Example: Large-ScaleRepairs and Remodeling

Example: Large-Scale Repairs and Remodeling

(For residences with a total floor area of 100 ㎡ or less and two floors or less in a quasi-fire zone) 

The Building Standard Law is applied retroactively to construction work*1 that falls under the category of large-scale repair or remodeling, and in general, the specifications of the renovated house need to conform to the current law. However, there are a number of relaxed regulations that allow for large-scale repairs and remodeling under certain conditions. 

Fire prevention

• The eaves of the house can be made with wooden panels (*1).

​Eaves with wooden panels

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• The exterior walls can be painted with earth or covered with wooden boards (*1). If the current wall is painted with earth that complies with the Notification, no modification is required.  
• If a fire prevention system is installed on the inside, the outside can be a wooden lattice. 
• Fire prevention equipment of the specifications designated by the Notification can be covered with wood on the surface.  

​⇒ The house can be repaired in a way that makes the most of its original Kyo-Machiya design.
​* 1: The specifications must conform to the Notification and be approved by the Minister. ​

Procedural Rules 

• For buildings specified in Article 6, Clause 1, Items 1 through 3 of the Act, applications for building permit and completion inspection are required. 
• For buildings specified in Article 6, Clause 1, Item 4 of the Law, no application for building permit is required. 
• It is necessary to comply with the Building Standard Law even when an application for a building permit is not required. 

Collective regulations 

• The building coverage ratio and the floor area ratio are not subject to retroactive application. 
• Height regulations (diagonal lines on roads, diagonal lines on neighboring land, diagonal lines on the north side, height districts) are not subject to retroactive application. 
• Large-scale repairs/renovation are possible for a site that borders a road designated as such by the law by 2 m or more, or those that have received special permission is allowed.
• If the existing building is located within the road, it is necessary to remove the part concerned. 

⇒ The area and height regulations are not applied retroactively.

Structure 

• ​Repairs and remodeling are possible if the risk does not increase in terms of structural durability. 

⇒ Possible by reducing the weight of the roof and repairing the deterioration of the exterior walls.

*2:
Examples of construction work that falls under the category of large-scale repairs or remodeling

• Repair of exterior walls (majority of the area of the exterior walls) 
• Repair of pillars (majority of the number of pillars) 
• Repair of roof (majority of the area of the roof, excluding tiles and baseboards) 

Examples of work that is NOT considered large-scale repairs or remodeling 

• Reroofing of roof tiles and baseboards 
• Installation of stairs 
• Repainting of rough exterior walls 
• Repairing or remodeling less than half the area of the exterior walls 
• Repairing or remodeling less than half of the pillars or beams