| Primary value | 1.0–4.0 FAR |
| Applies to | Residential zoning across major Indian cities |
| Exceptions | Suburban / low density → 1.0–1.5 |
| Urban general → 1.5–2.5 | |
| TOD zones / High density → 3.0–4.0 | |
| Premium / TDR FAR → Additional via payment / TDR | |
| Road width dependency → Higher FAR is often permitted for plots abutting wider roads. | |
| Special project types → Affordable housing (PMAY), slum redevelopment (SRA), and IT parks often have significantly higher incentive FAR. | |
| Incentive FAR → Additional FAR may be granted for achieving green building ratings or for surrendering land for public amenities like road widening. | |
| Measured as | FAR = Total built-up floor area / Plot area. Excludes basements, parking floors (often), terrace, and refuge areas. |
| Source | NBC 2016 — NBC 2016 Part 3, Clause 2.36 (Definition). The specific values are not in the NBC but are mandated by the local authority's Development Control & Promotion Regulations (DCPR) or Master Plan. 📚 Cross-referenced |
Floor Area Ratio (FAR), also known as Floor Space Index (FSI) in regions like Maharashtra, is the key regulatory tool controlling development density. It directly dictates the total built-up area permissible on a plot, thereby influencing a project's economic viability and the load on civic infrastructure.
FAR is non-negotiable and must be verified from the latest local DCPR or Master Plan, as it often depends on the plot's zone and abutting road width. For instance, base FSI in Mumbai is 1.33, in Bengaluru it varies from 1.75 to 3.25 based on road width, and in Delhi it's linked to plot size. Many cities offer 'Premium FSI' or 'Fungible FSI' which can be purchased from the authority.