In real-estate zoning, the term for a building’s total floor area divided by the size of its site is floor area ratio (FAR).
FAR compares the total floor area of all floors with the area of the land parcel. For example, a 10,000-square-foot site with a FAR of 2 can generally contain 20,000 square feet of floor area, subject to other planning rules. A developer might distribute that area across multiple floors rather than build across the entire site.
Planning authorities use FAR to regulate development intensity and help shape urban form. Higher FAR values usually permit denser construction, while lower values generally limit the amount of floor space. FAR rules can work alongside height limits, setbacks, parking requirements, and site-coverage restrictions.
FAR is often confused with lot coverage. Lot coverage measures how much of the ground is covered by a building’s footprint; FAR includes floor space across every level. Local codes may calculate the ratio differently by excluding features such as parking areas or mechanical spaces.