The setback is the open strip that must be left between the building and each boundary. What sets it varies by state — usually the size of the plot, the height of the building, or the width of the road outside.
Front 1.2 m, both sides 1.2 m, rear 2.0 m. Kolkata keys its open spaces on the height of the building, not the size of the plot.
KMC Building Rules 2009, Rule 62 — and 14 related rules below.
Front 1.2 m, both sides 1.2 m, rear 2.0 m. Kolkata keys its open spaces on the height of the building, not the size of the plot.
| Front setback (m) | 1.2 |
| Rear setback (m) | 2 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 1.2 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 1.2 |
| Height limit (m) | 7 |
Front 1.2 m, both sides 1.2 m, rear 3.0 m.
| Front setback (m) | 1.2 |
| Rear setback (m) | 3 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 1.2 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 1.2 |
Front 1.2 m, side-1 1.2 m, side-2 1.5 m, rear 3.0 m. The two sides stop being equal from here up.
| Front setback (m) | 1.2 |
| Rear setback (m) | 3 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 1.2 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 1.5 |
Front 2.0 m, side-1 1.5 m, side-2 2.5 m, rear 4.0 m.
| Front setback (m) | 2 |
| Rear setback (m) | 4 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 1.5 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 2.5 |
Front 3.5 m, both sides 4.0 m, rear 5.0 m. The jump from the band below is the largest in the table — crossing 15.5 m more than doubles the side open space.
| Front setback (m) | 3.5 |
| Rear setback (m) | 5 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 4 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 4 |
Front 5.0 m, both sides 5.0 m, rear 6.5 m.
| Front setback (m) | 5 |
| Rear setback (m) | 6.5 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 5 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 5 |
Front 6.0 m, both sides 6.5 m, rear 8.5 m.
| Front setback (m) | 6 |
| Rear setback (m) | 8.5 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 6.5 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 6.5 |
Front 8.0 m, both sides 8.0 m, rear 10.0 m.
| Front setback (m) | 8 |
| Rear setback (m) | 10 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 8 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 8 |
Front 10.0 m and rear 12.0 m. The side open spaces stop being fixed figures here: each is 15% of the height of the building, or 11.0 m, whichever is less.
| Front setback (m) | 10 |
| Rear setback (m) | 12 |
Front 12.0 m and rear 14.0 m, with each side 15% of the height of the building or 14.0 m, whichever is less.
| Front setback (m) | 12 |
| Rear setback (m) | 14 |
Where a residential building has an irregular shape at the back, the rear open space is taken as an average: the total projected area of the rear open space in m² divided by the width of the rear of the building in metres. That average may not fall below 1.5 m up to 7 m height, 2.0 m from 7 to 12.5 m, 3.0 m from 12.5 to 15.5 m, and 4.0 m from 15.5 to 20 m.
On land up to 500 m² with a building up to 10 m: front 2.0 m, side-1 1.8 m, side-2 4.0 m, rear 3.5 m. Above 500 m² of land at the same height: front 3.5 m, side-1 3.5 m, side-2 4.0 m, rear 4.0 m.
| Front setback (m) | 2 |
| Rear setback (m) | 3.5 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 1.8 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 4 |
Every dimension becomes a percentage with a floor: front 20% of the height or 6 m whichever is MORE, sides 20% or 5 m whichever is more, rear 20% or 8 m whichever is more. Note the direction — for educational buildings the percentage is a minimum, where for tall residential buildings it is a ceiling.
On land up to 500 m² with a building up to 10 m: front 2.0 m, side-1 1.2 m, side-2 4.0 m, rear 4.0 m. From 10 to 20 m: front 4.0 m, sides 4.0 m, rear 5.0 m. From 20 to 25.5 m: 5.0 m all round with 6.0 m rear. From 25.5 to 40 m: front 6.0 m, sides 6.5 m, rear 9.0 m. From 40 to 60 m: front 8.0 m, sides 9.0 m, rear 10.0 m.
| Front setback (m) | 2 |
| Rear setback (m) | 4 |
| Side setback 1 (m) | 1.2 |
| Side setback 2 (m) | 4 |
Where two adjacent plots or buildings belong to the same owner, a gangway may be permitted between them at any level notwithstanding the open space rules, provided it does not obstruct vehicle or fire-vehicle movement. Its width must be at least that of a stairway and no more than 3.00 m at any point.
Official text: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation Building Rules, 2009 ↗
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 Kolkata the 25 rules published here are the reference, and the check is yours to make.
Trace your tatima → All Kolkata rules →