Floor Area Ratio is the total built floor area permitted on a plot, as a multiple of the plot itself. These are the rules that set it, and the ones that decide what does not count towards it.
The Floor Area Ratio for a building is decided on the basis of the road width the plot or site abuts, per Table 15 for old areas and Table 16 for new areas. Plot size does not enter into it — the road does.
Bihar Building Bye-Laws 2014, rule 38(1) — and 15 related rules below.
The Floor Area Ratio for a building is decided on the basis of the road width the plot or site abuts, per Table 15 for old areas and Table 16 for new areas. Plot size does not enter into it — the road does.
Residential FAR 1.5. Non-residential is Nil — nothing commercial may be built at all. G+2 floors, maximum height 10 m.
| Road width from (m) | 3.6 |
| Base FAR | 1.5 |
| Height limit (m) | 10 |
| Storeys (max) | 3 |
Residential FAR 1.8, non-residential Nil. G+2 floors, maximum height 10 m.
| Road width from (m) | 4.8 |
| Base FAR | 1.8 |
| Height limit (m) | 10 |
| Storeys (max) | 3 |
Residential FAR 2.0, non-residential Nil. G+3 or stilt+3 floors, maximum height 12 m.
| Road width from (m) | 6.1 |
| Base FAR | 2 |
| Height limit (m) | 12 |
| Storeys (max) | 4 |
Residential FAR 2.5, non-residential still Nil. Stilt+5 floors, maximum height 18 m.
| Road width from (m) | 9.1 |
| Base FAR | 2.5 |
| Height limit (m) | 18 |
| Storeys (max) | 6 |
Residential FAR 2.5 and non-residential FAR 2.0 — the first band in an old area where anything non-residential is permitted at all. Maximum height 24 m.
| Road width from (m) | 12.2 |
| Base FAR | 2.5 |
| Height limit (m) | 24 |
Residential and non-residential FAR both 2.5, with no restriction on height or number of floors — though the master plan, development plan or zonal plan may still regulate them.
| Road width from (m) | 18.3 |
| Base FAR | 2.5 |
Residential FAR 2.0, non-residential Nil. G+3 or stilt+3 floors, maximum height 12 m. New areas start at 6.10 m — there is no equivalent of the 3.60 m and 4.80 m old-area categories.
| Road width from (m) | 6.1 |
| Base FAR | 2 |
| Height limit (m) | 12 |
| Storeys (max) | 4 |
Residential FAR 2.5, non-residential Nil. Stilt+5 floors, maximum height 18 m.
| Road width from (m) | 9.1 |
| Base FAR | 2.5 |
| Height limit (m) | 18 |
| Storeys (max) | 6 |
Residential FAR 2.5, non-residential 2.0. Maximum height 24 m.
| Road width from (m) | 12.2 |
| Base FAR | 2.5 |
| Height limit (m) | 24 |
Residential and non-residential FAR both 2.5, with no restriction on height or number of floors save what the master, development or zonal plan imposes.
| Road width from (m) | 18.3 |
| Base FAR | 2.5 |
Residential FAR 3.00 and non-residential 2.5. This is where new areas pull ahead of old ones — the old-area table stops rising at 2.5 however wide the road gets.
| Road width from (m) | 24.4 |
| Base FAR | 3 |
Residential FAR 3.25, non-residential 3.0.
| Road width from (m) | 27.4 |
| Base FAR | 3.25 |
Residential FAR 3.50 and non-residential 3.5 — the highest in either table, and only reachable on a 100 ft road in a new area.
| Road width from (m) | 30.5 |
| Base FAR | 3.5 |
Additional FAR of up to 10%, subject to a maximum of 0.25, is allowed for dwelling units meant exclusively for LIG or EWS in a group housing scheme.
| Premium FAR (max) | 0.25 |
Maximum permissible FAR is 1.50 for plots up to 1,000 m², and 1.75 for larger plots — a separate and much tighter regime than the road-width tables.
| Plot area up to (m²) | 1000 |
| Base FAR | 1.5 |
Permissible floor area, coverage and height for your plot — straight from the HP slabs.
FAR & ground coverage calculator →Official text: Bihar Building Bye-Laws, 2014 ↗
Rules change and we would rather hear it from you than have somebody build to a stale number. No account needed.
Trace your tatima to get the real area, side lengths and a dimensioned plan. Automatic compliance checking runs on Himachal rules today — for Bihar the 50 rules published here are the reference, and the check is yours to make.
Trace your tatima → All Bihar rules →