The building line is an imaginary line on your plot in front of which no construction is allowed. It marks the boundary between public space and the buildable portion of your plot. The building line is established in the zoning plan and determines how far your house or outbuilding must be set back from the street.
Front building line and rear facade line
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Front building line | The line on the street side — your front facade must not extend beyond this |
| Rear facade line | The line of the rear facade — determines where the “rear yard” begins |
The rear yard (behind the rear facade line) is important for permit-free building: many outbuildings may only be built in the rear yard.
Why is the building line important?
- Determines where you may build
- Prevents buildings from standing too close to the road
- Ensures a uniform streetscape
- Defines what counts as “rear yard” (relevant for permit-free building)
Looking up the building line
The building line is recorded in the zoning plan:
- Online: your local municipality’s planning portal or national planning website
- At the municipality: consult the zoning plan
Related terms
- Zoning plan
- Property boundary
- Permit-free building
- Building permit