Seoul City Revises 'Urban Planning Ordinance' Completely for the First Time in 20 Years... Simplifying Complex Provisions

Relaxation of Floor Area Ratio in District Unit Planning Areas
Amendments Including Allowance of Order Delivery Facilities
Effective from October 14

Seoul’s “Urban Planning Ordinance” will be completely revised for the first time in 20 years. The complex article structure has been reorganized, and ambiguous terms and expressions have been clearly amended. The revision also includes changes such as the reorganization of floor area ratio systems in district unit planning zones and the allowance of order delivery facilities.

The city announced on the 15th that it had promulgated the ordinance for the complete revision of the Urban Planning Ordinance. The original ordinance was first enacted in 2000, and this is the first full revision in 20 years since the complete amendment following the enactment of the “Framework Act on National Land Planning and Utilization” in 2003.

First, the ordinance was comprehensively overhauled. The current ordinance’s structural system and hierarchy were restructured, and amendments to related laws and regulations were reflected. The order of articles was rearranged to align with the hierarchy of higher laws, and article numbers were uniformly adjusted by deleting provisions and organizing branch numbers. The ordinance’s structure was simplified from the current 90 articles and 5 appendices to a total of 70 articles and 19 appendices by transferring building restriction tables within use districts, subdividing regulations on building coverage ratio and floor area ratio, and other measures.

Ambiguous phrases, terms, and expressions were clearly revised, and necessary supplementary provisions were newly established due to the loss of effect of existing supplementary provisions following the complete revision. Similar phrase expressions were standardized, typographical errors corrected, and repetitive phrases deleted to minimize difficulties in interpreting the ordinance. Changes in the method of hearing opinions during urban management plan formulation following amendments to the “Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on National Land Planning and Utilization” and amendments to other laws such as the Building Act were reflected to update the legal basis and terminology of the articles.

Since its initial enactment, the Urban Planning Ordinance has been amended 100 times, resulting in a mixture of newly established, deleted, and various exception provisions, which has been criticized for being complex and difficult to understand. A draft was prepared through working meetings starting in November last year, legislative procedures began in March this year, and on the 9th, it was reviewed and approved at the 15th Ordinance and Rules Deliberation Committee.

Additionally, when determining floor area ratios within district unit planning zones, the ordinance now explicitly allows the overlapping application of floor area ratio relaxation provisions under other laws such as the Building Act. For areas without changes in use districts, the ordinance includes provisions allowing relaxation up to 110% of the floor area ratio specified for each use district.

Furthermore, following amendments to the Logistics Facilities Act and the Enforcement Decree of the Building Act, order delivery facilities have been added to the category of secondary neighborhood living facilities. Accordingly, the ordinance now provides the legal basis to allow the construction of order delivery facilities within secondary neighborhood living facilities in secondary general residential areas.

The number of extensions allowed for the retention period of temporary buildings not subject to district unit planning has also been specified. Temporary buildings constructed by the state or local governments for public interest purposes have no limit on extension counts, while model houses for exhibitions or similar temporary buildings are limited to one extension.

The revised ordinance will take effect on October 14. However, considering their close relevance to citizens’ daily lives, the provisions regarding floor area ratio regulations within district unit planning zones, the allowance of order delivery facility construction in secondary general residential areas, and the extension limits for temporary buildings within district unit plans will be enforced immediately upon promulgation.

Jo Nam-jun, head of Seoul City’s Urban Space Headquarters, said, “This complete revision of the Urban Planning Ordinance was promoted with the intention of modifying the ordinance, which had become complex and difficult after numerous amendments since its initial enactment, to be more accessible to citizens.” He added, “We hope the more understandable and concise ordinance will provide practical help to citizens.”