Permit for Correcting the Status of an Existing Building

A permit for correcting the status of an existing building is a licence issued by the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing through the Balady platform. It is used to correct any illegal or unauthorised changes made to an existing building.

This permit is usually needed if illegal or unlicensed changes have been made to an existing building, such as adding a new floor, changing the design of the facade or extending the built area without the necessary permits.

The permit is usually obtained by applying through the Balady platform. The application sets out the violations or illegal changes made to the building, together with the steps that will be taken to correct the situation and return the building to its lawful status.

How do you get a permit for correcting the status of an existing building?

Application steps

• Go to the Balady website.
• Log in to the Balady portal through the unified access service (Absher).
• Specify the type of owner and applicant.
• Select the building permit or survey decision for which you want the authorisation for correcting the status of an existing building.
• Select the engineering office.
• Send the application to the engineering office.
• The engineering office completes the details and prepares the required drawings.
• The municipality calculates the fines and penalties.
• A payment invoice is issued.
• Once the fees are paid, the permit is issued and can be printed.

Requirements (documents needed)

• A contract with an engineering office.
• Payment of the service fee.

Conditions and government approvals

• Compliance with the municipal licensing conditions regulation (if applicable).

Notes and warnings

• You must review the classification regulation for Saudi Building Code violations.

Conditions for a permit for correcting the status of an existing building

Getting this permit requires you to meet a number of conditions and requirements.

The conditions vary from one country to another and from one region to another, so you should contact the local authorities concerned for accurate information on the conditions and procedures involved.

Even so, the conditions usually include the following:

• Assessing the state of the building: correcting the status of an existing building calls for a full assessment of its condition and of how the required measures will affect it. This may require an engineering study of the building to identify any problems.
• Holding the necessary building permits: the building must have been built under a valid building permit in line with local laws and regulations.
• Compliance with engineering standards: the building's status must be corrected in line with the engineering standards and regulations in force.
• Paying the fees: the fees required for the correction licence must be paid.
• Compliance with local laws and regulations: all local laws and regulations in force must be followed, including those on building, urban development and the environment.
• Approval from government bodies: the local authorities may require approval from various government bodies before issuing the correction authorisation.

Make sure that all the required conditions and related procedures are met before you apply for a correction licence.

When do I need to correct the status of an existing building?

You need to correct a building's status if it breaches any of the building regulations in force in Saudi Arabia, including:

• Built area: the building's area may be larger than the area allowed by the building plans.
• Building height: the building may be taller than the permitted height.
• Setbacks: the setbacks (the distances between the building and the plot boundaries) may not conform to the conditions in force.
• Land use: the building may be used for purposes that breach the regulations in force.
• Other violations: these may include having no building permits, or not completing the building work to the required specifications.

Steps for correcting a building's status

1. Confirm the violation: check that your building breaches the building regulations by reviewing your building plans or contacting the competent authority.
2. Apply for the permit: you can apply for the permit for correcting the status of a building online through the Balady platform of the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing.
3. Prepare the engineering drawings: you will need engineering drawings showing the changes and repairs to be made to bring the building into line with the building regulations.
4. Pay the fees: you will need to pay the permit fees, in addition to the fees for the engineering drawings.
5. Carry out the repairs and changes: after getting the permit, you will need to carry out the necessary repairs and changes to the building in line with the approved engineering drawings.
6. Inspection: once the repairs and changes are finished, the competent authority will inspect the building to confirm that it complies with the building regulations.
7. Get the certificate of completion: once the building's compliance with the building regulations is confirmed, you will receive a certificate confirming that the correction is complete.

Documents required to apply for the permit

• A title deed in the owner's name.
• The original building permit (if there is one).
• A copy of the owner's ID.
• A copy of the applicant's ID.
• A letter of authorisation (if the owner does not attend in person).
• The proposed engineering drawings for the changes.
• A technical report from a licensed engineer confirming the safety of the building.
• Any other documents the competent authority may request.

Fees

The permit fees vary according to the area of the building and the type of violation. You can find the approximate fees through the Balady platform.

The Balady platform