You cannot stand a building without following LDA Building Bylaws, hence they play a vital role in real estate in industry. LDA stands for Lahore Development Authority, and this governmental organization has authority over Lahore, and some of its nearby areas also fall under it now.
Lahore Development Authority is responsible for new planned development in Lahore, Pakistan. It also regulates, and issues permit for new construction and housing projects, private houses, and commercial development.
Recently, some changes are proposed in the LDA Building bylaws, let us discuss the five major current bylaws, and their proposed changes.
1) Height of the building
As per the current bylaw, the height of any building other than Apartment Buildings measured from the crown of the road to the top of the parapet wall (exclusive of chimney stacks, lift heads, and water tower) shall not exceed 38 ft (11.58 m).
In the case of the Apartment Building, the maximum building height allowed on residential plots measured from the crown of the road to the top of the parapet wall (exclusive of chimney stacks, lift heads, and water tower) shall not exceed 45 ft (13.72m).
The total number of storey permissible in an apartment building on residential plots, excluding basements, shall not be more than four. Each storey shall have a minimum building height of 9-ft 6-inches (2.9m), other than the basement.
While as per the proposed bylaw, the height of any residential building other than Apartment Buildings abutting roads having Right of Way up to 25 feet measured from the crown of the road to the top of the parapet wall shall not exceed 38 ft (11.58 m) and the minimum clear height of each storey, other than the basement, shall not be less than 9-ft 6- inches (2.9m), measured from finished floor level up to underneath of the roof slab above.
The height of any residential building other than Apartment Buildings abutting roads having Right of Way more than 25 feet measured from the crown of the road to the top of the parapet wall shall not exceed as applicable in approved schemes (clause 2.2.3) and the minimum clear height of each storey, other than the basement, shall not be less than 9-ft 6- inches (2.9m), measured from finished floor level up to underneath of the roof slab above.
The total number of storey permissible in an apartment building allowed on residential plots in approved schemes/controlled area, excluding basements, shall not be more than seven, with each storey, other than the basement, having a minimum clear height of 9-ft 6- inches (2.9m), measured from finished floor level up to underneath of the roof slab
2) Calculating Parking Requirements
As per current bylaw, to calculate parking requirements, the gross floor area shall not include the area of mechanical plant rooms, air conditioning plants, electric substation, space provided for prayer, ducts, service shafts, public toilets for common use, lifts, escalators, stairs, covered parking and circulation of vehicles.
As per the proposed bylaw, to calculate parking requirements, the gross floor area shall not include the area of mechanical plant rooms, air conditioning plants, electric substation, space provided for prayer which shall not increase by 5% of the total covered area of the building excluding the area under the use of ducts, service shafts, public toilets for common use, lifts, escalators, stairs, covered parking and circulation of vehicles.
3) Boundary Wall
As per the current bylaw, the Boundary wall where permitted should not exceed 7ft (2.13m) in height measure from the plinth level.
As per the proposed bylaw, the plan for construction of gate and Boundary wall in the approved public/private housing schemes, land sub-division, and private housing in the area as defined in the LDA Act, shall be got approved by the authority on payment of a prescribed fee (Provided no structure plan road or access to adjoining properties will be blocked by construction such boundary walls). Provided no Boundary wall where permitted should not exceed 7ft (2.13m) in height measure from the plinth level & no structural plan road or any access to adjoining abadies will be blocked.
4) Area of the basement in houses
As per the current bylaw, in the case of houses, the minimum area of the basement shall be 100 Sqft and shall be constructed after leaving the mandatory open spaces required under these Regulations. However, a minimum of 5 feet of space shall be kept clear towards the dead wall.
As proposed by law, in the case of residential /commercial, the minimum area of the basement shall be 100 Sqft and shall be constructed after leaving the mandatory open spaces required under these Regulations.
5) Mandatory Open Spaces
As per the current bylaw, notwithstanding the provision under section 3.9.1, no mandatory open spaces shall be required in the case of mosques.
In the case of educational institutions, a separate lane for pick up and drop purposes shall be provided within the plot outside the boundary wall.
As proposed by law, notwithstanding the provision under section 3.9.1 no mandatory open spaces shall be required in the case of Mosques/Masjid except front building line/setback according to plot category/zone.
In the case of educational institutions, a separate lane for pick and drop purposes shall be provided within the plot outside the boundary wall by providing 15-ft wide space within the setback area.
Each one of us should be aware of the current bylaws, and the improvisations relevant to them so that whenever we plan to construct a house, this knowledge will help you a lot. Now let us see, the proposed bylaws turn into current bylaws or not.
