Regulations of Municipal Violations Penalties

Purpose and scope

• Sets penalties for municipal violations; the minister issues a table of violations and their penalties (Article 3).

Key rules, rights and obligations

• The fine may not exceed five hundred thousand riyals, or one million for a grave violation; it may be doubled on repetition and applies to each violator (Article 2).
• Violations are recorded in reports by officials named by decision (Article 4).
• A vehicle or machine abandoned in a public place for more than seven days may be impounded (Article 8).

Violations, penalties and common problems

• Exceeding a building permit by extra coverage or floors or ignoring setbacks: removal at the violator's expense, in addition to the fine (Article 9).
• Building without a permit: removed if it conflicts with planning lines; otherwise it may be regularised with a penalty if it meets building rules and does not harm neighbours (Article 10).
• For repeat violations, the decision may be published at the violator's expense once final (Article 6).

Procedures and key deadlines

• Penalties do not affect a harmed party's right to sue for compensation, and the violator may challenge the penalty as the law provides (Article 7).
• Anyone who helps uncover a violation may be rewarded with up to a quarter of the fine collected (Article 16).

An advisory summary prepared by Al-Bayan Al-Wadih Law Firm. It is not an official text and does not replace the law, its implementing regulations, or advice from a specialised lawyer. The official published text and its amendments prevail.