Floor Area Ratio

Floor Area Ratio is a mathematical measurement commonly used in building construction and zoning regulations, which relates the total floor area of a structure to the area of land on which the building is constructed. Floor Area Ratio is calculated by dividing the Total Floor Area of Building by the Total Area of the Parcel of Land on which building is constructed. Zoning regulation will provide the FAR value for a particular zoning area. Multiplying the FAR value by the area of land where a building is to be constructed will provide the maximum square footage of floor space that the building can have. For illustrative purposes if a parcel of land measures 5,000 Sq. Ft. and the FAR value regulated by zoning legislation in the area is 2.0, the building can be constructed to have a floor area of no more than 10,000 Sq. Ft.