Zoning Compliance Check Calculator

Work out zoning compliance check instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Zoning Compliance Check Calculator

Zoning compliance is tested independently against each control. Floor area ratio caps total development intensity while ground coverage caps the footprint, and a scheme can satisfy one while breaching the other. Showing utilisation as a percentage reveals which control is binding and therefore where design effort should go.

Formula

Utilisation

Utilisation = proposed value / permitted value x 100, tested separately for each control

Worked example

With the default values below, Zoning Compliance Check Calculator returns Floor area ratio utilisation of 88.00%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Floor area ratio proposedminimum 0.01: 2.2
Floor area ratio permittedminimum 0.01: 2.5
Ground coverage proposedaccepts 1–100 %: 45 %
Ground coverage permittedaccepts 1–100 %: 50 %

Results

Floor area ratio utilisation: 88.00% %
Ground coverage utilisation: 90.00% %
Floor area ratio check: Complies with the permitted floor area ratio
Ground coverage check: Complies with the permitted ground coverage

Step by step

1Values used
2Utilisation
3Floor area ratio utilisation= 88.00 %
4Ground coverage utilisation= 90.00 %
5Floor area ratio check= Complies with the permitted floor area ratio
6Ground coverage check= Complies with the permitted ground coverage

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Preliminary estimate only. Full zoning compliance also covers setbacks, height, parking, ventilation and use, and must be confirmed with the planning authority.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Preliminary estimate only. Full zoning compliance also covers setbacks, height, parking, ventilation and use, and must be confirmed with the planning authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Zoning Compliance Check figure worked out?

Utilisation = proposed value / permitted value x 100, tested separately for each control. Zoning compliance is tested independently against each control.

What if coverage is the binding control?

Then the scheme must go taller on a smaller footprint to use the available floor area ratio, which usually means a more expensive structure and core.

What values do I need to enter?

This calculator takes 4 inputs: Floor area ratio proposed, Floor area ratio permitted, Ground coverage proposed, Ground coverage permitted. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.