BENGALURU: In a significant development for future construction in the tech capital, the state government has amended the zonal regulations under the Revised Master Plan (RMP) 2015. Effective from August 1, this amendment introduces clear and updated setback norms for buildings, particularly those exceeding 12 meters in height.
The term “setback” refers to the minimum open space required between a building and its property boundary. This has long been a contentious issue in urban planning within the city, where rapid vertical expansion has often outpaced regulatory guidelines. The new rules aim to clarify setback requirements based on building height and whether a stilt floor, commonly used for parking, is included.
According to the updated regulations, buildings on plots of up to 4,000 square meters must maintain a minimum setback of 1.5 meters in the front and 1 meter on each side and at the rear. For plots larger than 4,000 square meters, the required setback is increased to 5 meters in the front, rear, and sides. Specifically for buildings ranging from 12 to 15 floors without a stilt floor, a 5-meter setback is mandated. However, this requirement escalates for structures exceeding 15 floors, depending on their height, ensuring that taller buildings permit ample open space around them, enhancing light, ventilation, and emergency access.
The amendment also provides clarity regarding stilt floors. If stilt parking is incorporated, the height of this floor is permitted to be up to 3 meters, measured from floor to floor, and will not be counted towards the building’s overall height, provided the total height remains under 15 meters.
These regulations apply to all new constructions, including ongoing projects with approved plans. Existing structures may convert their ground floors to stilt parking, and the height of the stilt floor won’t be considered for total building height calculations. In such cases, a modified plan or alteration sanction may be granted, but the stilt floor height must not exceed 3 meters, according to the final notification.
