The Saudi Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has approved the updated executive rules for the penalties regulation on municipal violations, forming a unified regulatory framework for applying municipal penalties and controlling monitoring, assessment, and fines mechanisms, contributing to improving compliance efficiency across the Kingdom’s cities.

The ministry confirmed that the updated rules classify violations into major and minor, specifying appropriate penalties for each, including financial fines, temporary closures, and license cancellations, with an automatic escalation of penalties upon repetition.

It explained that fines may reach up to two million riyals for some major violations and up to one million riyals for other violations. These fines are calculated based on the type of violation, the classification of the municipality or secretariat, and the size of the establishment. Offenders of minor violations are granted a grace period to correct the situation before penalties are imposed, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The updated rules stipulate that violations are monitored and recorded electronically through the “Mumtaz” and “Efaa” platforms to ensure speedy procedures, accurate documentation, and transparent processing.

The rules also regulate the municipalities’ mechanism for seizing vehicles or tools abandoned in public places and selling them at public auctions, in addition to enabling them to disconnect electrical services from sites that do not respond to correcting major violations according to the governing rules.

The adoption of these executive rules comes as part of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing’s efforts to develop the regulatory system in the municipal sector, improve compliance efficiency, enhance quality of life, and protect public facilities, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The executive rules for the penalties regulation on municipal violations can be accessed through the provided link.