Relaxed gross floor area exemption arrangements for carparks to commence in November
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The enhanced measure was put forward in the 2025 Policy Address. The measure will allow full GFA exemption for no more than two levels of aboveground carparks, while doing away with the prerequisite of constructing some of the carparks underground. Since the construction cost for aboveground carparks is lower and the construction time is shorter, the measure will effectively reduce construction costs and expedite developments. The measure has been welcomed by the trade since its announcement.
The above measure will be applicable to both types of carparks in private development projects: "private carparks" (also known as "ancillary carparks"), i.e. carparks provided to address parking needs of residents and visitors of the development project; and "public carparks", i.e. parking spaces provided by the developers in the project for the general public, as per the Government's requirement considering local parking needs.
Furthermore, for the third aboveground carpark level and beyond, 50 per cent of GFA exemption will be allowed, be it a private or public carpark, unlike past arrangements in which private and public carparks were subject to different arrangements.
Besides the above changes, other arrangements pertaining to carpark GFA exemption will continue to apply, such as all underground carparks (regardless of whether private or public) continuing to enjoy full GFA exemption, etc.
To facilitate the implementation of the enhanced measure, town planning procedures will be streamlined for approving height restrictions relevant to aboveground carparks. The details are as follows:
(a) If developers submit planning applications for minor relaxation of height restrictions because of constructing no more than two levels of aboveground carparks, under most circumstances, they will only be required to submit visual appraisals and, if the site involves major breezeways, simple reviews of the air ventilation impact assessment; and
(b) The Planning Department has reviewed the situation at New Development Areas (NDAs), where most development sites have height restrictions sufficient to accommodate two levels of aboveground carparks. For the remaining sites in NDAs where relaxation of height restrictions is required, the Government will initiate applications in accordance with town planning procedures next year.
Details of the enhanced arrangements can be found at the Building Department's updated Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers APP-2 (www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/codes-and-references/practice-notes-and-circular-letters/pnap/APP/APP002.pdf); as well as the Lands Department's latest Lands Administration Office Practice Note 9/2025 (www.landsd.gov.hk/doc/en/practice-note/lpn/PN%209_2025.pdf). The former sets out implementation details of enhanced measures, while the latter sets out relevant land administrative details for the enhanced measure, including that for applications seeking full GFA exemption for aboveground private carparks, the premium can be calculated based on the standard rate, without the need for a case-by-case assessment using the conventional approach.
Ends/Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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