KARACHI BUILDING & TOWN PLANNING REGULATIONS-2002 

CHAPTER 9 – SPACE REQUIREMENTS IN AND ABOUT BUILDINGS 

THE SINDH GOVT. GAZETTE APRIL 04, 2002 468 

9-1. Space for Electrical Sub-Station 

A minimum space of 16ft. x 21ft. (5m. x 6.5m) (or as per requirement of KESC) shall be left for electrical sub-station which is abutting on road side / street or has a clear passage of 16ft. (4.87m) width, for public sale, commercial, residential building and industrial building having an area in excess of 25,000Sq.ft.(2323Sq.m) all Category “III” and Category “IV” buildings. In the event that KESC sub-station is not required, this space may be utilized as per Regulations. 

9-2. Method of Measuring Minimum Clear Space 

The minimum clear space prescribed between a building and from the property line shall be measured from the external face of the perimeter wall enclosing the covered or usable area of the building, at its greatest projection from the building, at right angles to the plot boundary, and excluding permissible chajjas and balconies. If there are more boundaries than one in the plot affecting the building, the above requirements will be satisfied at all such boundaries also. 

9-3. Separate Approach for every Building 

Every building more than 35 feet (10.5m) high not abutting on a street shall have an access for an approach from the street, open to the sky, at least 13ft.(4m) width. 

9-4. Projections beyond Property Limits 

No projections or overhanging features shall be permitted beyond property limits except where permitted under the Regulations. 

9-5. Allowable Projections 

9-5.1. Maximum allowable projection of chajjas and sunshades in compulsory open spaces shall be 2.5ft.(0.75m) or half the width of COS whichever is less. 

9-5.2. No construction shall be allowed in the chamfered portion up to 17ft (5.17m) measured from the adjacent road. 

9-5.3. Open balconies projecting on to public streets from buildings abutting such streets are permitted by the authority such projection shall not be used as a room as per conditions stated here under: 

THE SINDH GOVT. GAZETTE APRIL 04, 2002 469 

9-Space Requirements in and About Buildings 

Min.height above 
street level from

Center of street 

Width of Max. length Max. Balconies and Street of Balconies Projection sunshades. 

30ft.(9.13m) & less 23ft.(7m) 2ft.(60cm) 17ft.(5.17m) 

than 40ft.(12.18m) 40ft.(12.18m) & less 23ft.(7m) 3ft.(90cm) 17ft.( 5.17m) 

than 50ft.(15.2m) 50ft.(15.2m) & above 23ft.(7m) 4ft.(120cm) 17ft.( 5.17m) 

In case of corner plots no balcony will be allowed at the corner of the plot below 17ft. (5.17m). 

9-6. Residential Buildings 

9-6.1. No habitable room shall have a floor area of less than 100Sq.ft. (9.3Sq.m). 

9-6.2. The minimum width of a habitable room shall be 8ft. (2.44m). 

9-6.3. The minimum floor area of kitchen shall be 50Sq.ft. (4.53Sq.m). The minimum width of kitchen shall be 6ft. (1.8m). 

9-6.4. The minimum areas and widths of W.C.’s and bathrooms shall be: 

Min. Area Min. Width 

W. C. 15sq. ft. (1.4Sq.m) 3.5ft. (1.07m) 

Shower 15Sq.ft. (1.4Sq.m) 3.5ft. (1.7m) 

Combined W.C. and 35Sq.ft.(3.25Sq.m) 4.5ft.(1.38m) 

Bathroom 

9-6.5. The minimum clear height of rooms under any structure member shall be except in the cases when central air conditioning provides are applicable as purchase No.10-8-1: 

THE SINDH GOVT. GAZETTE APRIL 04, 2002 470 

9-Space Requirements in and About Buildings 

Habitable rooms 9.5 ft. (2.65m) 

Kitchens 9.5 ft. (2.65m

Bathrooms, W.C.’s, Latrine 8 ft. (2.43m) 

Garages and Car porch 7.5 ft. (2.28m) 

Passages, galleries, corridors 7.5 ft. (2.28m) 

Dress room 7ft. (2.13m) 

9-7. Commercial Buildings 

9-7.1. The minimum floor area of a shop shall be 100Sq.ft. (9.29Sq.m) and the minimum width of the shop shall be 8ft.(2.4m). 

9-7.2. The shop having a loft shall have carpet area 100sq.ft. (9.29Sq.m) and a minimum height of 16ft.(4.87m) and with loft area of not exceeding 40% of the carpet floor area. 

9-7.3. The minimum ceiling height of an arcade shall be 8ft. (2.5m). 

9-7.4. 40% of the shopping area may have shops of minimum floor area of 56 Sq. ft. (5.2 Sq. m) provided they are not facing the road. 

9-7.5. The minimum clear height of shop will be 10ft.(3m). 

9-7.6. Clear width of Arcade between inner surface of the outer column and shop shall be minimum of 5’-6” and width from outer column and shop shall be 8’-0”. 

9-8. Staircases 

9-8.1. The riser of all buildings shall not be more than 6 inches (15 cm) and the tread shall not be less than 10 inches (25 cm) except for residential houses where the maximum riser shall be 7 inches (18 cm) and the minimum tread will be 9 inches (23 cm). However, for staircases to lofts, circular staircases to non-public access mezzanines and heights not exceeding 7 feet 6 inches (2.25 m) staircase risers and treads will be worked out through the following formula: 2 R + T = 22 where R is riser and T is tread and the minimum T is 6 inches. 

THE SINDH GOVT. GAZETTE APRIL 04, 2002 471 

9-Space Requirements in and About Buildings 

9-8.2. For all buildings other than Category “I” buildings and bungalows, the minimum width of staircases shall be 4ft.(1.2m). The distance from any point to the nearest staircase shall not exceed 100ft.(30m). The minimum clear head room under beams and stair landing shall be 7ft.(2.1m). 

9-8.3. Other than bungalows, all staircases shall be provided with a handrails.

9-8.4. A handrail shall be provided on each side of the staircase when the staircase is 6ft.(1.8m) wide or more. 

9-8.5. For all buildings other than bungalows, there shall not be more than 15 risers between each landing in a straight flight. Depth of the landing shall not be less than the width of the flight. 

9-8.6. Winders shall be permitted in Category “I” buildings and bungalows only. 

9-9. Lifts 

No lift will be of capacity less than 6 person, and lifts shall conform to the technical provisions of BS5655 with respect to all safety devices, procedures of examination and annual testing/certification of lifts by a professional engineer of concerned disciplines. 

The following recommendations will be considered in the design of lifts:- Minimum provision of Lifts.

Minimum Climbing Height	Minimum Number of Lifts	Capacity
From 46ft. (14m) to below  59ft.(18m).	1	450 kg(6 passenger)
59ft. (18m) and above.	2	450 kg(6 passenger)

Additional number of lifts to be provided by the designer professional keeping in view the size, speed and size of brand of lift, type and height of buildings etc. 

THE SINDH GOVT. GAZETTE APRIL 04, 2002 472 

9-Space Requirements in and About Buildings 

9-10. Minimum Requirements of Places of Assembly 

The minimum clear heights of places of assembly shall be 12ft.(3.65m). 

9-11. Godowns and Warehouses 

9-11.1. No godown except a store shall be provided in a residential building. 

9-11.2. Godowns/ware houses shall be designed, adopted or used for storage purposes only;

9-11.3. In every warehouse and godown there shall be exhibited by the owner, at some appropriate place, permanently and conspicuously, a notice incised or embossed on metal, plastic or similar permanent material in the following form, stating the load for which the floor has been designed with letters to be at least 1 inch(25mm) wide & 3 inch(75mm) high. In case of inflammable or explosive materials, being stored, prior permission from the relevant authorities shall be obtained.

N O T I C E This floor has been designed to sustain a superimposed  load of 10 lbs. per Sq. ft.(48.9 Kg. Per sq. m).