Kuwait amends building regulations for agricultural and livestock areas

The amendments aim to align construction activity with Kuwait’s agricultural and environmental sustainability goals, while ensuring proper land use and compliance with national development plans. The General Authority for Agriculture will continue overseeing adherence to these regulations.

Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs, Engineer Abdullatif Al-Mishari, has issued a ministerial decision amending key provisions of Ministerial Resolution No. 206 of 2009. The changes focus on regulating construction in agricultural and livestock development areas and updating related requirements and specifications.

The amendments define new limits on building percentages and permitted uses for plots across several specialized zones, including agricultural areas, cattle farms, horse breeding areas, and livestock production sites.

In designated agricultural regions such as Wafra, Abdali, and Sulaibiya, the new regulations permit a maximum building 10 percent of the plot area, not exceeding 10,000 square meters. Additionally, reserves may be constructed covering up to 80 percent of the plot, provided they are made of light materials.

Plot holders may dig artesian wells, subject to prior approval from the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).

Across Kuwait, dairy and cattle farms will follow specific allocations from their plot areas such as feed storage and grinding units 5 percent; repair workshops and spare parts storage 1 percent; automated milking building and accessories 3 percent; workers’ housing, admin buildings, and veterinary clinics: no specific percentage, but within approved use and family housing for plot owners limited to 1,000 square meters.

The remaining area must be used strictly for cattle breeding and milk production, including animal pens that meet PAAAFR requirements. Use of the plot for any purpose other than the designated agricultural or livestock function is strictly prohibited.

Plots designated for purebred Arabian horse breeding must not exceed 10,000 square meters, with permitted building coverage capped at 15 percent of the total area.

In livestock zones such as Kabd, Jahra, and Wafra, where plot sizes range between 1,250 square meters and 2,500 square meters, the following building limits apply — residential, warehouse, veterinary, and guard buildings: up to 16 percent, not exceeding 300 square meters in total; the remaining area must remain unbuilt, except for shaded structures for animals, which must not exceed 40 percent of the plot.

For broiler and layer chicken breeding across Kuwait workers’ housing, services, and hatchery must not exceed 5 percent; feed storage and tool/machine storage 5 percent.

For service plots in Plot No. 10 of Wafra Agricultural Area, the maximum building percentage is set at 60 percent of the plot area. Of this, up to 100 square meters may be used for administrative offices.

In designated racehorse and camel breeding zones total building area must not exceed 50 percent of the plot; stables at least 20 percent; break room or office up to 15 percent and warehouse, kitchen, bathrooms, guard room, etc.: up to 15 percent.

These amendments aim to align construction activity with Kuwait’s agricultural and environmental sustainability goals, while ensuring proper land use and compliance with national development plans. The General Authority for Agriculture will continue overseeing adherence to these regulations.