Orientation note · July 2026
Navigating Moroccan Law
A structured map for foreign practitioners approaching Morocco’s legal system: the founding statute of each of 25 fields, eight foundational codes, and the hierarchy that connects them.
The purpose of this orientation is not to replace the official text or offer an exhaustive index. It gives the reader a bearing: understand the architecture of the system, and the statutes that structure it, before opening a code.
I. The hierarchy of norms
1Constitution of 2011
2Ratified international conventions
3Organic laws
4Laws and framework laws
5Decrees
6Ministerial and administrative orders
II. Eight foundational codes
Penal CodeOffences and penalties
Commercial CodeCommerce and companies
Labour CodeEmployment relations
Family CodeMoudawana and personal status
Code of Obligations and ContractsGeneral law of obligations
Code of Civil ProcedureCivil litigation
General Tax CodeDirect and indirect taxation
Customs CodeCustoms and indirect duties
III. The legal landscape in 25 fields
Each field below lists its principal structuring statutes — the texts a practitioner opens first — rather than every implementing decree or circular in the field.
Constitution, institutions & public life
- Constitution of the Kingdom Dahir n° 1-11-91, 2011
- Organic law on the Chamber of Representatives Loi organique n° 27-11
- Organic law on the Chamber of Councillors Loi organique n° 28-11
- Organic law on the right to petition public authorities Loi organique n° 44-14
- Organic law on communes Loi organique n° 113-14
Justice & legal professions
- Law on judicial organization Loi n° 38-15, 2022
- Law instituting commercial courts Loi n° 53-95
- Law instituting administrative courts Loi n° 41-90
- Law instituting administrative courts of appeal Loi n° 80-03
- Law on proximity courts Loi n° 42-10
- Law governing the profession of lawyer Loi n° 20-08
Criminal law & security
- Penal Code Dahir n° 1-59-413
- Code of Criminal Procedure (in force) Loi n° 22-01
- New Code of Criminal Procedure Loi n° 03-23, 2025
- Law on defense and security equipment, weapons and munitions Loi n° 10-20
- Law on combating terrorism Loi n° 03-03
Civil law
- Code of Obligations and Contracts (DOC) Dahir of 12 Aug. 1913
- Code of Civil Procedure (in force) Dahir n° 1-74-447, 1974
- New Code of Civil Procedure Loi n° 58.25, effective 24 Aug. 2026
- Law on consumer protection measures Loi n° 31-08
- Code of Moroccan Nationality Dahir n° 1.58.250, 2024
Family law
- Family Code (Moudawana) Loi n° 70-03, Dahir n° 1-04-22
- Law on civil registry Loi n° 37-99
- Law on the kafala of abandoned children Loi n° 15-01
Commercial & company law
- Commercial Code Loi n° 15-95, Dahir n° 1-96-83
- Law on public limited companies (SA) Loi n° 17-95
- Law on other company forms (SNC, SCS, SCA, SARL) Loi n° 5-96
- Law instituting commercial courts Loi n° 53-95
Economy, industry & investment
- Investment Charter Loi-cadre n° 03-22, Dahir n° 1-22-76, 2022
- Law on industrial standardization Loi n° 13-99
- Law on export free zones Loi n° 19-94
Insurance & financial markets
- Insurance Code Loi n° 17-99
- Law creating the Insurance and Social Welfare Supervisory Authority (ACAPS) Loi n° 64-12, Dahir n° 1-14-10
- Law on coverage for catastrophic events Loi n° 110-14
Digital & electronic transactions
- Law on the electronic exchange of legal data Loi n° 53-05
- Law on protection of personal data Loi n° 09-08, Dahir n° 01-09-15
- Law on cybersecurity Loi n° 05-20
Administrative law & public finance
- Organic law on the Finance Law Loi organique n° 130-13
- Law instituting administrative courts Loi n° 41-90
- Code of financial jurisdictions (Court of Accounts) Loi n° 62-99
- Law on delegated management of public services Loi n° 54-05
Tax & customs
- General Tax Code Consolidated annual text
- Customs and Indirect Taxes Code Dahir portant loi n° 1-77-339, 1977
- Annual Finance Law Loi de finances
Capital markets & stock exchange
- Law on the Stock Exchange, brokerage firms and investment advisers Loi n° 19-14, 2016
- Law on the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC) Loi n° 43-12
- Law creating a central depository (Maroclear) Loi n° 35-96
Labour, employment & social protection
- Labour Code Loi n° 65-99, Dahir n° 1-03-194, 2004
- Code of basic medical coverage (AMO) Loi n° 65-00
- Law on conditions of work for domestic workers Loi n° 19-12
Health, medicine & social protection
- Law on the health system Loi n° 34-09
- Law on the practice of medicine Loi n° 131-13
- Code of medicine and pharmacy Loi n° 17-04
Land, planning & housing
- Law on urban planning Loi n° 12-90, Dahir n° 1-92-31
- Law on subdivisions, housing groups and land division Loi n° 25-90
- Code of real rights Loi n° 39-08, 2011
- Law on the status of co-ownership of built buildings Loi n° 18-00
Environment & energy
- National charter of the environment and sustainable development Loi-cadre n° 99-12, Dahir n° 1-14-09, 2014
- Law on the protection and enhancement of the environment Loi n° 11-03
- Law on renewable energy Loi n° 13-09
- Law on energy efficiency Loi n° 47-09
Agriculture, fisheries, water & forests
- Water Code Loi n° 36-15
- Law on the conservation and exploitation of forests Dahir of 10 Oct. 1917
- Maritime Commerce Code (fisheries-adjacent) 1919, consolidated 2020
Transport & logistics
- Highway Code Loi n° 52-05, 2010
- Law on road freight transport for hire Loi n° 30-05
- Maritime Commerce Code 1919, consolidated 2020
Tourism & crafts
- Law on the status of tourist establishments Loi n° 61-00
- Law on travel and tourist stay contracts Loi n° 30-20, Dahir n° 1-20-63
- Law on the status of craftsmen Loi n° 16-08
Culture, heritage, press & media
- Law on the press and publishing Loi n° 88-13, Dahir n° 1-16-122
- Law on audiovisual communication Loi n° 77-03
- Law on the conservation of historic monuments and sites Loi n° 22-80
Education & research
- Law on the organization of higher education Loi n° 01-00
- Framework law on education, training and scientific research Loi-cadre n° 51-17
Intellectual property
- Law on the protection of industrial property Loi n° 17-97, consolidated to Loi n° 23-13
- Law on copyright and related rights Loi n° 2-00, Dahir n° 1-00-20
Islamic affairs & habous
- Code of Habous Dahir n° 1-09-236
- Dahir on the status of the Superior Council of Ulema
Regulated professions
- Law governing the profession of lawyer Loi n° 20-08
- Law on the profession of notary Loi n° 32-09
- Law on the profession of bailiff (huissier de justice) Dahir n° 1-06-23
- Law regulating the profession of chartered accountant Dahir n° 1-15-111
Cross-cutting texts
- Law on the right of access to information Loi n° 31-13
- Law on the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and the Fight against Corruption Loi n° 46-19, Dahir n° 1-21-36
- Law on archives Loi n° 09-01
IV. Official sources and method
The map was compiled from public official sources, principally the Bulletin Officiel, the Secrétariat Général du Gouvernement, and the Ministry of Justice’s Adala legal portal. Each field lists a curated selection of structuring statutes rather than every implementing decree.
Important notice
An orientation resource, not legal advice
Moroccan legislation is frequently amended; always verify the consolidated text and the latest publication in the Bulletin Officiel before relying on a provision.
About the author
Jadoua Benseghir
Trilingual Senior Corporate Legal Counsel · Doctoral Researcher & Law Lecturer
Jadoua Benseghir writes on Moroccan public and business law. She advises across the Kingdom’s corporate and litigation practice and lectures and researches in the field of legal science. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Moroccan Law Review.
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