Building your home from plot to occupancy certificate: the Balady building permit, engineering offices, contractor and insurance

Building a house is a long project, and most costly mistakes happen at the start: an unreviewed design, a contractor without a clear contract, or missing supervision. This guide orders the stages as they appear in the official services and links to a detailed guide for each.

1) Before the permit

• Title deed and survey report: the engineering office selects the plot's survey report when starting the permit application1.
• Soil: know the soil type before design; expansive soils and sabkha need special solutions. See soil and foundations.
• Budget and programme: decide what you want (rooms, floors, basement, pool) before going to the designer; changes during construction cost more.

2) The building permit on Balady (official steps in brief)

1. The owner or their representative authorises a design engineering office to start the permit application1.
2. The office accepts, selects the survey report, prepares the architectural and structural designs, attaches the files and approves the undertakings1.
3. The application goes to the insurer, which assigns a technical inspection company; the inspector checks compliance with the Saudi Building Code, returning it to the office for corrections if needed1.
4. The municipality reviews it and, if approved, issues a design approval certificate1.
5. Contracting stage: the supervising office and then the building contractor are assigned, each approving the assignment1.
6. The insurance policy request goes automatically to the insurer, and a payment link is sent to the contractor and beneficiary1.
7. Municipal fees are paid and the permit is issued, but the permit is not valid for use until the insurance policy is paid1.

Per the service page: submission is online only, the service duration is 10 days, and fees are shown by the page's fee calculator1. On the insurance itself: hidden defects insurance in the handover guide.

3) Construction and supervision

• The contractor agreement: write the scope, materials, dates, payments and warranties clearly (practical advice).
• The supervising office is part of the permit; make sure its visits at key stages (excavation, rebar before pouring, waterproofing) are documented. See rebar and concrete basics.
• Photograph services before they are closed up: electrics and plumbing in walls, ceilings and floors. See the renovation checklist.
• Ask for sign-off records for concealed work before it is covered (practical advice).

4) The occupancy certificate

1. Select the building permit the certificate is for, then the engineering office2.
2. The office completes the data and prepares the report, then the municipality approves the certificate2.
3. After payment the occupancy certificate is issued, and a compliance certificate is generated automatically with it2.

The service duration per its page is 10 days, online only2. Hidden defects insurance runs for 10 years from completion and issue of the occupancy certificate3. Next: handover, then the preventive maintenance plan.

5) Guide map by stage