Byggegrense (building line)
A building line is a line on a zoning plan map that shows where on a plot buildings may be placed. Buildings may be erected inside the building line, not outside it. Smaller parts of a building, such as roof overhangs, balconies and terraces, may often project beyond the line under the detailed rules in the zoning provisions, but the main volume must stand inside it.
The building line has its legal basis in plan- og bygningsloven § 12-7 (the Planning and Building Act), which allows the municipality to set building lines in zoning plans. It is one of the legally binding lines in a plan, on a par with purpose boundaries. While the purpose boundary separates different land use purposes (housing, business, recreation area, transport), the building line states where within a building area the building itself may be put up. The building line often does not follow the property boundary: a property may have a building line several metres inside the plot boundary to secure light, air, fire separation from the neighbour or sight lines towards the road.
Where no building line is set in a plan, plan- og bygningsloven § 29-4 on the siting of measures applies. A structure must then keep a distance to the neighbouring boundary that is at least half the height of the building and not less than 4 metres. The neighbour can give written consent to a closer siting. Towards a public road, the building lines in veglovens § 29 (the Road Act) also apply: 50 metres from national and county roads, and 15 metres from a municipal road, measured from the centre line, unless something else is set in a zoning plan or municipal master plan. These road building lines apply regardless of the content of the zoning plan, unless the plan expressly departs from them.
There are several types of building lines with different functions. An ordinary building line defines the outer frame for the development. A building alignment line (byggelinje) is a stricter variant that requires the façade to be placed exactly on the line, typically used in town centre plans to create a continuous street frontage. Hensynssoner (zones subject to special consideration) for hazard areas (flooding, landslides, quick clay, noise) or infrastructure (power lines) can also work as building lines by prohibiting building inside the zone. In the shore zone, the general building ban in the 100 metre belt under plan- og bygningsloven § 1-8 acts as a building line for the whole coast, unless the municipal master plan or the zoning plan expressly allows measures.
You can apply for a dispensation from a building line under plan- og bygningsloven chapter 19. A dispensation requires that the concerns behind the provision are not substantially set aside and that the advantages are clearly greater than the disadvantages. Minor overruns, typically roof overhangs and balconies of up to 1 metre, are often approved directly in the provisions without a dispensation. Larger overruns require a separate application and notification of neighbours. If the line is exceeded without a dispensation, the municipality can order reinstatement under plan- og bygningsloven § 32-3.
In Placepoint, building lines are shown as separate lines in the plan map in the map layer for zoning plans, at the same time as you see the property boundary, the land use purpose and any hensynssoner. For a walkthrough of how to read the provisions together with the building lines, see the example Zoning and maximum UFA.
How the dataset appears on the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Zoning as Building Limits from the Road's Center Line:
From Placepoint's glossary: Byggegrense
More information: Lovdata: Plan- og bygningsloven § 12-7, Lovdata: Pbl § 29-4 on siting, Lovdata: Veglova, DiBK: Building application guide
English: Building line (the limit beyond which construction is not permitted, per Plan- og bygningsloven).
Frequently asked questions
What is a building line?
A building line is a line on a zoning plan map that shows where buildings may be placed on a plot. The main volume of the building must stand inside the building line.
What is the difference between a building line and a property boundary?
The property boundary marks the legal extent of the property. The building line can lie several metres inside the property boundary and is the additional requirement for where buildings may be put up.
What applies if no building line is set in a plan?
Then plan- og bygningsloven § 29-4 applies, with a minimum distance of 4 metres to the neighbouring boundary (or half the height of the building if that is greater), together with the building lines in veglovens § 29 of 50 m from national and county roads, and 15 m from a municipal road.
Can roof overhangs and balconies go outside the building line?
Often yes, if the zoning provisions allow it. Common wordings permit up to 1 metre of projection for roof overhangs and balconies without it counting as an overrun.
Can I get a dispensation from a building line?
Yes. A dispensation is applied for under plan- og bygningsloven chapter 19. The concerns behind the provision cannot be substantially set aside, and the advantages must be clearly greater than the disadvantages.