Safety Regulation No. 132/2014 and Directive No. 163/2017 are officially set to enter full implementation across the capital, city officials announced. The measures aim to preemptively curb man-made and natural disasters driven by Addis Ababa's rapid vertical building growth, industrial expansion, and rising population.
Under the fully enforced directive, building owners and business operators who fail to meet mandatory safety thresholds face financial penalties ranging from 10,000.00 Birr to 100,000.00 Birr.
Furthermore, non-compliant entities given a written warning that fail to make necessary adjustments within the designated deadline will experience the suspension or revocation of their trade and business licenses.
Commander Ahmed Mohammed, Commissioner of the Addis Ababa City Administration Fire and Emergency Risk Management Commission, stressed during a press briefing that the regulation shifts the city's approach entirely from reactive post-disaster response to proactive risk prevention.
This is a modern framework designed to mitigate risks proactively through preparation, monitoring, and inspection, Commander Ahmed stated, noting that the directive applies strictly within the city limits.
Beyond offering professional and technical support, the commission will conduct audits to issue mandatory compliance certificates.
Under the new rules, any public utility building, commercial establishment, or facility storing hazardous materials must obtain and annually renew a disaster safety compliance certificate from the Risk Management Commission.
Consequently, proprietors are legally required to install standard water-drawing hydrants, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems, alongside integrating proper emergency escape routes into architectural blueprints.
Commander Zerihun Tefera, General Manager of the Addis Ababa City Administration Code Enforcement Authority, added that extensive public awareness campaigns will precede strict enforcement.
Once we ensure no entity remains uninformed of the law, strict administrative and legal measures will be applied unconditionally against anyone violating the regulation, whether knowingly or unknowingly, Tefera warned.
