Guides / Daily life / Laws & etiquette
Municipality fines in Qatar: laundry on balconies, littering, abandoned cars and the Public Hygiene Law
What the Public Hygiene Law bans in homes, streets, beaches and car parks, how much the fines can be, how municipal inspectors issue and settle violations, and how to report problems you see.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- The law
- Public Hygiene Law No. 18 of 2017, amended by Law No. 6 of 2023
- Minor violations
- Settled with a fixed amount, mostly QAR 300 to QAR 1,000 (2018 table)
- Court maximum
- Up to QAR 25,000, and prison for serious dumping
- Report a problem
- Oun app or call 184 (free)
Qatar's Public Hygiene Law (Law No. 18 of 2017, amended by Law No. 6 of 2023) sets out what you must not do in streets, parks, beaches and even on your own balcony, roof and building corridors. It is enforced by municipal hygiene inspectors who can work anywhere in the country, and it applies to everyone: citizens, residents and visitors. Most everyday mistakes, such as drying clothes on a balcony that faces the road or dropping a cigarette butt, are settled on the spot with a fixed amount, but serious cases go to court where fines reach QAR 10,000 or QAR 25,000 and prison is possible. This guide walks through the rules at home first, then in public, then cars, barbecues and animals, and finally what to do if you get a violation or want to report one. The point of the law is a clean city, not collecting fines, so a little care avoids almost all of it.
Before you start
- Know which way your balcony and windows face: if they overlook a road or public place, nothing should be hung or dried there
- A drying rack for inside the flat, a tumble dryer, or a laundry room or roof space your building allows
- Where your building's or street's rubbish containers are, and that bags go inside them, not beside them
- A plan for old furniture, mattresses and building waste before you move or renovate (ask your building management or call 184 first)
- If you travel for long periods, someone who can move or check your car so it is not treated as abandoned
- Your QID and the Oun app installed, so you can report problems or follow up a case
- Photos and any papers if you want to dispute a violation (the copy of the violation report the inspector gave you)
Step by step
Understand the law and who enforces it
The Public Hygiene Law came into force in early 2018 and replaced an older 1974 law. It was amended in 2023 by Law No. 6, which tightened the rules on abandoned vehicles and dumping and revised the settlement amounts. Hygiene inspectors from the Ministry of Municipality have judicial powers, which means they can record a violation and hand you a copy on the spot, and they can do this in any municipality, not just their own. Traffic patrols and cameras at the national command centre have also been used to spot violations. The rules cover public places and also the outside of private buildings, such as balconies, roofs, façades, corridors and parking areas.
Read guide: Laws and etiquette every Qatar resident should know →Dry laundry inside or out of public view
Drying or cleaning clothes, carpets, blankets and similar items outside windows or on balconies that overlook a road or public place is banned. It is one of the most common violations among new residents, because hanging washing outside is normal in many home countries. When the law came in, the settlement amount for this was QAR 500. Use a drying rack inside, a dryer, or a laundry area your building provides that cannot be seen from the street. Many buildings and compounds also have their own rules, which can be stricter than the law.
Keep balconies, roofs and shared areas clean
Throwing or storing waste on roofs, balconies, corridors, walls, building façades and in car parks is banned even on private property. Owners and occupants must keep corridors, roofs, façades, parking spaces and the pavement next to the building clean. In practice, a tenant is responsible for their own balcony and what they leave outside their door, and the landlord or building management for shared areas. If shared areas are dirty, raise it with the building management first, and use Oun if nothing happens.
Read guide: Renting a home in Qatar →Put rubbish in the containers, bagged
Leaving rubbish bags, food waste or papers in front of houses, on the road or beside a full container is a violation, and so is putting waste anywhere the municipality has not designated. Tie bags and put them inside the bin; if the bin is always full, report it rather than stacking bags next to it. Do not let water from washing, a leaking pipe or an overflowing tank run onto the road, and do not wash cars or equipment in places that are not allowed. These smaller violations had a settlement amount of QAR 300 in the 2018 table.
Read guide: Reporting municipal problems with the Oun app and the 184 call centre →Do not litter or spit in public
Throwing cigarette butts, tissues, cans, bottles or papers on pavements, roads, parks, beaches, the Corniche or the sea is banned, and so is spitting, urinating or defecating in public places. The settlement amount for littering and spitting was QAR 500 in 2018, but if the case goes to court the fine can reach QAR 10,000, and littering can also bring up to six months in prison. Keep a small bag in the car for rubbish and use the bins at parks and beaches. Leaving food waste in parks, on beaches or on open land is treated the same way.
Get rid of furniture and building waste properly
Dumping old furniture, mattresses, appliances, garden waste or construction rubble in the street or on empty land is a violation. Dumping building, demolition or excavation waste in the wrong place carried a settlement of QAR 6,000 in 2018, and serious dumping can go to court with fines up to QAR 25,000 and prison. Since the 2023 amendment, the municipality can also remove the waste at your cost and impound a vehicle used for dumping for up to three months. If you are moving or renovating, ask your building management or contractor how waste will be removed, or call 184 for advice, before anything is left outside.
Read guide: Moving house within Qatar: a step-by-step checklist →Do not leave a car standing for months
Leaving vehicles, boats, trailers or equipment in streets, car parks or open land without a permit is treated as abandonment under the law. The fine can reach QAR 25,000 if it goes to court, and the settlement amount in the 2018 table was QAR 1,000. A dusty car that has not moved for a long time is what inspectors look for, so a municipality sticker on a dirty car is a warning that it may be removed, not a fine for being dusty. In 2025 a joint government committee removed more than 7,000 abandoned vehicles to the impound yards at Al Mashaf and Umm Salal. Our parking guide explains the sticker, towing and getting a car back.
Read guide: Parking in Doha: paid zones, apps and parking fines →Barbecue only where it is allowed
On public beaches you may light a barbecue or a fire for warmth, but use a raised grill, never light charcoal directly on the sand, and give your ID to the security guard at the gate when asked. Take used charcoal and rubbish to the containers the municipality provides; leaving them on the sand is reported by environmental inspectors under the Public Hygiene Law, with fines up to QAR 10,000. In parks, use the picnic and barbecue areas where they exist and follow the signs at each park. In the desert during camping season, the camping permit rules apply as well.
Read guide: Public beaches in Qatar: family beaches, women's days, rules and safety →Keep animals and birds under control
Animals and birds must not be left to roam roads, public places or open land, and keeping animals or birds for sale needs a licence. If you keep pets or birds at home, keep the area clean and free of smells, and do not leave animal waste in places that are not meant for it. Pet shops must display only the number of animals their permit allows. Our pets guide covers vaccinations, licences and where you can walk a dog.
Read guide: Pets in Qatar: import permits, vets and moving them out →If an inspector records a violation
The inspector writes a violation report and gives you a copy. For the non-serious violations the law lists, you can settle (reconcile) by paying the set amount at the municipality that issued the report within the period stated, and the case ends there. If you do not pay in time, the case is sent to the police for legal action. Serious cases, such as a large pile of dumped waste, cannot be settled and go straight to the prosecution and court. Read the report carefully, keep your copy, and pay promptly if you accept it.
If you think the violation is wrong
Go to the municipality that issued the report as soon as possible, before the payment deadline, with your copy of the report and any photos or papers that support you, and ask to discuss it. If the case is referred to court, you will be able to put your side there, and it is worth getting legal advice. Under the 2023 amendment, people affected by the seizure of abandoned items can also raise a grievance with the minister. Do not ignore a report you disagree with, because an unpaid violation is passed to the police.
Read guide: Finding a lawyer and legal help in Qatar →Report problems you see through Oun or 184
If you see rubbish dumped on empty land, an abandoned car in your car park, overflowing bins or water running onto the road, report it on the Ministry of Municipality's Oun app or call the 24-hour centre on 184. A clear photo and an exact location, ideally the numbers on the blue address plate, help the team act quickly. Your report goes to the ministry, not to the person you are reporting. Our Oun guide walks through the app step by step.
Read guide: Reporting municipal problems with the Oun app and the 184 call centre →
What it costs
| Drying clothes, carpets or blankets on a balcony or window facing a road (settlement, 2018 table) | QAR 500 |
| Throwing cigarette butts, tissues or cans, or spitting, in public (settlement, 2018 table) | QAR 500 |
| Leaving rubbish bags or food waste outside a house or on the road, letting water run onto the road, or washing a car in a place not allowed (settlement, 2018 table) | QAR 300 |
| Leaving an abandoned vehicle or old equipment in a public place (settlement, 2018 table) | QAR 1,000 |
| Dumping building, demolition or excavation waste in the wrong place (settlement, 2018 table) | QAR 6,000 |
| Littering, leaving waste or spitting in public places, if it goes to court | Up to QAR 10,000 |
| Abandoned vehicles, unfenced empty land, or dumping waste outside designated places, if it goes to court | Up to QAR 25,000 |
| Reporting a problem on Oun or 184 | Free |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Hanging washing or airing a carpet over a balcony rail that faces the street, because it is normal back home.
- Leaving rubbish bags next to a full bin instead of reporting the full bin.
- Putting an old sofa or mattress outside the building when moving out and assuming someone will collect it.
- Leaving the car in the street or a shared car park for months while on long leave, so it collects dust and a removal sticker.
- Lighting charcoal directly on the sand at the beach, or leaving used charcoal behind.
- Ignoring a violation report you disagree with until it has been passed to the police.
- Washing the car with a hose in the street so water runs onto the road.
Questions people ask
Can I dry clothes on my balcony at all?
The law bans drying or cleaning clothes, carpets and blankets outside windows or on balconies that overlook a road or public place. If your balcony faces a road, a public area or anywhere people can see it from the street, dry your laundry inside. Your building or compound may have its own rules too, so check with management. When in doubt, use a rack indoors.
Will I be fined just because my car is dusty?
The law targets vehicles that are abandoned, not cars that are simply dirty. A thick layer of dust and flat tyres is what makes inspectors think a car has been abandoned, so they put a warning sticker on it. If you get one, clean and move the car straight away. If the car is removed, you will have to pay fines and fees to get it back.
Is it really QAR 500 for a cigarette butt?
When the law came into force in 2018, the settlement amount for throwing cigarette butts, tissues or cans, or spitting, was QAR 500. The 2023 amendment revised the settlement table, so the amount on a new violation report may be different. If a case goes to court, the fine for littering or spitting can reach QAR 10,000.
Who is responsible for rubbish in my building's corridor or car park?
The law makes both owners and occupants responsible for keeping corridors, roofs, façades, parking areas and the pavement next to the building clean. In practice, you are responsible for what you leave outside your own door or on your balcony, and the landlord or building management for shared areas and the bins. If shared areas stay dirty, report it on Oun or by calling 184.
Can I have a barbecue in a park or on the beach?
On public beaches, yes, on a raised grill and never with charcoal lit directly on the sand; take the used charcoal to the bins. In parks, use the picnic and barbecue areas where they are provided and follow each park's signs. Leaving rubbish or charcoal behind is a violation that inspectors can report, with fines up to QAR 10,000.
I got a violation but I was not at fault. What can I do?
Go to the municipality that issued it before the payment deadline, with your copy of the report and any photos, and explain. If the case goes to court you can defend yourself there, and a lawyer can advise you. Do not simply ignore it, because unpaid violations are sent to the police.
Do these rules apply to visitors and tourists too?
Yes. The law applies to everyone in Qatar, and inspectors can record violations anywhere in the country. Visitors who cannot use the Oun app can still report problems by calling 184.
How do I report a neighbour who throws rubbish from the balcony?
Report it on the Oun app or by calling 184, with the building number, the location on the blue address plate and, if you can take one safely, a photo of the rubbish. You can also tell your building management. The ministry handles the report and does not tell the neighbour who reported it.
Official sources
- Qatar Tribune: New law bans littering in public places and houses (Law No. 18 of 2017) ↗
- The Peninsula: New public hygiene law more comprehensive ↗
- The Peninsula: Public Hygiene Law awareness drive, settlement amounts and how fines are paid (2018) ↗
- The Peninsula: Public cleanliness violations can lead to penalties up to QR25,000 (Law No. 6 of 2023) ↗
- The Peninsula: Committee removed over 7,000 abandoned vehicles in 2025 ↗
- Gulf Times: Beach rules on fires and barbecues, inspectors and fines ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.