Oman

Oman: Hanging Laundry on Balcony Could Cost You OMR5,000

Hanging a shirt from your balcony can cost you not only OMR 5,000, but it can send you to jail for six months.

A statement issued online by Muscat Municipality stated “Within the endeavour of Muscat Municipality to adhere to the requirements when drying laundry on the balconies of buildings, and to maintain the aesthetic urban façade of Muscat, the Municipality stresses Article (32) of Local Order No. 92/23 for the organisation of buildings in the governorate, as well as the requisites to be taken into account for drying clothes on balconies of residential buildings overlooking public streets; that should be as per the following:

  1. Municipal laws do not permit the hanging of laundry on balconies except after installing elements to cover it.
  2. The clothes on balconies should be covered by one of the following elements: ‘ Masharabiya ‘ or wooden mesh. The perforation of the mesh should be no more than 1.50 cm x 1.50 cm wide, and the concrete openwork should have a depth of at least 10 cm, and perforations no more than 7 cm2.
  3. Any multi-story residential building with more than 3 residential units must provide a balcony for each unit to dry clothes, depending on the architectural conditions of the unit, to be covered with one of the covering materials or elements.
  4. Using a metal mesh as a covering element for openings in buildings (balconies or windows) is prohibited.

The statement also said that according to Article No. 14 of Muscat Municipality law, hanging laundry on the balconies of buildings is considered a violation by law, for which one of these two penalties will be imposed: a fine between OMR 50 – 5,000, or imprisonment for a period of 24 hours to 6 months.

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Source
Times of Oman

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