RULE 3: Building Permit

Construction Regulations
● All on-site work done from site Overview of Building Permits
preparation, excavation, foundation,
assembly of all the components, and
Definition:
installation of utilities and equipment of
buildings/structures. A building permit is a formal authorization
issued by the Building Official, allowing
Addition construction to proceed after verifying that
plans and specifications conform to
● Any new construction which increases applicable codes.
the height or area of an existing
building/structure.
When a Permit is Required
Alteration
A building permit is necessary before
● Construction in a building/structure undertaking any of the following activities:
involves changes in the materials
used, partitioning, location/size of ● Constructing
openings, structural parts, existing ● Altering
utilities, and equipment, but does not
● Repairing
increase the overall area.
● Converting
Renovation ● Moving
● Adding to
● Any physical change made on a ● Demolishing a building
building/structure to increase its value,
utility, and/or to improve its aesthetic Building Permit Exemptions
quality.
Certain minor constructions and repairs
Conversion are exempt from requiring a permit:

● A change in the use or occupancy of a ● Minor Constructions:

building/structure or any portion(s) ○ Structures of 6 sqm or less
thereof which has different ○ Open terraces or patios not
requirements.
exceeding 20 sqm
Repair ○ Window grilles
○ Garden pools 500 mm
● Remedial work done on any damaged deep or shallower
or deteriorated portion(s) of a
building/structure to restore its original
○ Garden masonry walls not
condition. exceeding 1.20 m in height
● Repairs:
Demolition ○ Non-structural repairs
○ Non-load bearing partition
● The systematic dismantling or
destruction of a building/structure, in walls
whole or in part. ○ Repairs not involving
additions or alterations
Ancillary Building/Structure ○ Maintenance of doors,
● A secondary building/structure located
within the same premises, the use of windows, floors, fences,
which is incidental to that of the main and plumbing fixtures
building/structure.
Permit Requirements Permits may be denied or revoked due to:

If the lot is owned: ● Errors in plans and specifications

● Incorrect or inaccurate information
● Completed application forms provided
● Original Certificate of Title (OCT or ● Non-compliance with the building
TCT) code
● Tax declaration
● Current real property tax receipt Inspection and Supervision

If the lot is NOT owned: The building owner must hire a licensed
architect or civil engineer for full-time
● Contract of Lease or Deed of inspection and supervision of the
Absolute Sale in lieu of TCT construction process.
● Five sets of plans and
specifications, signed and sealed RULE 4 (Types of Construction)
by licensed professionals
TYPE I
Issuance of Permits ▪ Wood construction
● Permits are issued within 15 days
TYPE II
after the payment of required fees.
▪ Wood construction with fire-resistant
Liability Clause materials
▪ One-hour fire-resistive throughout
According to Article 1723 of the Civil
Code: TYPE III
▪ Masonry and wood construction
● The architect or engineer who ▪ One hour fire resistive throughout
prepared the plans is liable for 15 ▪ Incombustible exterior walls
years from completion for any
defects causing the building to TYPE IV
collapse. ▪ Steel, iron, concrete, or masonry
● If the collapse is due to construction
construction defects or inferior ▪ Incombustible interiors (ceilings, walls)
materials, both the contractor and
construction supervisor are liable. TYPE V
▪ Four-hour fire resistive throughout
Expiration of Permits ▪ Structural elements of steel, iron,
concrete or Masonry
Permits expire if:

● Construction has not commenced

within 1 year of issuance. RULE 5 (Fire Zones)
● Work is not resumed within 120
days after being suspended or FIRE ZONE
abandoned. ▪ An area within which only certain types
of construction are allowed, based on their
Non-Issuance, Suspension, and occupancy, type of construction, and
Revocation resistance to fire
 1. A – Residential Dwellings:
FIRE ZONE DESIGNATIONS Single-family homes.
1. Non-fire restricted zones ○ A-1: Single-family
▪ All types of construction allowed occupancy.
2. Fire restrictive zones ○ A-2: Non-leasing
▪ Type I construction NOT allowed occupancy for up to 10
3. Highly fire restrictive zones persons.
▪ Types I, II, and III NOT allowed 2. B – Residential, Hotels,
Apartments: Multiple dwelling
BUILDINGS IN MULTIPLE FIRE ZONES units (e.g., hotels, boarding
▪ Shall be considered as part of the more houses).
restrictive zone if more than 1/3 of its total 3. C – Education and Recreation:
floor area is in that zone Schools, day-care centers not in
Groups H or I.
RULE 6 4. D – Institutional: Facilities where
Fire Resistive Requirements personal liberties are restrained or
care is provided.
○ D-1: Mental hospitals, jails.
○ D-2: Care for
non-ambulatory
patients/children.
○ D-3: Care for ambulatory
patients/older children.
5. E – Business and Mercantile:
Retail and office spaces.
○ E-1: Maintenance and parts
exchange.
○ E-2: Retail stores, dining
establishments.
○ E-3: Aircraft hangars, open
parking.
6. F – Industrial: Light industrial uses
(e.g., factories).
7. G – Storage and Hazardous:
RULE 7 (Occupancies + Zones + Facilities for storing
flammable/hazardous materials.
Requirements)
○ G-1 to G-5: Various
categories based on the
type and risk of materials
Key Differences
stored.
● Occupancies: Assigned to 8. H – Assembly: Buildings used for
buildings based on their use. gatherings.
● Zoning: Assigned to land based ○ H-1 to H-4: Various
on its designated purpose. assembly types based on
capacity (under or over
Occupancies 1,000 occupants).
 9. I – Assembly (1,000+ ■ Basic R3:
occupants): Large assembly Rowhouses (1-3
buildings with stages. stories).
10. J – Accessory: Support structures ■ Maximum R3:
(e.g., carports, fences, agricultural Medium-rise (6-12
structures). stories).
● R4: Medium to High-Density
Zoning Categories Residential
○ Characterized by low-rise
● R: Residential townhouses or multiple
● C: Commercial family dwellings on
● GI: General Institutional individual lots.
● I: Industrial ● R5: Very High-Density Residential
● UTS: Utilities, Transportation, ○ Features medium-rise to
Services high-rise condominiums.
● SPE: Special Uses
● PRE: Park/Recreational Structures Commercial Zones
● CUL: Cultural
● A: Agricultural ● C1: Light Commercial
● AI: Agroindustrial ○ Neighborhood scale,
● PUD: Planned Unit Development low-rise (1-3 stories),
low-intensity trade (e.g.,
Zoning Categories small shopping centers).
● C2: Medium Commercial
Residential Zones ○ City scale, medium-rise
(3-5 stories), medium to
● R1: Low-Density Residential high-intensity trade (e.g.,
○ Characterized by shopping centers).
single-family, detached ● C3: Metropolitan Commercial
dwellings. ○ Metropolitan scale, medium
● R2: Medium-Density Residential to high-rise (3-5 stories),
○ Features low-rise very high-intensity trade
single-attached, duplex, or (e.g., large shopping malls).
multilevel buildings.
○ Subclassifications: Institutional Zones
■ Basic R2: 1-3 floors
(single ● GI: General Institutional
attached/duplex). ○ Community to national level
■ Maximum R2: 3-5 use; low-rise to high-rise.
floors (low-rise ○ Includes
multi-level). education/recreation and
● R3: High-Density Residential medical/government
○ Includes low-rise or facilities.
medium-rise buildings, like
condominiums. Industrial Zones
○ Subclassifications:
● I-1: Light Industrial
 ○ Low-rise, sprawling, new projects (e.g.,
low-intensity Bonifacio Global City).
manufacturing.
● I-2: Medium Industrial Mixed Occupancies
○ Low-rise, sprawling,
medium-intensity ● Adhere to stricter requirements of
manufacturing. the involved uses.
● Exceptions:
Utility and Special Zones ○ One-storey buildings must
conform to applicable rules
● UTS: Utilities, Transportation, for each portion.
Services ○ Minor occupancy not
○ Utilitarian, functional uses; exceeding 10% may be
low-rise to medium-rise. ignored.
○ Includes transport terminals
and power/water facilities. Development controls
● SPE: Special
○ Other facilities (e.g., ▪ TLA = Total lot area
cemeteries, memorial ▪ PSO = Percentage of site occupancy/ lot
parks). occupied by the building
▪ TOSL = Total open space within lot
Recreational and Cultural Zones ▪ TLA = PSO + TOSL
▪ USA = Unpaved surface area
● PRE: Parks, Recreation, ▪ ISA = Impervious surface area
Entertainment ▪ TOSL = USA + ISA
○ Low-rise to medium-rise; ▪ MACA = PSO + ISA
recreational functions ▪ Hence, TLA = MACA + USA
related to education. ▪ Note: MACA stands for Maximum
● CUL: Cultural Allowable Construction Area
○ Community to national use;
low-rise to medium-rise. ▪ AMBF = Allowable max. building footprint
▪ GFA = Gross floor area (Total enclosed
Agricultural Zones floor area)
▪ TGFA = Total gross floor area
● A: Agricultural
▪ AMVB = Allowable max. volume of
○ Low to medium rise;
building
includes farms and
▪ OFB = Outer faces of the building
research facilities.
▪ FLAR = Floor and lot area ratio
● AI: Agroindustrial
○ Low-rise; incorporates
OTHER FORMULAS
agroindustrial activities and
▪ PSO = AMBF / TLA
education.
▪ GFA = TLA x FLAR
Planned Unit Development ▪ TGFA = GFA + Non-GFA

● PUD: Planned Unit Development

○ Comprehensive
development schemes for