When you buy land with an issued building permit, a building under construction or an existing house, the permit stays registered in the previous owner's name until you transfer it. That blocks every later service that requires the permit to be in your name: renewal, adding and modifying components, or the occupancy certificate. The solution is the building permit ownership transfer service on Balady. It is one of the simplest permit services if you prepare for it, and one of the most complicated if you discover the problems after buying.
What Does Transferring Permit Ownership Mean?
It is an administrative procedure that changes the permit holder's name on Balady from the previous owner to the new owner once ownership of the property has passed to them. The permit itself stays the same: the same drawings, the same building type and the same validity date.
When Do You Need to Transfer the Permit?
- You bought land with a valid building permit, construction has not started, and you want to build to the same design.
- You bought a building under construction and want to complete it with a new or existing contractor and supervising office.
- You bought an existing house whose permit has expired or which has no occupancy certificate.
- Ownership passed by inheritance or gift and you want to complete services in the heirs' or new owner's name.
Before Buying: 5 Questions That Protect You
The best time to deal with the permit is before you sign the purchase contract, not after:
- Does the permit appear on Balady in the seller's name? Look it up. Read: Building permit inquiry.
- Is it valid or expired? An expired permit means you will need a renewal after the transfer.
- Does the building on the ground match the permit? Any difference becomes your responsibility after purchase.
- Has an occupancy certificate been issued? If not, find out why before signing.
- Is it an old paper permit? It may not appear on Balady and may need registering first. Read: Building permit not showing on Balady.
Basic Requirements for the Transfer
- An up-to-date electronic deed in the new owner's name. Read: Converting a paper deed to an electronic one.
- The building permit number as registered on Balady.
- The building type details.
- Payment of fees, if any.
Steps to Transfer Building Permit Ownership
- Log in to Balady and choose the building permit ownership transfer service.
- Enter the building permit number as registered on Balady.
- Enter the building type details and complete the request.
- Pay any fees and print the permit in the new name.
What Comes After the Transfer? Three Scenarios
| Property status | Next step |
|---|---|
| Land not yet built on, permit valid | Contract a supervising office and contractor and start construction before the permit expires |
| Building under construction | Update the supervising office and contractor, then renew if the permit is close to expiry |
| Completed building without occupancy | Check conformity and apply for the occupancy certificate, or resolve differences first |
Read: Renewing a building permit and The occupancy certificate.
Important Notes
- For instant permits, the transfer must be completed before the permit expires for it to remain valid. Read: Instant permits on Balady.
- If the permit has expired, Balady points to applying for the ownership transfer service first, then renewing if needed.
- Make sure the new deed is electronic and updated in your name before you start.
- If the purchased building differs from its permit, the transfer alone is not enough; you may need existing building status rectification.
The Transfer Does Not Change the Drawings
Transferring ownership is an administrative step that only changes the permit holder's name. It does not modify the drawings, renew the validity or fix any violation. If you plan to change the design after buying, you will need, after the transfer, adding and modifying building components, or a new permit if construction has not started and the change is substantial.
Common Mistakes
- Completing the purchase without checking the permit and its status.
- Assuming the building matches the permit without a technical inspection.
- Postponing the transfer until an instant permit expires.
- Starting modification work before transferring the permit and obtaining a modification permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an expired permit be transferred?
Yes, and after the transfer you can apply for renewal if the building needs completing.
Does the deed have to be electronic?
Updating the deed to an electronic one in the new owner's name makes the transfer and the other permit-related services easier.
Does the transfer change the supervising office or contractor?
Not automatically; the parties are updated in related services such as renewal, depending on the project.
I bought a building with unlicensed additions. What should I do?
Transfer the permit into your name, then deal with the additions through component modification or status rectification; do not assume the seller remains responsible. Read: Bought a building without a permit?
Does the transfer need an engineering office?
The owner submits the transfer on Balady, but the pre-purchase technical inspection and the later services need an engineering office.
Related Guides
- Building permits in Saudi Arabia: the complete guide
- Which permit does an existing building need?
- As-built drawings
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Before you buy, Abak's team reviews the property's regulatory status: the permit and its validity, the building's conformity and its occupancy status, and sets out the steps and expected cost after the transfer. 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.
