Gebouwvlak

Gebouwvlak is a term used in Dutch spatial planning and building regulation to indicate the area or zone on a lot within which a building may be erected. It is often shown on municipal zoning maps (bestemmingsplannen) and used to control the horizontal placement, alignment and sometimes the maximum footprint of new construction. In English it is commonly translated as "building zone" or "building envelope."

The precise meaning and legal effect of a gebouwvlak can vary by municipality and by the text of the applicable plan. In practice it can fix building lines, require setbacks from streets or neighboring plots, and be combined with other rules on maximum height, number of storeys, and permitted functions. By limiting where on a parcel construction may take place, the measure helps shape streetscapes, protect open space, and regulate density.

Interpretation of a gebouwvlak can be technical: it is typically interpreted as the horizontal projection of the part of a plot destined for buildings. Determinations about compliance and deviations are handled through local permitting procedures and, if contested, by administrative law. The term is related to, but not always identical with, other planning concepts such as bouwvlak (building plot) and erfgrens (plot boundary).