Group housing permit for individuals

A group housing permit is a building permit that allows the project owner to build a residential building with multiple housing units for a large number of residents. It is issued by the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing through the Balady platform. A group housing permit requires compliance with a set of conditions and requirements, such as stating the building's main purpose, setting the number of residents allowed and providing what they need to live there, setting the areas needed for each apartment or housing unit and providing the services users need, making sure the building meets the required technical and security standards, and obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent official bodies.

Applications for a group housing permit are assessed against the criteria above, and the permit is issued once it is confirmed that the project meets these requirements and conditions. The permit is used to build residential compounds, residential towers, residential resorts and other large residential projects that accommodate a large number of people.

This service allows property owners and tenants to obtain a group housing licence for individuals. It helps ensure that group housing for individuals complies with the health, technical and safety conditions required for accommodation.

How do you get a group housing permit for individuals?

Application steps

• Go to the Balady website.
• Log in to the Balady portal through Unified Access (Absher).
• State the applicant's capacity.
• Choose the location of the housing to be licensed on the map.
• Review and confirm compliance with the site conditions the municipality requires at the chosen location.
• Enter the property data and its estimated capacity.
• Choose the engineering office to inspect the housing.
• Choose the property's ownership type and details (owner or tenant).
• Attach a picture of the property and a copy of its lease if the housing is rented.
• The beneficiary confirms that all the data is correct.
• Send the application.
• The engineering office makes the inspection visit, after the cost has been agreed, within two working days.
• The permit is issued once the housing meets the conditions, and can be printed from the My Requests and Licences icon.

Requirements

• A commercial registration if the applicant is a commercial establishment.
• The coordinates of the housing to be licensed.
• Detailed housing data (property type, estimated capacity, built area, number of toilets, number of rooms).
• Ownership data (title deed details if the property is owned, lease details if it is rented).
• Pictures of the housing to be licensed.
• A copy of the lease if the property is rented.

Conditions and government approvals

• The regulation on health and technical conditions for group housing.
• The introductory guide to engineering firms qualified to inspect and license group housing.
• The guide to health conditions for group housing for individuals, in Arabic.
• The guide to health conditions for group housing for individuals, in English.

What are the conditions for a group housing permit for individuals?

Issuing a group housing permit for individuals requires compliance with certain conditions and requirements, which include:

Issuing a group housing permit for individuals requires obtaining a building permit from the competent official bodies in the country, and the conditions for this permit differ between countries and regions.

A group housing permit usually requires compliance with a set of conditions and requirements, such as stating the building's main purpose, setting the number of residents allowed and providing what they need to live there, setting the areas needed for each apartment or housing unit and providing the services users need, making sure the building meets the required technical and security standards, and obtaining the necessary approvals from the competent official bodies.

In general, applications for a group housing permit are assessed against the criteria above, and the permit is issued once it is confirmed that the project meets these requirements and conditions.

How much does a group housing permit for individuals cost?

The fees for a group housing permit for individuals in Saudi Arabia vary with the size and type of the project, the building's location and other factors. It is therefore advisable to contact the competent government bodies in Saudi Arabia, such as the Ministry of Housing or the local municipality, for accurate information on the fees in the area concerned.

What is the fine for not obtaining a group housing permit for individuals?

No specific fine has been set for not obtaining a group housing permit for individuals. In general, the fine for any breach of the building regulations with no set penalty ranges between 500 and 5,000, in addition to removing the violation at the expense of the person responsible.

How long is a group housing permit for individuals valid?

One year.

When must you obtain a group housing permit for individuals?

Any accommodation housing 20 or more individuals who are not related to one another must be licensed.

What types of building can be licensed as group housing for individuals?

• Residential compounds.
• Villas.
• Apartment buildings.
• Rest houses.
• Furnished apartments.
• Hotels.
• Housing at the workplace.
• Mobile cabins within projects.

Is licensing prohibited if the housing is close to family housing?

In general, a permit cannot be issued within residential neighbourhoods.

Do I need to submit the building permit to obtain a group housing permit for individuals?

The building permit does not have to be submitted.

The building is in a place that does not meet the site conditions. What happens then?

The site conditions must be met. If the building does not meet them, the group housing is not licensed.

Who is responsible for licensing group housing for individuals?

Responsibility for licensing the building lies with the property owner if the building is let to several tenants, and with the tenant if they are the building's only tenant.

What is the difference between the licensing service on Balady and the Group Housing platform?

The building is licensed as group housing for individuals through the Balady platform, and the housing can be declared through the Group Housing platform.

Do surveillance cameras have to be installed?

Surveillance cameras are mandatory in housing outside the urban area and for mobile cabins within projects, and can be replaced by security guards.

Sources and references

• Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing
• Saudi Vision 2030
• The Balady e-platform
• Saudi Council of Engineers
• Unified National Platform