Judicial principles and studies
Development Dues, Change of Land Use, and Prohibition on Claiming
Summarizes the judicial stance that imposing special development dues for a change of land use lacks legal basis, and outlines the law's limited conditions for levying such dues and related compensation rules.
Updated: 10 September 2026
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Subject
The study addresses whether special development dues can be lawfully levied when the use of a land parcel is changed, and how statutory provisions limit when dues or compensation may be imposed.
Summary
Judicial rulings have established that imposing special development dues solely because of a change in land use lacks legal foundation; the statutory cases permitting such dues are listed restrictively (see the referred provision) and are intended to cover expenses for preparing or implementing planning or construction schemes. The provision on compensation (the referred article) applies to compensation imposed by the regional committee as a consequence of regulatory decisions about granting or refusing licenses, and does not extend to changes of use. Committees that impose dues must state the objectives and works justifying the levy and bear the burden of proving that a lawful basis exists; those objectives must be specified at the time dues are imposed, not retroactively after collection. A landowner's application for a change of use does not by itself legitimize imposing development dues where the authority to change the use rests with the administrative body.
Practical significance
Administrative bodies should articulate in their decisions the specific works, expenditures and objectives justifying any development dues at the time of imposition and be prepared to prove those grounds. The summary underscores that an applicant's request for change of use does not automatically authorize charging dues without a clear legal basis. This content is a general educational summary, not a judicial text or legal advice.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.