Construction is finished and electricity and water are connected, but from a regulatory standpoint the building's file is not yet closed. The step that closes it is the occupancy certificate, also known as the building completion certificate, which many people call the "occupancy permit". Postponing it is common, and then the need suddenly appears at sale, at leasing for a commercial activity, or when requesting new services for the building.
Search clarification: if you mean the sidewalk occupancy permit (using the sidewalk in front of a shop or for construction materials), that is a completely different service. See our sidewalk occupancy permit service.
What Is an Occupancy Certificate?
The occupancy certificate is an official document issued through the Balady platform that confirms the actual completion of the building and its readiness for use according to the building permit. Simply put: the building permit allows you to build, and the occupancy certificate proves that you actually built according to what was permitted. After it is issued, the building compliance certificate is issued automatically.
Why Do You Need an Occupancy Certificate?
- Closing the construction file and proving the building is officially complete.
- Sale and financing: a completed building with its documents is easier to process with buyers and financing entities.
- Commercial leasing: tenants and commercial activities need a compliant building.
- Later services that require it, such as some permits related to the building.
- The compliance certificate is issued automatically after it.
Two Routes to Issue the Occupancy Certificate: New and Old Permits
| Permit type | How is the certificate issued? | Your role as owner |
|---|---|---|
| Permits issued within Balady's modern journey | Issued through the supervising office after all construction stage reports (construction notices) have been submitted | Make sure the supervisor submits the notices on time |
| Previously issued (old) permits | By applying for the occupancy certificate service on Balady | Select the permit and the engineering office and pay the fees |
In the first route, the supervising office's role is central: if the construction notices are not complete, the certificate will not be issued. So choosing a committed supervision office from the start saves a lot at the end. See our supervision and project management services.
Occupancy Certificate Requirements
According to the official service page and Balady's FAQs:
- A building permit issued 6 months ago or more, on which no occupancy certificate has been issued before.
- Contracting with an engineering office for non-residential buildings.
- Paying the service fees.
- The engineering office prepares a report on the building within the application, and then the municipality approves the certificate.
Steps to Issue an Occupancy Certificate for Old Permits
- Go to the Balady dashboard and choose your user role.
- Choose the "Issuing an Occupancy Certificate" service via "New application".
- Specify the owner type and the applicant.
- Select the building permit for which you want to issue the certificate.
- Select the engineering office and send the application to it.
- The office completes the data and prepares the report.
- The municipality approves the certificate and a payment invoice number is issued.
- After paying the fees, the certificate is issued and can be printed.
Common Special Cases
The permit does not appear when applying
Balady states that if the permit is not found among the beneficiary's permits on the platform, it can be added through the engineering office or the municipality. Read: Your old permit does not appear on Balady?
You have an old occupancy certificate issued by the municipality
You can apply and attach the old certificate without submitting a technical report at first, and the municipality may decide to issue a new certificate based on it, or request a new technical report.
The building has no permit at all
The occupancy certificate is based on a building permit, so you must first obtain an existing building status correction permit.
Occupying part of the building (a building component)
The Ministry has added a separate service called issuing a building component occupancy certificate, which is useful when you need to occupy an added component or a specific part of the building.
The Role of the Supervising Office and Construction Notices in New Permits
In the modern building permit journey, the system does not wait until the end of the project; instead, the supervising office submits reports at the main construction stages. Completing these reports is what allows the occupancy certificate to be issued through it. In practice, this means three things for the owner:
- Choose a supervision office that actually visits the site at critical stages, not one that only signs on paper.
- Do not allow concrete pouring or covering before the supervisor documents the stage.
- Any change during construction must go through amending the drawings and the permit before it is carried out, not after.
What Do We Review Before Preparing the Occupancy Report?
From practice, these are the points most often reviewed to make sure the building is ready and compliant before applying:
- The number of floors, heights and annexes match the permit.
- Setbacks and building boundaries match the survey decision.
- The actual use (residential, commercial, mixed) matches the permitted use.
- Openings, facades and rooftop additions.
- Completion of basic safety works according to the building type.
The Occupancy Certificate at Sale and Leasing
When selling a recently built building, many buyers and financing entities want to confirm that its regulatory file is complete. When leasing for a commercial activity, the tenant needs a compliant building to issue their commercial license and safety license. So issuing the occupancy certificate directly after construction is completed is much easier than trying to issue it years later, when unlicensed modifications may have been added.
How Long Does the Occupancy Certificate Take and What Does It Cost?
The announced service duration is 1 to 10 days; it is an electronic service with fees that can be checked using the fees calculator. The actual time depends on the building's readiness, the completion of construction notices, and whether the work matches the approved drawings.
The Occupancy Certificate and the Building Compliance Certificate
After the occupancy certificate application is completed and the invoice is paid, the building compliance certificate is issued proactively without a separate application. It confirms the building's adherence to the Ministry's requirements for reducing visual distortion and improving the urban landscape. Details in: Building compliance certificate.
Reasons for Delay or Rejection of the Occupancy Certificate
- Applying before 6 months have passed since the permit was issued.
- Construction notices not completed by the supervising office for new permits.
- Work that differs from the approved drawings (a floor, an annex, openings, use).
- A permit that does not appear in the owner's account and has not been added yet.
- An incomplete technical report, or one that does not match the building's condition.
Detailed solutions in: Reasons for rejecting the occupancy certificate.
Quick Checklist Before Applying
- Have at least 6 months passed since the permit was issued?
- Does the construction match the approved drawings? If not, do you need a component modification or status correction first?
- Has the supervisor submitted all construction notices (for new permits)?
- Does the permit appear in your Balady account?
- Is the building non-residential and does it require contracting an engineering office?
The Difference Between Similar Certificates
| Certificate | Issuer | What does it prove? |
|---|---|---|
| Occupancy certificate | Balady platform | The building is complete and ready for use according to the permit |
| Building compliance certificate | Balady platform (issued automatically after occupancy) | The building adheres to urban landscape requirements |
| Safety certificate / license | Civil Defense (Salamah platform) | The activity meets fire prevention and protection requirements |
For details: Occupancy vs. compliance vs. safety certificates.
Occupancy Certificate FAQs
What is the difference between the occupancy certificate and the building completion certificate?
They are two names for the same certificate; the name used on the Balady platform is "occupancy certificate".
When can I apply for the occupancy certificate?
6 months or more after the building permit is issued, provided no occupancy certificate has been issued on it before.
Do I need an engineering office for the occupancy certificate?
Contracting an engineering office is required for non-residential buildings, and for new permits the certificate is issued through the supervising office.
How long does it take to issue the occupancy certificate?
The announced service duration is 1 to 10 days.
Is the compliance certificate issued with it?
Yes, the building compliance certificate is issued automatically after the occupancy application is completed and the invoice is paid.
Is the occupancy permit the same as the sidewalk occupancy permit?
No. The sidewalk occupancy permit is a different service for using the public sidewalk, while the occupancy certificate concerns the completion of the building.
Can an occupancy certificate be issued for a building without a permit?
No, an existing building status correction permit must be issued first.
Close Your Building's File with Abak
At Abak we help you close your building's file officially: reviewing whether the construction matches the permit, preparing the report, and following up the occupancy application until issuance, and handling complex cases such as old permits that do not appear or buildings that need status correction first. Request a consultation or learn about our occupancy certificate service.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.
