Many owners decide to sort their buildings after construction, then discover that the design itself is the obstacle: one electricity meter for the building, apartments sharing an entrance, undefined parking, or a roof turned to private use. Fixing these mistakes after construction is costly and sometimes impossible without demolition or rewiring. That is why designing for sorting is far cheaper than modifying later. This guide sets out the most common design mistakes, why each prevents sorting and how to fix it, and the principles for designing a sortable building from the first drawing.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Why it prevents sorting | Design solution |
|---|---|---|
| One electricity meter for the building | A meter per unit and one for the common parts are stated requirements | Separate wiring and meters from the start. Read: Electrical load calculation service |
| Overlapping units or unclear boundaries | Hard to define the independent unit in the record | Clear boundaries and a separate entrance for each unit |
| Undefined parking | Later disputes over common parts | Clear parking layout: common or assigned |
| Disorganised tanks, lifts and roofs | Ambiguity in the common parts | Defining shared services on the plan |
| Unlicensed changes after the permit | Non-conformity blocks the request | Any change through the regulatory route. Read: Risks of unapproved changes |
| An annex apartment without a separate entrance | It cannot be treated as an independent unit | An entrance from a common part in line with the permit |
Principles for Designing a Sortable Building
- Each unit with a separate entrance from a common part.
- Electricity and water connections that can be separated.
- An accurate AutoCAD plan matching the construction.
- Defining the common parts on the drawings from the start. Read: A unit's share of the common parts.
- Laying out parking and defining assigned spaces on the plan.
- Service rooms and tanks in easily accessible common parts.
Read: Designing a residential-commercial building and Apartment sorting requirements.
For Off-Plan Projects
If you sell before completion, the sorting plan must be clear before sale because it is the basis of buyers' contracts. Read: The sorting plan before sales and Off-plan unit sorting.
For Existing Buildings
- Start with a preliminary assessment. Read: Is your building eligible for sorting?.
- Plan the meter separation with the service provider.
- Correct any unlicensed changes before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can separate meters be installed in an existing building?
Usually yes, by modifying the connections and coordinating with the service provider, but it costs more than early design.
Does sorting affect facade design?
Not directly, but it affects the entrances and the internal layout.
Can a villa be designed to be sorted into apartments?
It depends on the permit and the use; discuss it with the office before design. Read: A villa with a separate rental apartment.
When should I think about sorting?
At the architectural design stage, before the permit is issued.
Is a sortable design more expensive?
The cost difference is limited with early planning, compared with the cost of modifying after construction.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that designs your building to be sortable from the first drawing, with separate entrances and meters and defined common parts, and prepares the sorting plan on completion. See our architectural drawings to the Saudi Building Code service, or contact us.
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.