Floor Area Ratio (FAR)
Also known as: FAR, FSI, Floor Space Index
FAR is the ratio of a building's total covered floor area across all storeys to the area of the plot it sits on.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR), also called Floor Space Index (FSI), limits how much total floor area you may build on a plot. If a 1,000 sq ft plot has a permitted FAR of 2.5, you may build up to 2,500 sq ft of total floor area across all storeys combined.
In Nepal, the permissible FAR depends on the municipality, the road width fronting the plot, and the land-use zone. A higher FAR allows more built-up area and usually more storeys. Always confirm the figure that applies to your plot with the local authority before finalising a design.
FAR works together with ground coverage and setback rules: ground coverage caps the footprint on any single floor, while FAR caps the cumulative area across floors.