المملكة: Requirements for children’s hospitality centers and homes for the elderly: providing parking lots and facades without stickers

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing issued a set of new requirements regulating social services buildings, with the aim of raising the standard of compliance to address manifestations of visual distortion, provide a suitable environment for beneficiaries, and support investors in this field.
The Ministry stressed the need for building facades to be free of stickers, except for those indicating entry and exit routes, working times, electronic payment methods, and instructions from government agencies. It also allowed the installation of one advertising billboard or poster on the facade in accordance with the regulations and instructions.

In a related context, the Ministry prohibited the closure of parking lots approved in the building permit for shops or commercial establishments that form part of an existing building, and prohibited the use of the center or club to store materials unrelated to the activity.
The Ministry also obligated service providers to provide a first aid box, security cameras, and electronic payment methods, to ensure the safety of beneficiaries and provide integrated services.
The Ministry has set specific conditions for establishing private children’s hospitality centers, as the center must be located on a commercial or residential street, and the distance between it and the nearest kindergarten, kindergarten, or nursery center must be no less than 500 meters.
It also stipulated that the location be at least 50 meters away from the intersections of commercial and main streets, and from gas stations or gas stores at a similar distance.
The Ministry obliged the outdoor playgrounds to be shaded and architectural treatments were placed on the facades of the floors overlooking the neighbors to ensure privacy.

With regard to private children’s hospitality centers attached to workplaces, the regulations allow for the possibility of establishing them in wedding halls, malls, commercial and residential complexes, companies, government agencies, factories, or any location permitted by the supervising authority.
The regulations set similar conditions for social clubs for the elderly, day care centers for people with disabilities, social shelter centers, family counseling centers, and civil research and studies centers, as these centers must be on a commercial street, in an easily accessible location, and far from industrial or commercial areas. Gas stations are at least 50 meters apart.