Browsing the services on Balady, you will notice each one is tagged with labels such as "electronic only" and "instant" or "not instant". Many owners expect the building permit to be issued instantly on submission, then are surprised by audit, review and contracting stages. This article explains what an instant service means, why a new building permit is not classified as one, which services are affected, and how to shorten your application's overall time in practice.
What Does an Instant Service Mean on Balady?
An instant service produces its output immediately after the data is entered and the fees paid, with no human or technical review stage. A non-instant service passes through audit or approval stages before issue, and has a published processing time on its service page.
| Instant service | Non-instant service | |
|---|---|---|
| Review | No review before issue | Technical audit and/or municipality review |
| Issue | Immediately after payment | After the stages are complete and payment |
| Engineering office role | Limited or not required | Essential for preparing drawings and addressing comments |
Is a New Building Permit Instant?
No. Balady classifies the building permit issuance service as electronic only, not instant and subject to fees, with a published service time of 1 to 10 days. That is because the application passes through stages:
- Preparation of the designs by the design office.
- Technical audit for conformity with the Saudi Building Code through a technical inspection company.
- Municipality review and issue of the design approval certificate.
- Contracting the supervising office and contractor, and issuing the insurance policy.
Details of these stages in: The building permit journey on Balady, step by step.
Why Does a Building Permit Need Review?
A building permit defines a building that will stand for decades and affects neighbours, the street and safety. So the designs go through a technical audit to confirm conformity with the Saudi Building Code, then the municipality to confirm the area's requirements (setbacks, building ratios, heights, parking). This review also protects you: a mistake found on paper is far cheaper than one found after the concrete is poured. Read: Villa building regulations in Riyadh.
What About Other Construction Permits?
Services such as the restoration permit, the demolition permit, the site preparation permit and the occupancy certificate also appear on the platform as not instant, with a published time of 1 to 10 days, because they require drawings or reports from an engineering office.
Published Time vs. Actual Time
The published time (1 to 10 days) is the service's processing time, not the total time from project idea to printing the permit. The total includes:
- Preparing the deed and survey decision.
- Preparing the designs in all disciplines.
- Rounds of comments, if any.
- The supervisor and contractor accepting the assignment.
- Paying the fees and the insurance policy.
Read: How long does a building permit take and what does it cost?
How to Make Your Application Faster
- Prepare an updated electronic deed and a valid survey decision before starting. Read: Updating a paper deed.
- Choose an office that designs to the code from the start to reduce rounds of comments.
- Settle your design decisions before submission; changes after the audit restart the cycle.
- Agree in advance with the supervising office and contractor so the contracting stage is not delayed.
- Pay invoices as soon as they are issued.
Mistakes That Lengthen the Process
- Submitting incomplete drawings hoping to fix them later.
- Changing the design after the technical audit has approved it.
- Choosing a contractor who has not completed their data on the platform.
- Delaying the insurance policy payment; the permit is not valid for use until it is paid.
Read: Why are building permits rejected?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some websites mention an instant building permit?
The platform offered instant tracks for some cases in earlier periods, but Balady's current description of the building permit issuance service classifies it as not instant. Always rely on the official service page.
Does the 1–10 day period include preparing the drawings?
The published period is the service time; the total time depends on how ready the drawings are and how fast comments are addressed.
If I have an earlier instant permit, do different rules apply?
Some rules depend on the permit type, such as transferring ownership before it expires. Read: Transferring building permit ownership.
Can I start building before the permit is issued?
No, building before the permit is a violation that can lead to fines and a stop order. Read: Fines for non-compliant buildings.
Related Guides
- Building permits in Saudi Arabia: the complete guide
- Building permit fees
- Contracting an engineering office
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office in Riyadh that designs to the code from the start and follows the application through every Balady stage, reducing rounds of comments and the overall time. Learn about our building permit 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.
