MOMRAH to allow issuance of “Building Compliance Certificate” and grant violators a grace period to correct the Visual Distortion Violation till February 2024

The Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH) has announced availability of the "Building Compliance Certificate," which aims to ensure the commitment of owners of commercial and residential buildings and usufructuary rights holders to have their buildings free from visual distortions. This is to provide a healthy and sustainable urban environment, improve the urban landscape in Saudi cities, and enhance the quality of life.

MOMRAH clarified that the corrective period to address violations extends until February 18, 2024, after which it becomes mandatory for all buildings located within the specified roads on the interactive map of the Compliance Certificate in Baladi application. MOMRAH affirmed that the application of the requirements of the Building Compliance Certificate applies to existing buildings, while new buildings will automatically receive the certificate after the issuance of the occupancy certificate.

The violations included in the Building Compliance Certificate procedures guide consist of 19 conditions that must be avoided for the issuance of the certificate. The most prominent of these conditions are as follows: failure to establish the side slope or side access passage for persons with disabilities, according to the Universal Accessibility Standards Guide for Facilities, in addition to presence of separate air conditioning units, visible electrical, sanitary, or mechanical installations on the facade of the building facing the commercial street.

Other violations include the alteration of the designated parking spaces in the building's basement according to the issued license from the municipality, covering balconies without obtaining the necessary permits, the presence of distorting barriers (steel signs) on the setback or roof fence, uncovered and unprotected sewage tanks according to municipal regulations, and the presence of sidewalks implemented by the building owner or the owner of usufruct in a dilapidated or incomplete condition on the commercial street side.

The violations also include the presence of old or dilapidated advertisements, unauthorized writings, or satellite dishes on the balconies of the building facing the commercial street, and the presence of cracks, paint damage, or rust on metal materials with a total area exceeding one square meter. It also includes the presence of dilapidated or incomplete fences, canopies, or sheds beyond the property boundaries.

Furthermore, the violations encompass placing chimneys on the building's facade rather than on the side, or exceeding a height of more than 2 meters above the structure. It also includes the non-compliance of commercial signage for shops with municipal regulations, the presence of construction waste and materials obstructing movement on the building's sidewalk, and the presence of advertising boards for closed commercial establishments with expired or invalid licenses, or the presence of steel foundations for removed signs.

MOMRAH urges owners of commercial and residential buildings and usufructuary rights holders to promptly address all visual distortions of the buildings in accordance with the procedures guide. They can also obtain the Building Compliance Certificate or evaluate the building's compliance through Baladi application via the link onelink.to/baladyapp.