Overview of Building Standards Act
I'd like to provide an overview of Building Standards Act.
Building Standards Act is a law that establishes minimum standards for the (technical) safety of buildings.
"The purpose of this Act is to establish minimum standards for the site, structure, equipment, and use of buildings, and to protect the lives, health, and property of the people, thereby contributing to the promotion of public welfare." (Building Standards Act, Article 1)
A building permit is issued by the prefecture or municipality.
A building that violates the law is an illegal building.
In extreme cases, if the illegal construction is so malicious and dangerous that it may cause extensive damage to the surrounding area, it may be ordered to be demolished.
For example, there is the obligation to adjoin the road.
When you build a building on a piece of land, whether the land is bordered by a road or not.
What kind of road is it, how many meters of it, and how many meters does it border the land?
If it is not bordered by an appropriate road, fire trucks and ambulances cannot pass through.
Evacuation routes cannot be secured in the event of an earthquake, fire, or other disaster.
There are also various other standards, such as those related to fire prevention (materials, structure, etc.).
There are many difficult standards that can only be determined by experts.
- To read this article in Japanese
- To return to Introductory course in Japanese real estate laws
Building Standards Act is a law that establishes minimum standards for the (technical) safety of buildings.
"The purpose of this Act is to establish minimum standards for the site, structure, equipment, and use of buildings, and to protect the lives, health, and property of the people, thereby contributing to the promotion of public welfare." (Building Standards Act, Article 1)
A building permit is issued by the prefecture or municipality.
A building that violates the law is an illegal building.
In extreme cases, if the illegal construction is so malicious and dangerous that it may cause extensive damage to the surrounding area, it may be ordered to be demolished.
For example, there is the obligation to adjoin the road.
When you build a building on a piece of land, whether the land is bordered by a road or not.
What kind of road is it, how many meters of it, and how many meters does it border the land?
If it is not bordered by an appropriate road, fire trucks and ambulances cannot pass through.
Evacuation routes cannot be secured in the event of an earthquake, fire, or other disaster.
There are also various other standards, such as those related to fire prevention (materials, structure, etc.).
There are many difficult standards that can only be determined by experts.
- To read this article in Japanese
- To return to Introductory course in Japanese real estate laws