Article 5 of the Saudi Nuisance Law
المادة 5 من نظام الأنشطة المقلقة للراحة أو الخطرة أو المضرة بالصحة أو البيئة
The article authorizes the assigned employees to enter premises subject to the Law during official working hours to verify the conditions and catch violations, and requires owners to allow them after they show their identity.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقوم الموظفون المكلفون من قبل الجهات المختصة بدخول المحلات الخاضعة لهذا النظام في أوقات العمل الرسمية؛ لغرض التأكد من تنفيذ الشروط المطلوب توافرها وضبط المخالفات والتحقيق فيها، وعلى أصحاب المحلات تمكين هؤلاء الموظفين من القيام بمهمتهم بعد إبراز ما يثبت هويتهم، وتحدد اللائحة التنفيذية أوقات العمل الرسمية لكل نشاط وإجراءات ضبط المخالفات والتحقيق فيها وفق نماذج تحدد لهذا الغرض.
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 5 explained in plain English
This article regulates inspection of premises subject to the Law, and contains the following provisions:
- Who inspects: the employees assigned by the competent authorities.
- When: during official working hours, and the Implementing Regulations specify the official working hours for each activity.
- For what purpose: to verify that the required conditions are met, and to catch violations and investigate them.
- The duty of the premises owner: to enable these employees to carry out their task, after they show proof of their identity.
- Procedures: the Implementing Regulations specify the procedures for catching and investigating violations according to forms set for that purpose.
The article balances two matters: enabling the competent authority to supervise, and tying this supervision to official working hours and to the employee showing proof of identity.
Violations that are caught lead to the penalties stated in Article 6, including a fine not exceeding thirty thousand riyals for violating the Law's provisions with closure of the premises until the violation is removed. This article is also linked to Article 4 on who manages the premises. A person facing catching or investigation procedures at his premises and wanting to assess his position may consult a lawyer specializing in administrative cases.
Practical example
An employee assigned by the competent authority came to a workshop owned by Nasser in Riyadh during official working hours and showed proof of his identity. Under this article Nasser must enable him to verify that the required conditions are met and to catch any violation.
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 5 of the Saudi Nuisance Law
Must I allow the inspector into the premises?
Yes. Owners of premises must enable the assigned employees to carry out their task after they show proof of their identity, during official working hours.
What is the purpose of the assigned employees entering the premises?
To verify that the required conditions are met, and to catch violations and investigate them.
Who sets the official working hours for inspection?
The Implementing Regulations specify the official working hours for each activity, and the procedures for catching and investigating violations.
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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.