Municipality tightens rules on encroachments, introduces fees, hefty penalties
- The new regulation is designed to reduce illegal encroachments, standardize the use of external building spaces, and enhance urban planning standards. By introducing clearer financial obligations and stricter enforcement mechanisms, the municipality aims to improve public safety, preserve visual aesthetics, and ensure more disciplined use of public and semi-public spaces.
Kuwait’s municipality has finalized a new regulatory framework aimed at curbing encroachments and violations on state-owned property, particularly the use of external building spaces for carports, landscaping, and temporary structures. The regulation, which is expected to be issued soon, introduces a structured system of permits, fees, and penalties to govern such uses.
Under the new rules, residents and entities will be allowed to install carport canopies and undertake landscaping outside property boundaries, but only in accordance with strict conditions and fee requirements based on location and land use classification, reports Al-Qabas daily.
Fees will range from 400 fils to 5 dinars per square meter, depending on the type of area and use. Residential, industrial, and agricultural zones are subject to varying charges, while commercial usage attracts the highest rate of 5 dinars per square meter.
Government entities will be exempt from fees when installing carports within their own designated parking areas.
The regulation outlines detailed technical and aesthetic requirements governing external modifications, including landscaping design, fencing standards, and the placement of carports within approved property boundaries.
It also imposes strict controls on temporary tents in agricultural areas. Such structures must remain temporary in nature and comply with limitations on size, height, materials, and placement.
Key restrictions include a maximum area of 50 square meters, a height limit of 3 meters, and a requirement that structures do not obstruct movement, visibility, or public services. The use of tents for residential or storage purposes is strictly prohibited.
The municipality has introduced a tiered penalty system for violations:
- KD 100 to KD 3,000 fines for serious offenses, including unlicensed construction, illegal use of land, or damage to public infrastructure
- KD 500 to KD 1,000 fines for breaches of design, structural, or landscaping regulations, including unauthorized modifications
- KD 100 to KD 500 fines for minor violations such as poor maintenance, neglect of cleanliness, or failure to meet visual standards
Authorities are also empowered to remove violations at the owner’s expense, suspend or cancel permits, and carry out immediate demolition of illegal structures without compensation where necessary.
Licenses issued under the regulation will be valid for two years and may be renewed upon payment of the prescribed fees. However, licenses may be revoked if conditions are violated or if required in the public interest.
Expired licenses must be renewed or fully cleared. Any unremoved structures after expiry will be dismantled by the municipality at the owner’s expense, with no right to compensation.
The new regulation is designed to reduce illegal encroachments, standardize the use of external building spaces, and enhance urban planning standards. By introducing clearer financial obligations and stricter enforcement mechanisms, the municipality aims to improve public safety, preserve visual aesthetics, and ensure more disciplined use of public and semi-public spaces.
