The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing adopts a guide for reserving and storing materials and tools.

Monday 08 June 2026
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The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has adopted a guide for the reservation and impounding of materials and tools, in a regulatory step aimed at unifying municipal policies and procedures, and raising the level of compliance with regulations and bylaws, in order to preserve public safety and health, and enhance the quality of life in Saudi cities. .

The ministry explained that the guide's adoption is based on the regulations governing penalties for municipal violations and their associated implementing rules, serving as a unified regulatory reference applicable across all secretariats and municipalities. This enhances the efficiency of oversight work, prevents procedural discrepancies, and ensures fairness and transparency in enforcing regulations. .

The ministry explained that the guide regulates the procedures for seizing non-compliant materials and equipment, and specifies the mechanisms for transporting and storing them in designated locations that meet the necessary technical requirements, while charging the violator for transportation and security costs, and ensuring that they are not used during the seizure period. It also identifies the cases that necessitate the temporary precautionary closure of establishments to protect public safety and health. .

The ministry also indicated that the guide includes procedures for destroying materials and tools that are unfit for use or hazardous to public safety and health, under the supervision of specialized technical committees, with the violator bearing the associated costs. It also regulates the mechanisms for their retrieval after payment of fines and fulfillment of regulatory requirements, and allows for the sale of seized items at public auction if their owners do not come forward. .

The guide includes detailed procedures that take into account different situations, such as large materials and equipment that are difficult to transport, in which case it suffices to take samples for testing on-site or at the facility, as appropriate. The guide also emphasizes the immediate handling of perishable materials by transporting their samples directly to the competent authority within a period not exceeding twenty-four (24) hours from the date of seizure, specifying testing periods not exceeding three days, and allocating suitable storage areas for materials and equipment until the necessary tests are completed. .

The guidelines stipulate that the precautionary closure of a shop or establishment may not exceed three consecutive days and may not be extended under any circumstances. The site may be reopened if there is no evidence to justify continued closure, thus ensuring the integrity of procedures and protecting public health. .

This approach comes as part of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing’s efforts to enhance the implementation of regulations and bylaws, and to develop its regulatory and supervisory tools, in support of the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives of improving the urban landscape, enhancing compliance, and achieving higher standards of safety and quality of life.

The guide to the seizure and impounding of materials and tools can be viewed by visiting the following link: https://momah.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2025-09/dlyl_alhjz_walthfz_%60ly_almwad_waladwat%20%20V%2017.1alnskht%20alnhayyt.pdf .

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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia