Article 12 of the Saudi Municipal Penalties Regulations
المادة 12 من لائحة الجزاءات عن المخالفات البلدية
Article 12 allows the municipality, on strong suspicion of a serious violation, to secure or impound materials or close the shop for up to three days, with compensation to the owner if the violation is not proven.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- إذا كان لدى الأمانة أو البلدية شك قوي بوقوع مخالفة بلدية جسيمة، فيجوز لها التحفظ على المواد أو الأدوات المتعلقة بهذه المخالفة المشكوك في وقوعها، أو حجزها، أو إغلاق المحل أو المنشأة مدة لا تتجاوز (ثلاثة) أيام، يتخذ بعدها الإجراء اللازم وفقاً للّائحة والقرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة.
2- يتحمل المخالف التلف الذي أصاب المواد أو الأدوات -بسبب التحفظ عليها أو حجزها- المستعملة في المخالفة البلدية الجسيمة وفقاً لما ورد في الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، ويتحمل المخالف كذلك النفقات التي قد تترتب على ذلك التحفظ أو الحجز. وتعوض الأمانة أو البلدية صاحب الشأن عن التلف الذي أصاب تلك المواد أو الأدوات المحجوزة أو المتحفظ عليها وعن أي نفقات قد تترتب على ذلك التحفظ أو الحجز إذا لم يثبت وقوع المخالفة البلدية الجسيمة.
3- تحدد القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة الأحكام اللازمة لما ورد في هذه المادة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 12 explained in plain English
Article 12 gives the Amanah or the municipality a preventive power before the violation is established, and sets safeguards for it:
1) The preventive measure: If it has a strong suspicion that a serious municipal violation has occurred, it may:
- secure the materials or tools connected with the suspected violation, or
- impound them, or
- close the shop or establishment for a period not exceeding three days,
and then take the necessary measure in accordance with the Regulations and their implementing decisions.
2) Responsibility for damage and costs:
- If the violation is proven, the violator bears the damage suffered by the materials or tools used in it because of the securing or impounding, and the costs resulting from it.
- If the serious violation is not proven, the Amanah or the municipality compensates the person concerned for the damage suffered by the materials or tools and for any costs resulting from the securing or impounding.
3) The details: are set by the implementing decisions.
A serious violation, according to Article 1, is one that is likely to cause serious harm to human health or safety or to public health, so this measure is not permitted on mere suspicion of an ordinary violation. It is followed by Article 13, which prevents destroying seized materials unless they are shown to be unfit for use.
Anyone whose shop was closed or whose goods were impounded and the violation was then not proven, and who wishes to claim compensation, may consult a specialized lawyer in administrative matters (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
The municipality strongly suspected that a food warehouse in Jeddah was storing unfit meat, so it closed it for two days and secured the materials. After testing, the materials turned out to be sound and the violation was not proven, so the municipality must compensate the warehouse owner for any damage to the materials and for the costs resulting from the impounding.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 12 of the Saudi Municipal Penalties Regulations
Can the municipality close a shop before a violation is proven?
It may, if it has a strong suspicion that a serious municipal violation has occurred, for a period not exceeding three days.
Does the municipality compensate for damage to impounded goods?
Yes. If the serious violation is not proven, the Amanah or the municipality compensates the person concerned for the damage and for the costs resulting from the securing or impounding.
Who bears the damage to the materials if the violation is proven?
The violator bears the damage suffered by the materials or tools used in the serious violation and the costs resulting from the securing or impounding.
More articles on Impounding Vehicles, Livestock and Goods
- Article 8
Article 8 allows the Amanah or municipality to impound vehicles abandoned in public places for more than seven days and stray livestock for no more than five days, with the violator bearing the costs.
دون الإخلال بأي إجراء منصوص عليه نظاماً، ودون الإخلال بالجزاءات المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من اللائحة، يجوز للأمانة أو البلدية ما يأتي: 1- حجز المركبة أو
- Article 13
Article 13 provides that seizing the materials and tools used in a violation does not lead to their destruction unless they are shown to be unfit for use.
لا يترتب على ضبط المواد والأدوات المستعملة في المخالفة إتلافها إلا إذا ثبت أنها غير صالحة للاستخدام، وتحدد القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة الأحكام والإ
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.