RULE 8: Light and Ventilation

Section 801: General Requirements

1. Every building shall be designed and constructed with proper light and ventilation
2. All buildings shall face a public or private street and an alley
3. Buildings shall not be altered in order to reduce the size of any room unless additional rooms
shall conform to the requirements of this rule
4. Buildings shall not increase in size

Section 802: Measurement of Site Occupancy

Site occupancy is measured at the ground level and excludes courts, yards, and light wells if
and only if these three are to be measured clear of all projections from the walls not exceeding 1.20
meters in width

Section 803: Percentage of Site Occupancy

1. In connection to section 802, the PSO of a proposed additional construction shall be included
to the Total Lot Area.
2. MAXIMUM SITE OCCUPANCY SHALL BE IDENTIFIED BY USE, TYPE OF
CONSTRUCTION, HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING, AND LOCATION OF THE SITE. IT SHALL
BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISONS OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PUBLIC SPACE
3. TOTAL OPEN SPACES WITHIN LOT ARE PORTIONS OF TOTAL LOT AREA NOT
OCCUPIED BY THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE PSO
4. R-1 OCCUPANCIES SHALL FOLLOW MINIMUM YARD STANDARDS
5. ABUTMENTS FOR BASIC OCCUPANCIES
A. R-1 – NO ABUTMENTS
B. R-2 – ONLY ONE SIDE ; NO FIREWALLS AT THE FRONT AND REAR
C. R-3, R-5, C-3– 2 SIDES OR 1 SIDE ONLY
D. R-4 – 2 SIDES ONLY
6. WHEN THE LOTS ARE TOO NARROW OR SHALLOW SUCH THAT THE PUBLIC OPEN
SPACE THEY ABUT CAN SUPPLY LIGHT AND VENTILATION, THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR TOSL CAN BE IGNORED

SECTION 804: SIZES AND DIMENSIONS OF COURTS

1. MINIMUM SIZES OF COURTS IS DETERMINED BY THE USE, TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION

AND BUILDING HEIGHT, PROVIDED THAT HORIZONTAL DIMENSIONS IS NOT LESS
THAN 2.00 METERS
2. OPEN SPACE SHALL BE LOCATED ANYWHERE WITHIN THE LOT BUT SHALL PRIVDE
MAXIMUM LIGHT AND VENTILATION
3. YARD – SPACE BETWEEN OUTERMOST FACE OF THE BUILDING AND THE PROPERTY
LINE. WIDTH IS THE SETBACK
4. FOR BUILDINGS WITH TWO OR MORE STOREYS IN HEIGHT, THE WIDTH OF THE
COURT SHALL INCREASE AT THE RATE OF 300 MM FOR EVERY STOREY ADDED
UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH STOREY
5. UNCOVERED DRIVEWAYS, ACCESS ROADS, AND PARKING AREAS ARE
CONSIDERED AN OPEN SPACE IF THEY ARE OPEN AND UNOBSTRUCTED FROM THE
GROUND
6. A ROOFED CARPORT IS NOT PART OF TOSL
 7. Front yard can be hardscaped for basic R-2 and R-3 occupancies

Section 805: ceiling heights

1. BUILDINGS WITH MORE THAN ONE STOREY AND WITH ARTFICIAL VENTILATION –
NOT LESS THAN 2.40 M FROM FLOOR TO CEILING
BUILDINGS WITH NATURAL VENTILATION – CEILEING HEIGHT OF NOT LESS THAN
2.70 M
2. MINIMUM CEILING HEIGHT OF FIRST STOREY – 2.70 M
SECOND STOREY – 2.40
SUCCEEDING STOREYS – 2.10 M HEAD CLEARANCE
3. MEZZANINE – NOT LESS THAN 1.80 M CEILING HEIGHT

SECTION 806: SIZES AND DIMENSIONS OF ROOMS

A. ROOMS FOR HUMAN – 2.00 TO 6.00 SQM

B. KITCHEN – 1.50 TO 3.00 SQM
C. BATH AND TOILET – 900 MM TO 1.20 SQM

SECTION 807: AIR SPACE REQS IN DETERMINING SIZE OF ROOMS

A. SCHOOL – 3.00 CU METERS WITH 1.00 SQM FLOOR AREA PER PERSON
B. FACTORIES, WORKSHOP – 12.00 CU METERS PER PERSON
C. HABITABLE ROOMS – 14.00 CU METERS PER PERSON

SECTION 808: WINDOW OPENINGS

1. ROOMS NOT LESS THAN 1.00 SQM WITH ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION – TOTAL FREE
AREA FOR OPENINGS EQUAL TO ATLEAST 10% OF THE FLOOR AREA
2. TOILET AND BATHROOMS – WINDOWS WITH OPENING NOT LESS THAN 240 SQ MM
WITH AN AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 1/20 OF THE FLOOR AREA
3. WINDOWS MAY OPEN INYO A ROOFED PORCH
4. EAVES, CANOPIES, AND AWNINGS OVER WINDOWS – NOT LESS THAN 750 MM FROM
THE PROPERTY LINE
5. NO OPENINGS FOR ALL TYPES OF ABUTMENTS ERECTED ALONG PROPERTY LINES
6. WINDOWS MUST SERVE AS EMERGENCY EGRESS TO VACATE
A. CAN BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE
B. CLEAR OPENING WITH WIDTH OF NOT LESS THAN 820 MM AND HEIGHT
OF 1 M
C. SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH QUICK OPENING MECHANISM
D. MUST BE FREE OF OBSTACLES AND SHALL LEAD TO A DIRECT ACCESS
DOWN INTO THE GROUND

SECTION 809: VENT SHAFTS

1. SHALL HAVE A HORIZONTAL CROSS-SECTION AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 1.00 SQM
FOR EVERY METER OF HEIGHT OF SHAFT
2. SHALL BE COVERED BY A SKYLIGHT UNLESS OPEN TO THE OUTER AIR AT THE TOP
3. AIR DUCTS SHALL OPEN TO A STREET BY A DUCT WITH UNOBSTRUCTED CROSS-
SECTIONAL AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 0.30 SQM
SECTION 810: VENTILATION SKYLIGHTS

SHALL HAVE A GLASS AREA NOT LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR THE REPLACED
WINDOWS. THEY SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH MOVABLE LOUVERS THAT CAN BE OPENED
AND CAN PROVIDE ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION

SECTION 811: ARTIFICIAL VENTILATION

ROOMS HOUSING HEATING EQUIPMENTS SHALL HAVE MEANS OF ARTIFICAL

VENTILATION

EXCEPTION:

A. IF THE PROPERTY IS UNIQUE AND CANNOT COMPLY WITH THE

REQUIREMENTS, VARIANCES SHALL BE APPLIED:
SETBACK, WINDOWS, PSO, FLAR, BHL
B. SHALL NOT HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY
AND WELFARE. SHALL NOT CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE DISTRICT

GUIDELINES ON EASEMENTS

1. An easement is considered a public land even if it is situated inside or outside a property

line. Easements shall not be used by any structure that may go against its character.
2. Allowed structures within easements
a. If wider than 9.00 m, may include roadway and temporary parking
b. Pedestrian access
c. Hardscaped pedestrian access
d. Softscaped developments for recreational use
e. Concrete steps leading to the water or boardwalks
f. Permanent utility/ service lines
3. Prohibited structures within easements
a. Structures not following its character and intended function
b. Semi/enclosed, semi/permanent habitable structures or other building elements
above or below the easement
c. Fences, perimeter walls

GUIDELINES ON VIEW CORRIDORS AND/OR SIGHT LINES

1. Roadway of RROW shall be free of structures (particularly commercial signs)

2. Commercial signs intruding the RROW leading to historical structures are prohibited
3. View corridors from buildings on a higher/lower lot shall not be blocked
4. light, ventilation and view should still be prioritized when ramps/ flyovers are being placed
when there are allowed structures within the RROW

GUIDELINES ON STREET/RROW

1. No structure shall be constructed if it does not have direct access to public space on
atleast one of its sides
2. Allowed structures withinRROW
a. Transportation structures whether temporary or not
b. Limited commercial structures above or below grade provided that these are
supplementary to the transportation structrures
c. Improvements on the RROW
 d. Public utility/ service structures provided that these does not restrict movement of
people
3. Disallowed structures within RROW
A. Semi/enclosed, semi/permanent habitable structures or other building elements
B. Government structures unless the same is situated below or above grade
C. Long term/overnight parking
D. Depository of abandoned vehicles
E. Business/industrial activities incompatible with the RROW character
F. Unauthorized recreation causing nuisance to general public
G. Any form of private gain
4. Minimum reqs
a. Interior or rear lots shall have RROW with a minimum width depending on the
number of buildings that its serve and shall not be less than 3.00 m
b. For commercial areas – sufficient wdith for maneuvering of vehicles
c. Privately owned RROW shall be registered in the lot title
d. Alignment of RROW shall be integrated into existing streets
e. No obstruction within RROW
5. Three Physical levels
a. RROW ABOVE GRADE – portion of RROW from finished surface of roadway all
the way up in the air
b. RROW AT GRADE - portion of RROW from natural grade up line to the finished
surface of roadway
c. RROW BELOW GRADE - portion of RROW from finished surface of the roadway
all the way into the ground

GUIDELINES ON SIDEWALKS

1. Subject to existing laws, local planning authority shall determine which street shall have an
open sidewalk
2. For a RROW with width of 9.00 M – sidewalks shall be 1.20 M
3. Sidewalk widths shall be based on following considerations:
a. Volume of pedestrians
b. Type, intensity or level of operation and size of occupancies
c. Type and volume of street furniture
d. Width of planting strips
e. Spatial needs for utility services underneath the sidewalk
f. Provisions for commuters
g. Provisions for driveways
h. Climate, light, ventilation, safety, security
4. Shall be uniform throughout the entire length of street
5. Shall have a non-slip surface and shall slope down from the bldg. line towards the curb
6. Sidewalks of 2.00 m shall include on its outer side a planting strip not less than 800 mm in
width
7. Combined open and arcaded sidewalks shall have a planting strip not less than 800 mm
8. Grade of SIDEWALKS:
a. Shall be of uniform grade throughout the entire length of the street
b. When slope of the street does not exceed 1/12 the sidewalk grade, it shall follow the level
of the street
c. When the slope of the street is 1/10, it shall be maintained for every 2.oo to 240.00 m of
run
d. When grade of two connecting sidewalks are between 1/10 and 1/8, two sidewalks shall
be adjoined by means of ramp not exceeding 1/10
9. Driveways, entrances and exits
 a. Surface of sidewalk and driveway shall be at the same plane
b. When height of curb is more than 200 mm, driveways may be constructed across the
entire width of sidewalk
c. Entrances and exits of buildings abutting sidewalks shall be made of either ramps or
steps with treads of not less than 300 mm
d. No portion of entrance and exit shall intrude into the sidewalk pavement
10. There shall be no obstruction on sidewalks specially commercial signs and structures
11. Mountable curbs shall only be allows if the sidewalk width on each side of the RROW is at a
minimum of 5.00 m wide

GUIDELINES ON BASEMENTS

1. Shall be at least 10.00 m wide

2. Prescribed setbacks must be followed for construction of basements to be allowed
3. Center portion of basement level can be extended by a minimum clear distance o1.40 m
4. If basements are to be constructed:
a. Primary Natural light and ventilation shaft with a clear distance of at least 3.00 m shall be
situated at the center of the building
b. Secondary natural light and ventilation shaft with a clear distance of at least 1.20 m shall
be situated at the front and rear perimeters of the building
c. Shafts shall only be used for natural air and light

GUIDELINES ON DESIGNING A PUBLIC STRUCTURE

a. General reqs
1. Shall conform to the applicable provisions of the preceding rules and regulations
2. Architectural character must express the nature of the function
3. Designed for permanence with maximized flexibility for future adjustments
4. Use of indigenous materials should be maximized
5. Aim to minimize costs
6. Usage of high quality materials shall be specified by the designers and planners
7. Must fully comply with the bldg. requirements under the code and fire code of the Philippines
8. Consider proper landscaping not only for aesthetics

b. Site selection
1. Compatible with the project usage
2. Accessible and near power,water,sewerage,transportation systems
3. Site analysis shall include, but not limited to:
a. Consideration of topography
b. Point of access
c. Exisiting structures
d. Vegetation
e. Soil characteristics
f. Land uses

.c. site development

a. Location/ orientation – to maximize the use of natural light and ventilation and, minimized
energy consumptions with constraints of the functional reqs
b. Site drainage – basic consideration; must be done in conjunction with siting and orientation of
buildings etc
c. Grading design -