2. Building bye laws are the set of guidelines regarding
the design of buildings, orderly and systematic
planning of the area and ensure safety standards.
These rules are to be followed by architects,
engineers, town planners and other experts to create a
place as prescribed by building bye laws.
It consists of different regulation for construction
works, classification of territory, means of access to
plot, open spaces, floor area ratio, ground coverage,
height limitation, parking area etc.
3. Important tool to control growth and development of the cities.
To promote planning process to human settlement growth and
considering carrying capacity of the town.
To develop necessary physical infrastructure
To use new land for future expansion
To design and construct building as per climatology,
topography, lighting etc.
To conserve and develop socio-economic value, culture,
traditional values.
To create comfort and safety living condition (fire safety,
sanitation, ventilation)
4. The bye laws of municipality concentrate in the
following points:
1. Zoning – Residential, Industrial, Institutional etc
2. Rules for ventilation, natural light, floor height, no. of
floors etc
3. Rules of FAR, setbacks, ROW, ground coverage etc
4. Provision of safety standards against fire, health
hazard and structural failure.
5. Zoning Regulates The Various Physical Dimension Of
Buildings:
• Height of building
• Setbacks
• Lot coverage
• Floor area ratio
6. Floor area of the building(built up area) = FAR
Area of the plot
FAR can be varied depending upon zone and function
of the building
It will govern the no. of storey of the building that can
be made at the particular plot.
Lift machine room, overhead water tank are not
considered in FAR.
Basement and semi-basement area used for parking are
not considered in FAR.
7. The Ground Coverage Ratio indicates how many square
metres of a building including accessory buildings are
permitted per square metre of ground area.
GCR =Built-up area of a plot at ground level in m2
Total ground area in m2
GCR can be varied depending upon zone and function of
the building.
Maximum ground coverage is given in % form by bye laws
which can be vary for different function of the building. It
will be different for different zone.
8. To control the height of the building so that it does not
obstruct the light and ventilation.
A light plane is marked at an angle of 63.5º from the edge
of the road on one side and the height of the building to
allow light to pass through the established light plane.
In this angle, the total height of the building should not
exceed twice the width of road and setbacks.
H=2(a+2b)
9. It is a highway over which the public
have a right of access along a linear
route.
It varies depending upon the type of road.
10. Based on occupancy and type of construction technology,
buildings are classified as following:
1. Residential
2. Educational
3. Institutional
4. Assembly
5. Business
6. Mercantile
7. Industrial
8. Storage
9. Hazardous
11. Inside the Kathmandu valley there are different
setbacks specified as per the road categories:
Ringroad- 31m, 15m c/c
Arniko and Tribhuwan highway- 25m c/c
Arterial road-11m c/c
Connection road-7m c/c
Feeder road- 5.5m c/c
Special road-15m,8m c/c
12. Rules and regulation for mass housing and
apartment buildings
Rules and regulation for special areas
(Pashupati area, petrol pump, cinema hall etc)
13. Give standard guideline for client, consultant and
contractor
Minimize unsystematic growth of city
Promote systematic development as per carrying
capacity
Create beautiful and well organized place to live in
