New Construction Code Set for Residential Buildings in the Kingdom

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing has updated its construction requirements for residential buildings.

The ministry’s new provisions include an allowance for an increase in the height and number of stories of residential villas, as well as for their side walls and roofs. The provisions also allow for an increase in the proportions of the built area of residential buildings.

Specific provisions include requirements that the total building area for the ground floor of residential villas should not exceed 75% of the land area, and that the building area for an upper  annex should not exceed 70% of the area of the floor which precedes it. Villas on a land space of 400 square metres or less are required to have at least one parking space in the land area, and villas on a land space of more than 400 square metres are required to have no less than two parking spaces on the land area.

These new provisions aim to enhance public health and safety measures in line with the requirements of the Saudi Building Code.