In force Last amended 12/9/1446 AH
Saudi Building Code Law
نظام تطبيق كود البناء السعودي
Requires compliance with the Saudi Building Code in public and private construction, and covers the responsibilities of designers, contractors and supervisors, occupancy certificates, violations, penalties and the violations committee.
- Articles
- 16
- In force
- 16
- Amended
- 4
- Issued
- 26/4/1438 AH
Issued by: مرسوم ملكي رقم م / 43 بتاريخ 26 / 4 / 1438 هـ · قرار مجلس الوزراء
Each article shows the official Arabic text, which is the only legally binding version, followed by our plain-English explanation.
Browse Building Code Law by topic
Scope of the Saudi Building Code4 articlesUpdating the Building Code and Its Regulations2 articlesBuilding Permits and Occupancy Certificates2 articlesResponsibility of Designers, Contractors and Supervisors2 articlesBuilding Code Violations and Penalties4 articlesBuilding Code Violations Committee1 article
Articles of the Saudi Building Code Law
- Article 1This article defines the terms of the Law on Implementation of the Saudi Building Code, such as the Code, building, designer, contractor, supervisor, building permit, occupancy certificate, practice license and dangerous violation.Amended M/204
- Article 2The article applies the Building Code to all public and private construction and to existing buildings when they are modified, with gradual application within 5 years and a ban on applying any code other than the Saudi Code.
- Article 3The Ministry follows up and monitors the application of the Building Code, without prejudice to the right of the related authorities to carry out their tasks and responsibilities under their own laws.
- Article 4This article sets the tasks of the National Committee: studying comments on the Code and proposing amendments, preparing guidance and taking part in training, and representing the Kingdom in regional and international organizations.
- Article 5This article provides for the Building Code to be updated and reissued every 5 years by decision of the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
- Article 6This article makes compliance with the Code, once the Law is in force under the gradual application, one of the requirements for obtaining permits for building, restoration, modification or change of use.
- Article 7This article requires design, supervision and execution to be carried out under contracts with specialists who hold practice licenses.
- Article 8This article requires the designer, contractor and supervisor to carry out their work in accordance with the Code, and makes the supervising designer and the contractor jointly liable to compensate the owner for collapse and defects that threaten the soundness and safety of the building.Amended
- Article 9This article bars occupying a building without an occupancy certificate according to the occupancy classification in the Code and under the procedures and periods in the regulations, and makes the certificate an essential condition for the full release of electric current.Amended
- Article 10This article requires anyone who violates the Code to remove or correct the violation within a period set by the related authority after being notified, failing which the violation is referred to the committee provided for in Article 14.
- Article 11For a dangerous violation, this article requires the related authority to notify the violator and stop the construction, bar occupancy or evacuate the building until the violation is corrected, and refer it to the committee within 5 working days.
- Article 12This article punishes anyone who violates the Code, the Law or its regulations with a fine of up to SAR 1 million per violation in one building, a suspension of the practice license for one month to one year, or both.
- Article 13This article assigns detecting and documenting Code violations to specialists qualified in the Code from the related authorities, named by decision of their authorities, with detection made by a report completed as the regulations determine.
- Article 14This article creates one or more committees in each region, of at least 3 members including one with a sharia or legal qualification, to consider violations and impose penalties, with grievances against their decisions heard by the Board of Grievances.
- Article 15تعد اللجنة الوطنية - خلال سنة من تاريخ نشر النظام - اللوائح، بما في ذلك لائحة تشتمل على تصنيف مخالفات الكود، وتعتمد بقرار من وزير التجارة…Amended M/204
- Article 16This article provides that the Saudi Building Code Law takes effect one year after its publication in the Official Gazette and repeals every provision that conflicts with it.