Amman: The Ministry of Public Works and Housing announced on Tuesday measures to strengthen oversight of the implementation of national building codes at construction projects, especially those involving modifications or rehabilitation of existing buildings. The government’s decision to tighten measures comes in response to the collapse of a building in Irbid on July 7, 2025.
According to Jordan News Agency, the Ministry issued official letters to the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), the Ministry of Local Administration and Municipalities, and the Jordan Engineers Association. These letters confirmed that no permits will be granted for the modification, restoration, change of use, or addition of new floors to existing buildings unless a comprehensive structural and technical study is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the national building codes.
The government’s decision follows the recommendations of the Technical Committee for Codes, established under National Building Law No. 7 of 1993 and its amendments, during its meeting held on July 15, 2025. The committee reviewed mechanisms for code implementation in light of the recent Irbid building collapse.
The Ministry emphasized that the structural study must include laboratory testing of structural elements and technical calculations demonstrating the safety and stability of the existing structure, including soil tests when adding new floors. The studies must be reviewed and approved by the Jordan Engineers Association before any construction permits are issued.
The Ministry underscored the importance of full engineering supervision throughout all phases of construction, including reinforcements and additions, in accordance with the National Building Law. Supervision protocols must be updated to cover modification projects of all sizes.
The Ministry called for dedicated, officially registered engineering supervision personnel to oversee projects throughout their duration and for design offices to prepare engineering plans that meet technical standards, which must be reviewed and stamped by the Engineers Association across all specialties.
In line with the newly issued measures, the Ministry highlighted the necessity of establishing an electronic data exchange system between the Jordanian National Building Council, GAM, and other municipalities. The system would facilitate the sharing of information concerning licenses, projects, contracts, surveying areas, and supervision reports, thereby enhancing oversight and ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Regarding contract certification procedures, the Ministry sent official correspondence to the Jordanian Construction Contractors Association, GAM, and the Ministry of Local Administration. The initiative follows inspections by oversight committees that identified violations related to contract certification and registration procedures.
The letters stressed the importance of strict adherence to the certification instructions issued in the Official Gazette on February 2, 2025, and called for the suspension of all contracts found to be non-compliant, along with the suspension of related licenses.
Findings from the oversight committees revealed that some contracts between owners and contractors, registered with the Contractors Syndicate, improperly designate subcontractors with the same expertise as the main contractor, an evident violation of the National Building Law and certification instructions. The Ministry instructed licensing authorities not to issue construction permits based on contracts containing these violations and emphasized the cancellation and suspension of non-compliant contracts.
The Ministry reaffirmed the importance of adhering to Article (5) of the instructions when projects are implemented through joint ventures between two companies. Each participating company must comply with the provisions of Article (10/A), regarding classification, project area limits, and the maximum number of projects permitted annually per company.
In a related matter, the Ministry rejected an exception request from a private sector contractor seeking to undertake additional projects within a single year, emphasizing the necessity for full compliance with existing regulations without exceptions.