Article 10 of the Saudi Building Code Law
المادة 10 من نظام تطبيق كود البناء السعودي
This 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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على كل من خالف الكود إزالة المخالفة أو تصحيحها بما يتفق مع الكود في مدة تحددها الجهة ذات العلاقة، ويشعر المخالف بذلك.
وإذا لم يُزِل المخالف المخالفة أو يصححها خلال المدة المحددة، تحيل الجهة ذات العلاقة المخالفة إلى اللجنة المنصوص عليها في المادة (الرابعة عشرة) من النظام وفق ما تحدده اللوائح.
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 10 explained in plain English
This article regulates the first step when a violation of the Code occurs, which has two stages:
Stage one - the chance to correct:
- Anyone who violates the Code must remove the violation or correct it so that it complies with the Code.
- This is done within a period set by the related authority; the Law does not set this period itself.
- The violator must be notified of this.
Stage two - referral: if the violator does not remove or correct the violation within the set period, the related authority refers the violation to the committee provided for in Article 14, as the regulations determine. Under Article 14, that committee has jurisdiction to consider violations and impose the penalties provided for in Article 12, and its decisions may be challenged before the Board of Grievances in accordance with its law.
A violation, under Article 1, is any departure from the Code, whether intentional or not, and the related authorities are the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Interior (General Directorate of Civil Defense), the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization.
In practice, the violator is given a chance to correct before referral. Where the violation is dangerous, Article 11 deals with it using stricter procedures. Anyone who receives a notice of violation should consider consulting a lawyer specializing in administrative matters.
Practical example
A company in Khobar received a notice from one of the related authorities that its building violates the Code, with a deadline to correct it. If the company corrects it within the deadline, the matter ends at this stage; if not, the authority refers the violation to the committee provided for in Article 14.
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 10 of the Saudi Building Code Law
What happens when a violation of the building code is found?
The violator must remove or correct the violation within a period set by the related authority, and must be notified of this.
How long is the period to correct a building code violation?
The Law does not set it. The related authority sets it.
What if I do not correct the violation within the deadline?
The related authority refers the violation to the committee provided for in Article 14, as the regulations determine.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Building Code Violations and Penalties
- Article 11
For 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.
عندما تكون المخالفة خطرة، فعلى الجهة ذات العلاقة إشعار المخالف بها، وإيقاف البناء أو الجزء أو القسم الذي يشكل الخطورة أو منع الإشغال أو إخلاء المبنى حتى يزيل ال
- Article 12
This 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.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في المادتين (العاشرة) و(الحادية عشرة) من النظام، يعاقب كل من يخالف الكود أو أيًّا من أحكام النظام أو لوائحه بأي من العقوبتين الآتيتين أو بكلتيه
- Article 13
This 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.
يتولى ضبط مخالفات الكود وتوثيقها مختصون مؤهلون في الكود من الجهات ذات العلاقة، يصدر بتسميتهم قرار من جهاتهم، على أن يكون ضبط المخالفة بموجب محضر تدون فيه المعلو
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.