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Jordan property law guide: the rules in plain words

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The short answer

A short, plain guide to the Jordanian rules people ask about most when they rent, buy or sell a home. Each page starts with a summary, explains how people usually think about the topic, answers common questions and lists its sources with the date we checked them. Where a fee or figure could not be confirmed, we describe the rule and leave the number out. Always confirm with a lawyer and the government office concerned.

  • Jordan’s Landlords and Tenants Law: a plain summary

    For leases signed on or after 31 August 2000, the lease itself decides: the tenancy ends at the agreed term, and an automatic-renewal clause renews it for the same period unless the tenant gives notice. Leases from before that date follow older rules that let the tenant stay on. The law lists the grounds for eviction, such as unpaid rent after a notarised notice, and the Civil Code sets who repairs what.

  • Eviction notice in Jordan: how the notarised notice works

    For unpaid rent, an unpaid agreed share of common services or a breached lease term, the landlord sends the tenant a notarised notice (إنذار عدلي). If the tenant does not put it right within 15 days of receiving it, the landlord can ask the court for eviction. After three or more repeats of non-payment no new notice is needed, and subletting without written consent is a separate ground.

  • Who pays for repairs in a rented home in Jordan?

    As a general rule, the landlord repairs defects that stop the home being used as intended; if they do not, the tenant may ask to end the lease or get the court’s permission to repair and recover the usual cost. Urgent or minor repairs the tenant may do and deduct if the landlord delays. The tenant must take normal care and pays for damage caused by fault or misuse, not for normal wear. The lease can set more detail.

  • Rental deposits in Jordan: getting your deposit back

    A refundable deposit (تأمين مسترد) is money the tenant pays at the start to cover unpaid bills or damage, returned at the end. We did not find a fixed deposit amount or refund deadline in the Landlords and Tenants Law, so the lease usually sets both. A landlord can generally deduct for damage caused by the tenant’s fault or misuse, not for normal wear.

  • Property registration and transfer fees in Jordan

    When a property is sold, the Department of Lands and Survey (DLS) charges a registration fee, set as a percentage of the property’s value under the Land Registration Fees Law and its fee tables. The basis is usually the DLS administrative value or the declared price under DLS rules. The buyer usually pays it, lower rates and exemptions apply in some cases, and payment can be made electronically. Rates and exemptions change by cabinet decision, so check the current table with DLS before you sign.

  • Property sale tax in Jordan

    Jordan’s Real Estate Sales Tax Law charges a tax when a property is sold, and by law the seller is liable for it. It is collected by the Department of Lands and Survey when the sale is registered, on the value DLS applies. The law provides exemptions, including some transfers between close relatives. The rate has been changed by amendments and decisions, so we do not print a figure: confirm the current rate with DLS.

  • Musaqafat: the annual property tax in Jordan

    Musaqafat (ضريبة الأبنية والمسقفات) is the yearly tax on buildings and land inside municipal areas, collected by the municipality; in Amman, Greater Amman Municipality. Owners can check and pay it through GAM’s e-service. Before a sale is registered, the Department of Lands and Survey asks for a clearance showing it is paid. Rates and discounts vary, so check your bill with the municipality.

  • Can foreigners buy property in Jordan? Ownership rules for non-Jordanians

    Yes, with permission. Under the Real Estate Ownership Law a non-Jordanian may own property in Jordan after getting approval. The request is made to the Department of Lands and Survey, which consults the relevant authorities; ownership is banned in border, archaeological and historic areas, and the authority can refuse without appeal. The law has been amended since 2019, including on the Ministry of Interior’s role, so check the current rules with DLS.

  • Land zoning classes in Jordan: what Residential A, B, C and D mean

    Zoning (تنظيم) decides what can be built on a plot and how much. In Amman, the Building and Zoning Regulation sets residential classes A, B, C and D, plus other classes such as commercial, agricultural, green and special housing. Broadly, A allows the lowest density with larger plots and setbacks, and D the highest. The official class of a plot comes from the zoning plan at Greater Amman Municipality or the local municipality, not from a listing.

Which law covers what

  • Renting a home: the Landlords and Tenants Law No. 11 of 1994 as amended, and the lease articles of the Civil Code No. 43 of 19762.
  • Ownership, registration, owners’ associations and foreign ownership: the Real Estate Ownership Law No. 13 of 2019 as amended1.
  • Registration fees: the Land Registration Fees Law and its fee tables1.
  • Sale tax: the Real Estate Sales Tax Law No. 21 of 1974 as amended1.
  • Annual property tax (musaqafat): the Buildings and Lands Tax Law within municipal areas, collected by the municipality2.
  • Zoning (tantheem): the building and zoning regulations of Greater Amman Municipality or the local municipality.

How to use these pages

Read the summary, then check the sources at the bottom of each page. Laws are amended, and fees are set by regulations and cabinet decisions that change more often than the laws. Before you sign, pay or go to court, ask a licensed Jordanian lawyer and the office concerned.

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  • Many people expect one “property law”. In Jordan the rules are spread over several laws, regulations and instructions.
  • People often take a figure from a forum or an old article. Fees and exemptions change with cabinet decisions, so a figure is only as good as its date.

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Is this legal advice?

No. It is general information to help you ask the right questions. For your own case, ask a licensed lawyer and the government office concerned.

Why are some fee figures missing?

We print a figure only when we could confirm it from an official or reputable source with a date. Where we could not, we explain the rule and tell you where to check.

How often are these pages reviewed?

Each page shows its last review date. Laws and fees can change between reviews, so always confirm before you rely on them.

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  1. Department of Lands and Survey: laws and regulations list hagzi-guides::app.checked_on
  2. Legislation and Opinion Bureau: Jordanian legislation database hagzi-guides::app.checked_on

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