Issuing a Building Renovation Permit

A building renovation permit in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a licence obtained by the owner or the contractor responsible, for carrying out renovation, maintenance and repair work on existing buildings in the Kingdom. The renovation permit service is an online service that allows citizens and engineering offices to request a renovation permit for an existing building. Put simply, a renovation permit is a legal document requested from the government through the application channels mentioned below.

The renovation and maintenance work that can be licensed in Saudi Arabia includes repairs to roofs, walls and floors, electrical and plumbing repairs, and structural work relating to changes in the building's interior layout. Whoever obtains the permit is entitled to carry out maintenance, renovation and repair work on a private building. Every citizen in the Kingdom must do this before starting the work. Otherwise they face legal accountability and bear the penalty or fine for renovating without meeting the conditions for a renovation permit.

How to get a renovation permit

Application steps

1. Go to the Balady website.
2. Log in to the Balady portal through the unified access service (Absher).
3. Select the municipality and local municipal office concerned.
4. Enter the building permit number and date.
5. Choose construction permit services.
6. Choose the renovation permit service.
7. Select the engineering office and send the application.
8. The engineering office completes the application details and sends the application to the municipality.
9. Read the instructions and confirm that the information is correct.
10. Verify your mobile number.
11. Pay the fees once the municipality has approved.
12. Specify the type of owner and applicant.
13. Select the building permit or survey decision for which you want the renovation permit.
14. Select the engineering office.
15. Give the undertaking to remove the debris.
16. Send the application to the engineering office.
17. The engineering office completes the details and prepares the required drawings.
18. A payment invoice is issued.
19. Once the fees are paid, the permit is issued and can be printed.

Service channels

• The authority's web portal
• The Balady app

Requirements (documents needed)

• A building permit.
• 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, and make sure it is met in the project.

What are the conditions for a renovation permit?

Getting a renovation permit requires you to meet a number of conditions and requirements, including:

• A certificate confirming that the site can be renovated and that no violation is involved, because some areas of a religious character may not be renovated in a modern way. This is done by applying to the administrative body for approval.
• Compliance with everything laid down in the building code of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Any violation exposes the person responsible to legal accountability.
• Compliance with what was agreed in the building system for the subdivided plans approved in all cities of the Kingdom.
• Respect for certain rules relating to government bodies, such as health facilities and educational and security institutions, among others.
• The renovation permit application must include the owner's personal information, together with the receipt for the application fees, which shows the amount of the fees and the information on the building's address, boundaries and characteristics.
• The papers proving that the building belongs to the applicant, “a copy of the title document”.

Some additional conditions

• Compliance with the setback rules in the chapter on special building conditions.
• A statement from the engineering office explaining its inspection of the structural, architectural and mechanical considerations, by agreement between the building's owner and the head of the office.
• Compliance with the building sustainability conditions in the Kingdom, especially the standards on saving water and energy, the other requirements for people with disabilities, and the safety conditions.
• The building requirements audit form for the residential units, for inspection by the chosen engineering office.
• The employers' acceptance of all the controls and conditions for a renovation permit.
• The renovation change drawings attached to the application in PDF format, approved by the engineering office.
• If there is a change to the external appearance or an increase in the building area, the neighbour's boundary condition must be met.

It is worth noting that if the building's owner and permit applicant breach any of the conditions above, the engineering office must alert them. If the owner insists on the violation, the engineering office must stop supervising the renovation and report the violation to the municipality. If the engineering office overlooks the violation and does not withdraw from supervision, it exposes itself to legal accountability and a fine.

How much does a renovation permit cost?

When you come to complete the conditions for a renovation permit for a building in the Kingdom, you must pay the fees for this service. To avoid errors, the fees are calculated electronically and automatically from the information submitted. Their value cannot be changed or negotiated, and they are then paid. The fees are paid electronically, through the applicant's bank or at a cash machine. Renovation permit fees in Saudi Arabia vary according to the type of building, the scope of the renovation work and the region where the building stands. They usually range from 1,000 to 5,000 SAR.

What is the fine for not getting a renovation permit?

The fine for not getting a renovation permit and starting renovation without one ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 SAR, in addition to the set fee.

Sources and references

• Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places
• Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing
• Saudi Vision 2030
• The Balady platform
• Saudi Council of Engineers
• Unified National Platform