Article 2 of the Saudi Municipal Penalties Regulations
المادة 2 من لائحة الجزاءات عن المخالفات البلدية
Article 2 sets the penalties for municipal violations: a fine up to SAR 500,000 (SAR 1 million if serious), closure up to two weeks, license cancellation and a ban up to two years if serious, doubled on repetition.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في أحكام اللائحة، ودون الإخلال بأي عقوبة أشد منصوص عليها نظاماً، يعاقب كل من ارتكب مخالفة بواحد (أو أكثر) من الجزاءات الآتية:
1- غرامة لا تتجاوز (خمسمائة) ألف ريال، ولا تتجاوز (مليون) ريال إذا كانت المخالفة مخالفة بلدية جسيمة. وتجوز مضاعفة الجزاء في حالة تكرار المخالفة. وتتعدد الغرامة بتعدد من وقعت منهم المخالفة. ويجوز بأمر من رئيس مجلس الوزراء رفع الحد الأعلى للغرامة المنصوص عليها في هذه الفقرة بعد الاتفاق بين الوزير ووزير المالية.
2- إغلاق المحل أو المنشأة لمدة لا تزيد على (أسبوعين). وتجوز مضاعفة الجزاء في حالة تكرار المخالفة.
3- إلغاء الترخيص البلدي للمحل أو للمنشأة ومنعهما من مزاولة النشاط لمدة لا تزيد على (سنتين) إذا كانت المخالفة مخالفة بلدية جسيمة.
على أن يقصر إيقاع الجزاءين الواردين في الفقرتين (2) و(3) من هذه المادة على المكان الذي وقعت فيه المخالفة. وتحدد القرارات التنفيذية الصادرة بموجب اللائحة الإجراءات المترتبة على إيقاع أي من الجزاءين الواردين في الفقرتين (2) و(3) من 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 2 explained in plain English
Article 2 is the core of the Regulations. It sets the penalties imposed on anyone who commits a violation, one or more of them, subject to the provisions of the Regulations and without prejudice to any more severe penalty provided for by law:
- Fine: not exceeding SAR 500,000, and not exceeding SAR 1 million for a serious municipal violation.
- The penalty may be doubled on repetition of the violation.
- The fine is multiplied by the number of persons who committed the violation.
- By order of the Prime Minister, the maximum fine may be raised after agreement between the Minister and the Minister of Finance.
- Closure of the shop or establishment for a period not exceeding two weeks, which may be doubled on repetition.
- Cancellation of the municipal license of the shop or establishment and a ban on carrying on the activity for a period not exceeding two years, and this applies only if the violation is serious.
The text limits the penalties of closure and license cancellation to the place where the violation occurred; if the business owner has several branches, closure does not extend to any branch other than the violating one. The implementing decisions set the procedures for imposing these two penalties.
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. Determining each violation and its corresponding penalty is done by a schedule issued by decision of the Minister under Article 3, taking into account gradation and proportionality. Anyone on whom a penalty has been imposed that he considers excessive may consult a specialized lawyer in administrative matters (the Board of Grievances).
Practical example
A restaurant in Jeddah was found using spoiled food, so the violation was treated as serious because it harms human health. The fine can reach SAR 1 million, and the license of that branch can be canceled and the branch banned from the activity for a period not exceeding two years, without this extending to the restaurant's other branches.
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 2 of the Saudi Municipal Penalties Regulations
What is the maximum fine for a municipal violation?
It may not exceed SAR 500,000, or SAR 1 million if the violation is serious. The maximum may be raised by order of the Prime Minister after agreement between the Minister and the Minister of Finance.
How long can a shop be closed for a municipal violation?
No more than two weeks, which may be doubled if the violation is repeated.
Does closure apply to all branches of the shop?
No. The penalties of closure and license cancellation are limited to the place where the violation occurred.
When is a municipal license canceled?
If the violation is serious, and the ban on carrying on the activity is for a period not exceeding two years.
More articles on Municipal Fines and Shop Closure
- Article 3
Article 3 provides for a schedule issued by the Minister setting violations and their penalties with gradation and proportionality, those doubled on repetition, and those where the violator must remove the violation within a period.
1- يصدر بقرار من الوزير جدول تُحدد فيه المخالفات والجزاءات المقابلة لها المنصوص عليها في المادة (الثانية) من اللائحة، التي تطبق على كل منها، وفق آلية حوكمة واضح
- Article 6
Article 6 allows, with the Minister's or his delegate's approval, the penalty decision for a repeated violation to include publishing its operative part at the violator's expense, once the decision is final or the judgment becomes conclusive.
يجوز -بموافقة الوزير أو من يفوضه- تضمين القرار الصادر بتحديد الجزاء المقرر للمخالفة في حالة تكرارها؛ النص على نشر منطوقه على نفقة المخالف في صحيفة (أو أكثر) من
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.