Article 24 of the Saudi Municipalities Law

This article states a general rule and a limit on it:

• The rule: the municipal council takes its decisions in all matters relating to the municipality.
• The limit: this is subject to paragraph (b) of Article 7, which provides that the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs specifies the municipal council decisions that are subject to the Minister's approval or that of a delegate.

Putting the two together means the council's authority to decide is broad and covers everything relating to the municipality, but some of its decisions, those the Minister specifies, are not complete without approval. Paragraph (a) of Article 7 also makes the Minister the administrative reference of the municipality.

This article is connected to Article 23, which lists prominent examples of council decisions, including preparing the draft municipal budget, approving the draft final account, preparing the draft urban plan in order for the Minister to approve it, making regulations, setting fees and fines not exceeding SAR 100 and proposing more, and monitoring revenues, expenditures and the progress of the municipality's work. Article 23 gives the examples, while this article confirms the generality and ties it to the approval limit.

It is followed by Article 25, which provides that a council member's resignation is submitted to the Minister to decide on it. Anyone affected by a municipal council decision who wants to know whether it is one of those subject to approval should check this or consult a lawyer specialized in administrative cases.