Two Identical Houses Can Get Two Different Answers

Muharraq Municipality clarifies rules for turning part of a residential property into a commercial space

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Having a spare room at the front of a house, with a road outside, does not automatically mean it can be turned into a shop.

Muharraq Municipality has reminded homeowners that permission to use part of a residential property for commercial purposes depends on the property's classification, permitted uses and the regulatory requirements applying to the site.

A property classified as residential cannot automatically be partially converted to commercial use. The municipality said the possibility of opening or allocating a space for commercial activity varies from one property to another based on approved classifications, zoning maps and the requirements applicable to each site.

Several factors determine whether commercial use is permitted, including the property's classification and surrounding area, the uses allowed under approved zoning maps, and whether the property is located along a commercial frontage where ground-floor commercial activities are permitted.

The location of the proposed commercial space in relation to the road and the frontage through which commercial access is allowed must also be considered, along with parking and traffic requirements for the proposed activity.

In addition, the building and the intended commercial activity must meet the relevant technical and regulatory requirements.

Under the Planning and Development Regulations, commercial frontages are plots where ground-floor commercial uses are permitted under approved zoning maps. The regulations also establish controls governing the opening of commercial premises on properties located along such frontages.