Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing has approved new guidelines to monitor the illegal subdivision of residential units, reported SPA, as authorities step up efforts to enforce municipal regulations and improve building safety.

The move is aimed at preserving building safety, improving the quality of the residential environment, and boosting the efficiency of municipal oversight across the Kingdom.

The guidelines establish a unified regulatory framework for identifying and addressing illegal subdivision by defining the roles and responsibilities of authorities and setting out procedures for detecting, verifying and handling violations in line with municipal regulations.

The ministry pointed out that the guide defines illegal subdivision of residential units and outlines the regulatory, technical, and oversight requirements and procedures for addressing such violations in a manner that enhances compliance and preserves structural safety and urban planning. It applies to all residential and mixed residential-commercial units that have been illegally subdivided.

It also includes definitions of concepts and terminology related to monitoring illegal subdivision, in addition to an integrated oversight methodology based on proactive monitoring through matching data and lease contracts with issued permits, making use of community reports, and conducting field visits to verify suspected cases and detect violations.