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Issuance of Building Permits
Issuance of Building Permits
A Streamlined Digital Process for Obtaining a Building Permit According to the New Saudi Code
1 Required Documents for Permit Issuance
- Updated electronic title deed.
- National ID of the owner or Commercial Registration of the company/establishment.
- Cadastral survey decision (land survey decision).
- Soil investigation report (geotechnical report).
2 Steps to Obtain a Building Permit
- Contracting with a design engineering office.
- Contracting with a supervising engineering office.
- Contracting with a building contractor.
- Submitting the application through the engineering office.
- Payment of fees.
- Reviewing the application by the municipality and issuing the permit.
- Latent defects insurance.
- How quickly all required documents are provided.
- Completion of all engineering plans and studies.
- Review and approval procedures by the relevant authorities.
- The project owner’s responsiveness to any inquiries.
3 Why Choose ghaya for Architecture?
- Over 10 years of experience in issuing building permits.
- Strong relationships with government entities and municipalities.
- A specialized team that handles all procedures.
- Fast and efficient file processing.
- Ensuring full compliance with the new Saudi Building Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Building Permit Service Questions
1. What are the basic requirements to start the building permit process?
To start the process, we need you to provide the following:
• Updated electronic title deed
• National ID “Owner” or Commercial Registration “Company/Institution”
• Survey Decision
• Soil Test Report
2. How has the new Saudi Building Code affected the permit issuance process?
The new Saudi Building Code (SBC) is now mandatory to ensure construction quality and safety. It now requires:
- Detailed engineering plans (Architectural, Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, and Safety)
- Provision of decennial liability insurance (latent defects insurance) for residential buildings.
- Contracting with an approved contractor, an engineering supervisor, and a technical inspection office.
- Ghaya Office ensures that all designs fully comply with the Saudi Building Code to avoid application rejection or delays.
What is “hidden defects insurance,” and is it mandatory?
Yes, it is compulsory insurance for residential buildings (villas) for a period of 10 years. It covers defects that may appear in the structural frame or waterproofing after occupancy. The insurance policy is obtained by the contractor in coordination with the insurance company.
4. How long does the process of issuing a building permit take?
The duration depends on how quickly the requirements are completed (such as the soil investigation report and the insurance document). However, the technical phase within the office typically takes 7 to 14 working days to prepare the drawings, after which the final issuance timeline depends on the review by the competent authorities through the Balady platform.
5. Can I change the contractor or the supervising engineer after the permit has been issued?
Yes, the “Balady” platform allows changing the contractor or the supervising office through the procedures of “Permit Ownership Transfer” or “Data Amendment.” However, this must be done before starting the next construction phase to ensure continuity of the technical reports.
6. What is the validity period of a building permit, and what happens if it expires?
The validity period of the building permit is 3 years. If construction does not commence within this period, an application for “Permit Renewal” must be submitted through the Balady platform. If construction has started and then stopped, an application for “Construction Completion” is required.
7. Is a soil investigation required for every plot of land before issuing the permit?
According to the new Saudi Building Code, a soil investigation report has become mandatory for residential and commercial buildings. It determines the type of foundations (isolated footings, raft foundations, or piles) and ensures the structural safety of the building against cracks resulting from soil settlement.