metal materials in the facades.
• No satellite dishes on balconies or on building facades overlooking commercial streets.
• No canopies or sheds outside the building limits.
• Balconies must not be covered with sheds or with materials that do not suit the form and character of the building, or used for drying laundry or for storage.
• No defacing graffiti on the walls of buildings on commercial streets.
• Chimneys must not be placed on the building's facade, and must not rise more than 2 m above the building height.
• Water tanks on roofs must have their covers in place, to protect the quality of the water and for safety.
• Shop signs must conform to the conditions.
• No old advertising signs for closed shops, and no metal bases left from signs that have been removed.
• No old, worn advertising posters on the facades of buildings and shops.
• No dilapidated, unused mail or newspaper boxes.
• The site and the pavement in front of the building must be kept clean.

Getting a building compliance certificate in Saudi Arabia

Steps for getting a building compliance certificate in Saudi Arabia

The steps depend on whether the building is already standing or still under construction.

For existing buildings:

1. Register on the Balady platform: https://balady.gov.sa/en
2. Open the service for issuing a building compliance certificate.
3. Enter the details of the building permit, the title deed and the occupancy certificate (building completion), and all the details required in the compliance certificate application form.
4. Declare in the application that you meet all the assessment items for issuing a building compliance certificate set out in this guide.
5. The competent authority will review your application and contact you to arrange a site visit to the building.
6. After the site visit, the building compliance certificate will be issued to you.

For buildings under construction:

1. Make sure that the building meets all the requirements for the building compliance certificate.
2. Apply to the competent authority for the building compliance certificate.
3. The competent authority will review your application and contact you to arrange a site visit to the building.
4. After the site visit, the building compliance certificate will be issued to you.

Building compliance certificate requirements

• The building must match the building permit.
• The building must be safe in terms of structural safety and fire safety.
• The building must meet the health and environmental conditions.
• The building must meet the conditions for people with disabilities.

Fees

Building compliance certificate fees vary with the area of the building.

Useful websites

• Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing: https://www.momrah.gov.sa/ar
• National Competitiveness Centre: https://www.ncc.gov.sa/
• The Balady platform: https://balady.gov.sa/en