Dh1,500 fine for hanging clothes in balcony

Dubai does not allow residents to distort the image of the city by hanging clothes, install dish antennas, or place junk in their balconies and those not paying attention to warnings could face penalties as high as Dh1,500, according to a Dubai Municipality official.

“No one is allowed to hang clothes or install dish antennas in the balconies as per the administration order number 3, issued in 1999,” said  Omar Abdul Rahman, Head of Building Inspection Section, Dubai Municipality, told Emirates 24|7.

“But we haven’t faced this problem here. People have good culture and understand their responsibilities towards the society. Even building owners are taking action by asking tenants not to dry their clothes outside.”

However, DM has yet not taken action against errant tenants. “So we haven’t taken any action. If we get any complaint from residents, we will take action. In the first instance, we will give them warning but if they continue to ignore the rule then we will fine them.”

Abdul Rahman said that the fines could range from Dh500 to Dh1500 depending on size of the balcony.

Rules flouted

Most of the master developers in the emirate have already in place regulation that bar residents from hanging clothes or putting up dish antennas in their balconies, but residents are openly flouting the rules.

Notices have been put across many buildings in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Discovery Gardens, Gardens, and upscale locations such as Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and many more.

A number of interim owners associations in Dubai too have taken steps to prevent people living in their building from hanging clothes outside their homes or in the common lobbies. In certain buildings, residents are not being allowed to store junk in their balconies as well.

It is understood that fines could be in the range of Dh250 to Dh500, which can be imposed by the master developer. But in certain communities, the penalty could be even higher.

In September 2010, this website had reported that Nakheel has barred residents from setting up dish antennas in balconies, terraces or even outside windows of their apartments.

“No, dish antennas are not permitted to be placed in the balconies,” a company spokesperson had said.

However, the number of dish antenna have been mushrooming in these new communities. It is not clear what action have the master developers taken or have they imposed fined on any resident ignoring the rule.

A Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) spokesperson told this website on Tuesday: “DMCC is working closely with the owners associations and sub-developers to educate the residents of behaviours that could negatively impact the unique experience of living and working in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.”

No option for many

Madhuri Prakash, a resident of Discovery Gardens,  said: “We stay in an one bed apartment, which does have a lot of space to dry our laundry. But we see a lot of residents, drying their clothes outside their windows. I believe they stay in studios where space is a limitation and they have no other option.”

Although she was aware of  the rules prohibiting drying of clothes outside windows and in balconies, she added: “I know it is not good for the community… but we haven’t heard of anybody being fined for not following the master developer’s rules.”

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