Land Use Zones

Today, we will explain what kind of building can be constructed or operated in which area under the Building Standards Act. First, below are the details for each of the important restricted areas.
Thirteen categories of Land Use Zone provide a pattern for land-use zoning in each type of urban area. These can be generally categorized into residential, commercial and industrial uses. Each Land Use Zone has specifications concerning the uses of buildings which can be constructed in the zone. 

​Land Use Zones

Category I exclusively low-rise residential zone

This zone is designated for low rise residential buildings. The permitted buildings include residential buildings which are also used as small shops or offices and elementary/junior high school buildings.

Category II exclusively low-rise residential zone

This zone is mainly designated for low rise residential buildings. In addition to elementary/ junior high school buildings, certain types of shop buildings with a floor area of up to 150m 2 are permitted.

Category I mid/high-rise oriented residential zone

This zone is designated for medium to high residential buildings. In addition to hospital and university buildings, certain types of shop buildings with a floor area of up to 500m 2 are permitted.

Category II mid/high-rise oriented residential zone

This zone is designated to protect the residential environment. The permitted buildings include shops, offices and hotel buildings with a floor area of up to 3,000m 2 .

Category I residential zone

This zone is designated to protect the residential environment. The permitted buildings include shops, offices and hotel buildings with a floor area of up to 3,000m 2 .

Category II residential zone

This zone is designated to mainly protect the residential environment. The permitted buildings include shops, offices and hotel buildings as well as buildings with karaoke box.

Quasi-residential zone

This zone is designated to allow the introduction of vehicle-related facilities along roads while protecting the residential environment in harmony with such facilities.

Rural residential zone

This zoning is designed to protect the environment of low rise residential buildings in harmony with agriculture. In addition to buildings, direct sales places for agricultural products will be built.

Neighborhood commercial zone

This zone is designated to provide daily shopping facilities for the neighbourhood residents. In addition to residential and shop buildings, small factory buildings are permitted.

Commercial zone

Banks, cinemas, restaurants and department stores are constructed in this zone. Residential buildings and small factory buildings are also permitted.

Quasi-industrial zone

This zone is mainly occupied by light industrial facilities and service facilities. Almost all types of factories are permitted excepting those which are considered to considerably worsen the environment.

Industrial zone

Any type of factory can be built in this zone. While residential and shop buildings can be constructed, school, hospital and hotel buildings are not permitted.

Exclusively industrial zone

This zone is designated for factories. While all types of factory buildings are permitted, residential, shop, school, hospital and hotel buildings cannot be constructed.

Special Land Use District
A Special Land Use District is designated as a supplement to the land-use regulations on the Land Use Zone. It is
designated within a Land Use Zone aiming at specific purposes, such as achieving more effective land use or a more pleasant environment. Regulations under Land Use Zone are applied uniformly nationwide. However, in the Special Land Use District, Land Use Zone regulations can be modified by municipal bylaw. In correspondence with the local characteristics, each municipality can stipulate the strengthening or relaxation of Land Use Zone regulations.
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Land Use Zone and Building Regulation
Land Use Zone controls volume, height of buildings as well as use of them under provisions of the Building Standard Law. These regulations are designed to prevent a mixture of buildings used for different purposes in one area, and to ensure the suitable environment for the specified type of land use.
Control of Building Use by Land Use Zones​

Next time, we will explain the building coverage ratio and floor area ratio.