Building Setback
Also known as: setback distance, building line
A setback is the minimum required open distance between a building and the plot boundary or the centre of the adjoining road.
Setbacks are the mandatory gaps you must leave on the front, rear, and sides of a building. They provide light, ventilation, privacy, fire access, and room for future road widening, and they are enforced during the naksa-pass (building-permit) process.
In Nepal, the required setback depends on the plot size, the width and classification of the adjoining road, and the municipality's bylaws. Front setbacks are often measured from the centre-line of the road, which can significantly reduce the buildable footprint on plots facing wider roads.
Setbacks interact with ground coverage and FAR: the buildable area left after applying setbacks effectively limits the footprint, which in turn affects how many storeys you need to reach the permitted FAR.