Awareness drive on building regulations begins

The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources represented by the Directorate General of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate launched an awareness campaign of Building’s Regulation (Build & Commit) in Al Dakhiliyah Municipality on Sunday.

The issue of Building Regulations included in a leaflet will give the stakeholders an opportunity to know the rules and procedures they have to comply with to obtain the services they need.

The regulations are aimed at facilitating and ensuring services within a minimum time.

The aim of the campaign is to facilitate for the citizens the procedures of building their residence or establishing projects.

Yarub bin Qahtan al Yahyai, Director of Municipality of Nizwa, said during the seminar: “The ministry has started issuing a series of simple guidebooks, which includes guidelines for obtaining building permits and required technical and health rules/ conditions to ensure safety of citizens and protect the environment.”

He added: “The governorate will witness a number of awareness events and field visits over through this month in accordance with a comprehensive plan prepared by specialists in different municipalities of Al Dakhiliyah.”

The Department of Technical Affairs in the Municipality reviewed the role of field supervision of facilities under construction and the importance of applying the technical requirements and the regulation of buildings and their objectives.

The list of administrative violations and fines includes: building without a permit, RO 1,000 fine after warning the offender to cease work and remove contraventions at his own expense.

Demolishing establishments and buildings without a permit, RO 500 fine.

Additions on existing building or construction of commercial shops in residential quarters without permit, RO 400 fine after warning the offender to rectify the anomaly within two weeks from the date of warning and to remove the contraventions at his own expense.

Non-removal of buildings that are about to fall, RO 500 without prejudice to the punitive responsibility; removal of the building is at the expense of the owner.

Construction on government lands without title deed and permit, RO 1,000, and offender should remove contraventions within two weeks.

These are some of the administrative violations: continuing construction with an invalid permit or expired insurance, non-provision of drawings and permit at the site; noncompliance with paints and cladding approved by the municipality; non-removal of building debris on continuous basis; not erecting a fence or a signboard according to the specified conditions; contraventing models and drawings approved for fences, car parks and sunshades; erecting temporary workers accommodation at the work site without a permit; maintenance and repair works without a permit; directing rain gutters, air-conditioners, doorsteps, windows and drainage pipes towards others’ properties; not filling up and levelling lower lands that threaten public health and safety; non-submission of a lift validity certificate from a specialised company to the municipality; printing phrases on mosques without a permit or in violation to permit issued in this regard; non-compliance of owners with regard to building maintenance and enclosures of air-conditioners and water tanks; violation of wastewater tanks’ requirements and specification. Fine for each of these violations is RO 100.

A fine of RO 200 will be imposed on contractors starting work without depositing the prescribed insurance; discharging building debris at sites not designated for such a purpose or burning or landfilling it in worksites; not securing excavations with covers or fences to avoid falling of pedestrians or not placing warning lamps at night or any other requirements deemed necessary by the municipality; establishment and construction of commercial pens (poultry and animal) without a permit.

Offender shall rectify the problem at his own expense within two weeks from the date of contravention.

A fine of RO 300 will be imposed for exceeding limits of setbacks and percentage of covered area; excavating foundations contravening drawings and specifications; and using roads, squares and others’ properties for placing vehicle chassis, electric equipment, building materials, remnants or land marks without a permit.

The ministry has started issuing a series of simple guidebooks which includes guidelines for obtaining building permits and technical rules YARUB BIN QAHTAN Director, Municipality of Nizwa