Minister of Municipal Affairs approves requirements for constructing residential buildings

Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid Al-Hogail, endorsed today, July 15, the requirements for constructing residential buildings of various types, including villas, residential buildings, commercial residential buildings and administrative residential buildings.

These requirements do not apply to hotels and inns located on highways outside urban areas, hotels and serviced apartments, senior and disabled care centers, rest houses, high-rise towers, university housing, and collective housing for individuals.

The requirements covered spatial organization requirements and technical requirements, covering architectural requirements, structural requirements, electrical requirements, mechanical requirements, health work requirements, fire prevention and protection requirements, and material specifications and execution quality.

According to the ministry, this decision supersedes any conflicting decisions. The requirements applie to new building permits and take effect from the date of publication.

These requirements aim to meet the aspirations of the end beneficiaries, following the best international practices.

The requirements for residential villas include that the total building area for the ground floor, including ground annexes, should not exceed 75% of the land area. The building area for the first floor should not exceed 75% of the land area, and the building area for the upper annex should not exceed 70% of the floor area below it, including vertical circulation elements (stairs and elevators). If the upper annex is used as an independent residential unit, an additional parking space must be provided within the property boundaries.

The upper annex in residential villas must have a setback of at least 1.5 meters from the surrounding streets, squares, and fields.

Each villa on a land space of 400 square meters (sqm) or less must have a parking space within the property boundaries, while villas of larger than 400 sqm must have two parking space.