Hani Bahasan Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Al-Rawdah and Al-Salamah neighborhoods in Jeddah have several residential buildings that violate building rules. Some buildings have exceeded the allowable number of floors. Their residents crowd the streets, causing arguments and problems with residents of neighboring buildings that can sometimes get physical. Residents questioned how these high-rise buildings were allowed in villa-only neighborhoods. Buildings consist of a large number of apartments without providing sufficient parking and other utilities for residents. Residents in villas complain that their privacy is infringed by these high rises. They said they have complained to the municipality, but to no avail. The director of building codes and licenses at Jeddah Municipality, Yaser Adas, said building licenses are granted according to a neighborhood's building code. High-rise buildings are allowed in some areas and are required to assign parking for each apartment in the ground floor. Some building owners violate the code and use the ground floor to build more apartments. Some also redesign the floors to allow for more apartments. He said when such violations are discovered, the municipality intervenes and stops construction. Fines are also imposed on the owner, the contractor and the supervising engineering office. In some cases, the building is removed. Adas added that the municipality does not authorize utility services to be provided to violating buildings.
