The Egyptian Official Gazette published in issue number 183, issued on August 22, 2024, a decision by the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, decree number 343 for the year 2024, regarding the settlement fees for building violations in urban communities managed by the New Urban Communities Authority.
According to the Egyptian Official Gazette, the decision was made after reviewing Law No. 59 of 1979 regarding the establishment of new urban communities; Law No. 119 of 2008 and its executive regulations on construction; Law No. 187 of 2023 on settlement of some building violations and regularization of their status; and Presidential Decree No. 48 of 2006 establishing the board of the New Urban Communities Authority.
The decision also took into account Presidential Decree No. 269 of 2018 forming the Council of Ministers; Presidential Decree No. 94 of 2019 appointing the Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities; the executive regulations of the law on settlement of building violations and regularization of their status issued by the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 1121 of 2024; and the Council of Ministers‘ decision in session number „283“ dated March 27, 2024, regarding the settlement fees and regularization of status. It was based on the recommendations presented by the Ministry’s consultant in charge of the housing and utilities sector and the Deputy Minister, head of the housing and utilities sector.
Article One states that the settlement and regularization fees per square meter within the scope of all urban communities managed by the New Urban Communities Authority will be determined by the committees referred to in Article Five of Law No. 17 of 2019 on settlement of building violations and regularization of their status, with an additional 25% increase from the price set by those committees, not exceeding two thousand five hundred pounds.
Article Two stipulates that this decision shall be published in the Egyptian Official Gazette and enforced from the date of the implementation of the executive regulations of the law on settlement of building violations and regularization of their status, and shall annul any conflicting decisions.
In conclusion, the decision by the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities aims to streamline the process of settling building violations and regularizing their status in urban communities managed by the New Urban Communities Authority. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to promote compliance with building regulations and ensure sustainable urban development in Egypt.