Question 1

What is floor area ratio (FAR) in urban planning?

Accepted Answer

Floor Area Ratio = total building gross floor area / site area. A FAR of 2.0 on a 1,000m2 site allows 2,000m2 of floor area, which could be a 4-storey building at 50% site coverage. Higher FAR means more density. FAR is the primary tool planners use to control building bulk and density.

Question 2

How are parking requirements calculated?

Accepted Answer

Parking requirements vary by land use and jurisdiction. Common standards: residential 1-2 spaces per dwelling; office 1 space per 30-50m2 GFA; retail 1 space per 20-30m2 GFA; industrial 1 space per 100-200m2 GFA. Many cities are now reducing parking minimums or replacing them with maximums to encourage public transport.

Question 3

What is residential density in urban planning?

Accepted Answer

Residential density is usually measured in dwellings per hectare (dph). Low density suburban development is 10-25 dph. Medium density is 25-75 dph. High density urban development is 75-200+ dph. Transit-oriented development typically targets 50-100+ dph within 400-800m of a transit station.

Question 4

Are these urban planning tools free?

Accepted Answer

Yes - completely free, no sign-up required. Results export to CSV or PDF.

Free Urban Planning Tools & Calculators

Urban planning calculators for planners and developers

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