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.
By Jadoua BenseghirTrilingual Senior Corporate Legal Counsel · Doctoral Researcher & Law LecturerOrientation note
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.
The Moroccan Law Review
Navigating Moroccan Law
An orientation map of the Kingdom’s legal system: the hierarchy that binds it, the codes that anchor it, and the statutes that structure twenty-five fields.
Orientation note · Jadoua Benseghir
01 · Orientation
How Moroccan law works
Morocco is a civil law jurisdiction. Law is made primarily by enacted text rather than by judicial precedent, and every text draws its authority from the one above it.
Three consequences follow for anyone approaching the system from outside. Written text governs — the starting point of any question is the applicable code or statute, not case law. Hierarchy is strict — a decree that contradicts a statute is unlawful, and a statute that contradicts the Constitution can be struck down. Publication conditions enforceability — until a text appears in the Bulletin Officiel, it binds no one.
Read those three rules together and the map that follows becomes navigable.
02 · The pyramid
The hierarchy of norms
1Constitution of 2011
2Ratified international conventions
3Organic laws
4Laws and framework laws
5Decrees
6Ministerial and administrative orders
Each level must conform to every level above it. The Constitution sits at the apex; ministerial and administrative orders form the base.
03 · Method
Where to find the texts
Bulletin OfficielThe official gazette. A text is enforceable only once published here; the BO is the authoritative record of what was enacted and when.
Secrétariat Général du GouvernementThe government’s legal secretariat publishes consolidated codes and tracks legislation through enactment.
AdalaThe Ministry of Justice’s legal portal, carrying codes, statutes and judicial texts in Arabic and French.
Moroccan legislation is frequently amended. Always verify the consolidated text and its latest publication in the Bulletin Officiel before relying on a provision.
04 · Anchors
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
05 · The law map · 1 of 13
Constitution, institutions & public life
Constitution of the KingdomDahir n° 1-11-91, 2011
Organic law on the Chamber of RepresentativesLoi organique n° 27-11
Organic law on the Chamber of CouncillorsLoi organique n° 28-11
Organic law on the right to petition public authoritiesLoi organique n° 44-14
Organic law on communesLoi organique n° 113-14
Justice & legal professions
Law on judicial organizationLoi n° 38-15, 2022
Law instituting commercial courtsLoi n° 53-95
Law instituting administrative courtsLoi n° 41-90
Law instituting administrative courts of appealLoi n° 80-03
Law on proximity courtsLoi n° 42-10
Law governing the profession of lawyerLoi n° 20-08
05 · The law map · 2 of 13
Criminal law & security
Penal CodeDahir n° 1-59-413
Code of Criminal Procedure (in force)Loi n° 22-01
New Code of Criminal ProcedureLoi n° 03-23, 2025
Law on defense and security equipment, weapons and munitionsLoi n° 10-20
Law on combating terrorismLoi 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 ProcedureLoi n° 58.25, effective 24 Aug. 2026
Law on consumer protection measuresLoi n° 31-08
Code of Moroccan NationalityDahir n° 1.58.250, 2024
05 · The law map · 3 of 13
Family law
Family Code (Moudawana)Loi n° 70-03, Dahir n° 1-04-22
Law on civil registryLoi n° 37-99
Law on the kafala of abandoned childrenLoi n° 15-01
Commercial & company law
Commercial CodeLoi 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 on road freight transport for hireLoi n° 30-05
Maritime Commerce Code1919, consolidated 2020
05 · The law map · 10 of 13
Tourism & crafts
Law on the status of tourist establishmentsLoi n° 61-00
Law on travel and tourist stay contractsLoi n° 30-20, Dahir n° 1-20-63
Law on the status of craftsmenLoi n° 16-08
Culture, heritage, press & media
Law on the press and publishingLoi n° 88-13, Dahir n° 1-16-122
Law on audiovisual communicationLoi n° 77-03
Law on the conservation of historic monuments and sitesLoi n° 22-80
05 · The law map · 11 of 13
Education & research
Law on the organization of higher educationLoi n° 01-00
Framework law on education, training and scientific researchLoi-cadre n° 51-17
Intellectual property
Law on the protection of industrial propertyLoi n° 17-97, consolidated to Loi n° 23-13
Law on copyright and related rightsLoi n° 2-00, Dahir n° 1-00-20
05 · The law map · 12 of 13
Islamic affairs & habous
Code of HabousDahir n° 1-09-236
Dahir on the status of the Superior Council of Ulema
Regulated professions
Law governing the profession of lawyerLoi n° 20-08
Law on the profession of notaryLoi n° 32-09
Law on the profession of bailiff (huissier de justice)Dahir n° 1-06-23
Law regulating the profession of chartered accountantDahir n° 1-15-111
05 · The law map · 13 of 13
Cross-cutting texts
Law on the right of access to informationLoi n° 31-13
Law on the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and the Fight against CorruptionLoi n° 46-19, Dahir n° 1-21-36
Law on archivesLoi n° 09-01
The Moroccan Law Review
Read the full note
The article below sets out each field in full, with every statute named and referenced. This deck is a summary, not a substitute for the official text — and not legal advice.
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I. The hierarchy of norms
Figure 1 · The pyramid of norms
1Constitution of 2011
2Ratified international conventions
3Organic laws
4Laws and framework laws
5Decrees
6Ministerial and administrative orders
Each level must conform to every level above it. The Constitution sits at the apex; ministerial and administrative orders form the broad base.
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 KingdomDahir n° 1-11-91, 2011
Organic law on the Chamber of RepresentativesLoi organique n° 27-11
Organic law on the Chamber of CouncillorsLoi organique n° 28-11
Organic law on the right to petition public authoritiesLoi organique n° 44-14
Organic law on communesLoi organique n° 113-14
Justice & legal professions
Law on judicial organizationLoi n° 38-15, 2022
Law instituting commercial courtsLoi n° 53-95
Law instituting administrative courtsLoi n° 41-90
Law instituting administrative courts of appealLoi n° 80-03
Law on proximity courtsLoi n° 42-10
Law governing the profession of lawyerLoi n° 20-08
Criminal law & security
Penal CodeDahir n° 1-59-413
Code of Criminal Procedure (in force)Loi n° 22-01
New Code of Criminal ProcedureLoi n° 03-23, 2025
Law on defense and security equipment, weapons and munitionsLoi n° 10-20
Law on combating terrorismLoi 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 ProcedureLoi n° 58.25, effective 24 Aug. 2026
Law on consumer protection measuresLoi n° 31-08
Code of Moroccan NationalityDahir n° 1.58.250, 2024
Family law
Family Code (Moudawana)Loi n° 70-03, Dahir n° 1-04-22
Law on civil registryLoi n° 37-99
Law on the kafala of abandoned childrenLoi n° 15-01
Commercial & company law
Commercial CodeLoi 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 on road freight transport for hireLoi n° 30-05
Maritime Commerce Code1919, consolidated 2020
Tourism & crafts
Law on the status of tourist establishmentsLoi n° 61-00
Law on travel and tourist stay contractsLoi n° 30-20, Dahir n° 1-20-63
Law on the status of craftsmenLoi n° 16-08
Culture, heritage, press & media
Law on the press and publishingLoi n° 88-13, Dahir n° 1-16-122
Law on audiovisual communicationLoi n° 77-03
Law on the conservation of historic monuments and sitesLoi n° 22-80
Education & research
Law on the organization of higher educationLoi n° 01-00
Framework law on education, training and scientific researchLoi-cadre n° 51-17
Intellectual property
Law on the protection of industrial propertyLoi n° 17-97, consolidated to Loi n° 23-13
Law on copyright and related rightsLoi n° 2-00, Dahir n° 1-00-20
Islamic affairs & habous
Code of HabousDahir n° 1-09-236
Dahir on the status of the Superior Council of Ulema
Regulated professions
Law governing the profession of lawyerLoi n° 20-08
Law on the profession of notaryLoi n° 32-09
Law on the profession of bailiff (huissier de justice)Dahir n° 1-06-23
Law regulating the profession of chartered accountantDahir n° 1-15-111
Cross-cutting texts
Law on the right of access to informationLoi n° 31-13
Law on the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and the Fight against CorruptionLoi n° 46-19, Dahir n° 1-21-36
Law on archivesLoi 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.
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.
