• A municipality shall have a legal personality with financial and administrative independence, and shall perform its duties pursuant to this Law and its Implementing Regulations.

A - Municipalities are established and named, and their grades are determined, modified, or abolished by a decision from the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs based on a proposal from the District Council, taking into account the demographic, social, urban, economic, and other conditions.
B - Abolished.
C - Abolished.

• The Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs shall, upon the recommendation of the municipal council and the approval of the provincial council, approve a plan delineating the boundaries of each municipality and the area falling within its jurisdiction.

• A. Two or more municipalities may be merged pursuant to a decision by the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs upon the recommendation of the relevant municipal councils and the approval of the provincial council. Said decision shall determine the name, location, and classification of the new municipality, and all matters relating to its rights and obligations.

• B. A municipality may be divided into two or more municipalities pursuant to a decision by the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs upon the recommendation of the provincial council. Said decision shall determine the names, locations, and classifications of the municipalities, and all matters relating to their rights and obligations.

• Without prejudice to the powers vested by laws in certain departments and authorities, the municipality shall organize, maintain, and beautify its area, and maintain public health, comfort, and safety. To this end, the municipality may take necessary measures in relation to:

  • 1. urban planning pursuant to a plan duly approved by the competent authorities;

  • 2. licensing and monitoring the construction of facilities and buildings and all public and private utility networks;

  • 3. maintaining the town’s appearance and cleanliness and establishing, managing, and operating, directly or through outsourcing, public parks, arenas, parks, and swimming areas, and monitoring them;

  • 4. protecting public health, filling in waste swamps, preventing flash flooding, and planting trees around the town to protect against sand;

  • 5. monitoring the quality and supply of food and consumer products, their prices, and prices of public services, as well as monitoring measurement tools in coordination with the competent authorities, and annually placing the stamp thereon;

  • 6. establishing and regulating slaughterhouses;

  • 7. establishing markets and designating outlets;

  • 8. licensing the practice of crafts and professions as well as the opening of shops and monitoring them to ensure compliance with safety and quality measures;

  • 9. fostering safety and comfort, and in particular, taking necessary measures in coordination with relevant authorities to prevent and extinguish fires, demolish dilapidated buildings or parts thereof, and establish public shelters;

  • 10. designating parking spaces for street vendors, cars, and vehicles in coordination with relevant authorities;

  • 11. regulating public transport and their fares in coordination with relevant authorities;

  • 12. expropriating real property for public use;

  • 13. determining and collecting municipal fees and revenues, as well as fines and penalties imposed on violators of municipal laws;

  • 14. supervising the nomination and election of heads of trades and professions, monitoring their work, and resolving disputes which may arise between them;

  • 15. preserving historical buildings in coordination with relevant authorities;

  • 16. promoting cultural, athletic, and social activities in coordination with relevant authorities;

  • 17. cooperating with relevant authorities to combat mendicity and homelessness and to establish nursing homes for the elderly and orphans as well as for the mentally and physically disabled persons, and the like;

  • 18. establishing and maintaining cemeteries and corpse-washing places, and burying the deceased;

  • 19. controlling stray and predatory animals and preventing inhumane treatment of animals;

  • 20. preventing and removing any encroachment on its property and on public property falling within its jurisdiction; and

  • 21. any other powers determined pursuant to a decision by the Council of Ministers.