When choosing a design for a future house, the question of how to place it on the plot often arises. Information on the rules for locating buildings, structures and installations can be useful here.
The Urban Planning Code of the Russian Federation of 29 December 2004 No. 190-FZ introduced the concept of the red line, meaning a line that denotes “existing, planned (altered, newly formed) boundaries of public-use territories, boundaries of land plots on which power transmission lines, communication lines (including linear cable structures), pipelines, motor roads, railway lines and other similar structures are located”. The line of possible development of a land plot is measured precisely from the red line. In addition, there are restrictions on the location of buildings, structures, installations, outbuildings and greenery relative to the neighbouring plot boundary, as well as minimum fire-safety distances.
In accordance with SP 53.13330.2011 “Planning and development of territories of gardening (dacha) associations of citizens, buildings and structures”, as well as SP 30-102-99 “Planning and development of territories of low-rise housing construction”, the following minimum distances are established between:
- a dwelling house and the red line of streets* — not less than 5 m;
- a dwelling house and the red line of driveways** — not less than 3 m;
- utility buildings and the red lines of streets and driveways — not less than 5 m;
- a dwelling house and the neighbouring plot boundary*** — not less than 3 m;
- a building for keeping small livestock and poultry and the neighbouring plot boundary — not less than 4 m;
- other buildings (bathhouses, garages, etc.) and the neighbouring plot boundary — not less than 1 m;
- trunks of tall trees and the neighbouring plot boundary — not less than 4 m;
- trunks of medium-height trees and the neighbouring plot boundary — not less than 2 m;
- shrubs and the neighbouring plot boundary — not less than 1 m.
* - a street — a public-use territory intended for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, including a two-lane carriageway, shoulders, ditches and reinforcing berms;
** — a driveway — a territory intended for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, including a single-lane carriageway, shoulders, ditches and reinforcing berms.
*** — the distance between a dwelling house/buildings and the neighbouring plot boundary is measured from the plinth or from the wall of the house or building (if there is no plinth), provided that elements of the house and building (bay window, porch, canopy, roof overhang, etc.) project no more than 50 cm from the plane of the wall. If elements project more than 50 cm, the distance is measured from the projecting parts or from their projection onto the ground (cantilever roof canopy, second-floor elements on posts, etc.)
Additional restrictions in accordance with SP 53.13330.2011 “Planning and development of territories of gardening (dacha) associations of citizens, buildings and structures”:
- the roof slope of utility buildings located 1 m from the neighbouring plot boundary must be oriented so as to prevent rainwater from running onto the neighbouring plot;
- minimum distances between buildings, including those on adjacent plots: from a dwelling house to a bathhouse (sauna), shower, or latrine — 8 m; from a well to a compost facility and a latrine — 8 m;
- where utility buildings adjoin a dwelling house, the distance to the neighbouring plot boundary is measured separately from each object, for example: house-garage (not less than 3 m from the house, not less than 1 m from the garage); house-building for livestock and poultry (not less than 3 m from the house, not less than 4 m from the building for livestock and poultry).
Additional restrictions in accordance with SP 30-102-99 “Planning and development of territories of low-rise housing construction”: the distance from the windows of living rooms to the walls of a neighbouring house and utility buildings (shed, garage, bathhouse) located on neighbouring land plots must be not less than 6 m.
Minimum fire-safety distances:
- between outermost dwelling houses and groups of dwelling houses on plots, as well as between houses located on opposite sides of a driveway (in accordance with SP 53.13330.2011):
| Material of load-bearing and enclosing structures of the building | Minimum distances, m | |||
| A | B | C | ||
| A | Stone, concrete, reinforced concrete and other non-combustible materials | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| B | The same, with wooden floors and roofs protected by non-combustible and slow-burning materials | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| C | Timber, framed enclosing structures of non-combustible, slow-burning and combustible materials | 10 | 10 | 15 |
- between buildings (as well as between outermost structures and groups of structures on adjoining plots) (in accordance with SP 30-102-99):
| Fire-resistance rating of the building | Distance, m, at the fire-resistance rating of buildings | ||
| I, II | III | IIIa, IIIb, IV, IVa, V | |
| I, II | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| III | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| IIIa, IIIb, IV, IVa, V | 10 | 10 | 15 |
I — Buildings with load-bearing and enclosing structures of natural or artificial stone materials, concrete or reinforced concrete using sheet and slab non-combustible materials;
II — The same. Unprotected steel structures may be used in building roofs;
III — Buildings with load-bearing and enclosing structures of natural or artificial stone materials, concrete or reinforced concrete. Wooden structures protected by plaster or slow-burning sheet and slab materials may be used for floors. No fire-resistance or fire-spread limits are imposed on roof elements, while timber attic roof elements are given fire-retardant treatment;
IIIa — Buildings predominantly of framed structural scheme. Frame elements — unprotected steel structures. Enclosing structures — steel profiled sheets or other non-combustible sheet materials with slow-burning insulation;
IIIb — Predominantly single-storey buildings of framed structural scheme. Frame elements — solid or glued laminated timber given fire-retardant treatment that provides the required fire-spread limit. Enclosing structures — panels or element-by-element assembly using timber or timber-based materials. Timber and other combustible materials of enclosing structures must be given fire-retardant treatment or protected from fire and high temperatures so as to provide the required fire-spread limit.
IV — Buildings with load-bearing and enclosing structures of solid or glued laminated timber and other combustible or slow-burning materials, protected from fire and high temperatures by plaster or other sheet or slab materials. No fire-resistance or fire-spread limits are imposed on roof elements, while timber attic roof elements are given fire-retardant treatment;
IVa — Predominantly single-storey buildings of framed structural scheme. Frame elements — unprotected steel structures. Enclosing structures — steel profiled sheets or other non-combustible materials with combustible insulation;
V — Buildings whose load-bearing and enclosing structures are not subject to fire-resistance or fire-spread limits.
