Amendments for additional floor construction endorsed

By Bahaa Al Deen Al Nawas - Sep 26,2019 - Last updated at Sep 26,2019

Under the Cabinet decision, a floor can be built on a building's roof if certain criteria are met (Photo by Johanna Montanari)

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday endorsed amendments to Article 35 of the construction by-law number 28 of 2018, which the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) said will contribute to resolving the problem of the construction of additional units on the roofs of unfinished buildings, according to a statement sent to The Jordan Times on Thursday.

Under the decision, a floor can be built on a building's roof if certain criteria are met, such as that of the floor not exceeding 20 per cent of the roof's area and not being taller than three metres and 25 centimetres, according to the statement.

"This is going to help better the urban fabric, especially when buildings that were only two levels are completed to four levels with a roof apartment, which will belong to the residents of the level under the roof," the Jordan Housing Developers Association President Zuhair Omari told The Jordan Times on Thursday over the phone.

"The by-law was endorsed last March, and this article was not clear enough in regards to unfinished buildings, resolving only new buildings' issues, and now the endorsed amendments have fixed this problem," Omari said, noting that the last floor becomes a duplex house.

The floor or unit on the roof will be constructed in a way that does not allow public access to it, and allows it to be private for those using or residing in it, Omari said, noting that the amendments will help fix any distortions in the urban fabric.

According to the association president, in order for a floor or unit to be built on a roof, building residents need to approve its construction.

With regards to new buildings, if there is one owner, it can be built immediately. If there are multiple apartment owners, all owners must agree to build the additional floor.

GAM Licences Department Executive Director Mhanna Qattan said the amendment preserves the owner’s right to possess the roof unit, noting that the unit should not hinder other residents from accessing shared services on the roof itself.

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