Your building permit has been issued and you need a copy for the contractor or the electricity company, or you want to check the permit of a property you plan to buy, or confirm the permit is valid before starting new work? This guide explains how to look up and print a building permit on Balady, which details to review on the permit, and why a permit sometimes does not appear in your account and how to fix it.
How to Print a Building Permit From Balady
- Log in to Balady via the National Single Sign-On (Nafath).
- Go to the requests and permits section of the dashboard.
- Select the building permit, view its details and print it electronically.
The building permit is printed electronically after the municipal fees are paid. It carries its key details and can be verified electronically, so there is no need for a stamped paper copy from the municipality.
The Building Permit Inquiry Service
Balady offers a building permit inquiry service, useful for checking the details of an existing permit, such as its number, type and status, before buying a property or contracting for work on it.
Which Details Should You Review on the Permit?
| Detail | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Owner's name | If it is a previous owner, you need an ownership transfer before any service |
| Building type and use | Determines what is allowed (residential, commercial, mixed) and what you need for a commercial licence |
| Number of floors and areas | To compare with the building on the ground and spot unlicensed additions |
| Issue date and validity | To know whether renewal is needed before expiry |
| Supervising office and contractor | To confirm the parties responsible for construction |
| Linked deed number | Must match the current deed, otherwise a data correction is needed |
Why Is the Permit or the Print Option Not Showing?
| Situation | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| The request is still in progress | The technical audit or municipality review is not complete | Follow up on the request with your engineering office |
| The permit is approved but cannot be printed | The municipal fee invoice has not been paid | Pay the invoice; the permit is issued after payment |
| The permit is printed but you cannot start | The latent defects insurance policy has not been paid | The permit is not valid for use until the insurance policy is paid |
| An old permit does not appear at all | Issued by the municipality before digitisation and never moved to Balady | Add it to your account or see old permit not showing on Balady |
| The permit is in a previous owner's name | Ownership was not transferred to the new owner | Use building permit ownership transfer |
To understand the application stages and why they sometimes stall: The building permit journey on Balady.
When Do You Need a Copy of the Building Permit?
- When contracting the contractor or the supervising office.
- When applying for the occupancy certificate after construction.
- When obtaining a commercial licence, since the building permit is a required attachment for some activities.
- When applying for later permits on the building, such as restoration or adding and modifying components.
- When sorting units, selling or mortgaging.
Checking Before Buying a Property: A Checklist
- Does the permit appear, and is it in the seller's name?
- Is it valid? If expired, allow time for renewal. Read: Renewing a building permit.
- Do the floors and annexes on the ground match the permit?
- Has an occupancy certificate been issued?
- Does the actual use match the licensed use?
Any "no" means the property needs a fix whose cost may be part of the price negotiation. Read: Bought a building without a permit?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the building permit issued on paper?
The permit is issued electronically through Balady and can be printed after the fees are paid.
I lost my old paper permit. What should I do?
Balady services include issuing a replacement for a lost or damaged building permit, and an engineering office can help you choose the right procedure.
Can I look up the permit of a property I do not own?
The platform offers a building permit inquiry service; the data shown depends on the service's permissions.
My permit is printed. Can I start building?
Not before the latent defects insurance policy is paid; the permit is not valid for use until then.
The deed details on the permit are old. Is that a problem?
Yes, when requesting later services; you need a permit data correction to link it to the current deed.
Related Guides
- Building permits in Saudi Arabia: the complete guide
- Building permit fees
- Which permit does an existing building need?
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that reviews your property's permit and regulatory status and fixes old-permit and wrong-data problems. Learn about our building permit service, or contact us to review your case.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.
