Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Muscat, issued Resolution No 134/2022 regulating parking shades outside the boundaries of residential buildings in the Governorate of Muscat.
The new norms will come into effect soon after the publication of the regulations in the Official Gazette.
The decision is based on Royal Decree No 101/2020 on the issuance of the governorates system and municipal affairs, and on Local Order No 23/92 regarding the organisation of buildings in Muscat.
The decision stipulated that vehicle shades should not be erected outside the boundaries of the residential buildings without proper permission from the civic body.
According to the new regulation, vehicle shades are not allowed in front of the residential buildings in the Al Sarooj area in Shati Al Qurum under Wilayat of Bausher or those located on the streets specified in Annex No 1 attached to this regulation, or any main streets with a width of 30m or more, or double streets.
For the technical specifications, the regulation stipulates that a licensee can erect vehicle shades outside the boundaries of the residential building by adhering to requirements meant for them.
A shade can be erected after leaving a distance of not less than one metre between the edges of the shade and the street. The height of the canopy should not exceed 2.4 metres measured from the parking floor to the lowest point of the interior of the canopy roof, and 3m measured from the parking floor to the highest point of the canopy roof.
Also, the height of any of the canopy poles should not exceed 3m. The length of the canopy roof, measured from the pole to the end of the suspended part of the canopy, shall not exceed 5 metres in the event that vehicles are parked perpendicular to the fence.
The poles of the canopy should be within the boundaries of the plot of land or outside it from the side of the fence and not far from it by more than (0.5) half a metre, and the extension of the canopy roof towards the street is hanged without poles. It is also required that the upper canopy structure be horizontal and parallel to the ground.
The regulation stipulates the use of a high-density polyethene fabric for the parking shade roofing or a similar type, in white or in light colours of beige or light gray. However, the municipality may license the construction of canopies of wood or other materials that give the shape of wood after submitting a three-dimensional design to the municipality.
specifications
Certain specifications need to be adhered to. The width of the parking shade should not exceed 6m, the roof should be flat and based on a two-poles structure only on the side of the fence, and the remaining part should be lifted by suspended wires.
The design should be consistent with the facades of the building, the poles and structure painted with a quality rust-resistant paint, with a colour consistent with the colour of the shade cloth and the fence, and that the excavation work necessary to erect the shade is done manually.
The conditions also include that the parking shelters should not be completely or partially covered on any side by fabric or any other material, the designs and dimensions of the shades shall be according to the approved models, and the floor of the shade is paved with interlocking tiles on one level, taking into account the street levels and the front spaces of the adjacent plots and without high side barriers (kerbstones) or planting basins, in order to ensure the smooth flow of pedestrians, wheelchairs for the disabled, and bicycle paths.
The regulation clarified that the licensee is obligated to make the minimum distance separating the outer wall of the residential building and the street boundary not less than 4m and that vehicle canopies shall be erected to allow the parking of vehicles according to the following conditions: If the distance between the outer wall of the residential building and the street limit is 6m, shades of vehicles shall be built to allow vehicles to be parked perpendicular to the wall, provided that the total width of the shades does not exceed 10 metres, or equivalent to 50 per cent of the front of the wall, whichever is less. The width of which should be 2.5m for each car park.
Vehicle shades should not be erected for an apartment building built on a corner plot of more than one side, with the exception of multiple housing units built on one corner plot, provided that the number of canopies does not exceed the number of housing units.
Also, it is not allowed to make shades for residential complexes that include five villas and more. The total width of the canopies for multiple villas built on more than one side of the plot shall not exceed 10 metres.
The regulation confirmed that vehicle shades might not be erected outside the boundaries of the plot of land on which apartments only are built. If a villa and apartments, vehicle shades are erected on the front side.
The regulation indicated that the licensee must instal a plate bearing the licence number - according to the model specified by the municipality - in a suitable place on the canopy or the external wall. The licensee is also obligated to pay a security deposit to ensure the installation of the canopy in accordance with the requirements and provisions of this regulation. RO 100 needs to be deposited before the issuance of the licence. The licensee is also obligated to pay the licensing fee for setting up the shade of RO 60 for one time for each parking lot of the car shelter.
It is also a condition that the licensee shall bear the legal responsibility for any damage caused to any service lines due to the works necessary to establish the shade. The municipality may also request the licensee to remove it in case of violation of the provisions of these regulations at his expense, without the licensee having the right to claim any compensation.
In the event of a violation, a fine of RO 100 shall be imposed, with the violator obligated to correct the violation or remove the parking shade. In case of failure to correct the situation, there is a provision of a fine of RO 10 for each day of delay, with a maximum of RO 200.
@zainabalnasseri
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
