Taipei New Building Greening Regulations (Amended)
The Taipei City New Building Greening Facilities Regulations, including recent amendments, establish comprehensive standards for integrating green spaces into new constructions. These rules define greening metrics like green coverage and capacity rates, specify requirements for vertical and rooftop greening, and detail calculation methods. They aim to enhance urban sustainability and environmental quality by mandating specific greening levels for various building types, effective 2026.
Key Takeaways
New Taipei greening rules effective January 1, 2026.
Regulations define green coverage, capacity, and carbon sequestration.
Specific requirements exist for vertical and rooftop greening.
Building types dictate required greening percentages and carbon equivalents.
Mandatory documentation and ongoing maintenance are crucial.
What is the legal basis and authority for Taipei's new building greening regulations?
Taipei City's New Building Greening Facilities Regulations are legally based on the Green Building Autonomy Ordinance, Article 3, Paragraph 3. The Taipei City Government's Department of Urban Development is the competent authority. These updated rules, including recent amendments, will officially take effect on January 1, 2026, advancing urban greening and sustainability efforts within the city.
- Legal basis: Green Building Autonomy Ordinance.
- Authority: Taipei Urban Development Dept.
- Effective: Jan 1, 2026.
What key terms are defined in Taipei's new building greening regulations?
The Taipei City Greening Regulations define key terms for standardized greening measurements. These definitions ensure clarity and consistency for new constructions, forming the basis for calculating required greening levels and assessing environmental impact. New terms like "equivalent green coverage area" and "green capacity rate" reflect a more nuanced approach to urban greening.
- Total Green Coverage: Includes statutory open spaces, building bodies, rooftops.
- Green Coverage Rate: Total green coverage / statutory open space.
- Equivalent Green Coverage (New): Plant type, cooling coefficient.
- Green Capacity Rate (New): Equivalent green coverage / building site area.
- Vertical Greening (New): Balconies, terraces, double-layered shading walls.
What are the specific requirements for vertical greening in new Taipei buildings?
Vertical greening in new Taipei buildings requires adherence to specific planting and installation rules for effectiveness and safety. Regulations cover soil depth, initial tree canopy size, and climbing plant coverage. Guidelines also apply to facility placement and structural integrity on balconies, terraces, and external walls, ensuring safety, drainage, and load considerations.
- Planting: Soil depths (e.g., trees 70cm+), initial tree canopy, vine coverage.
- Installation: Depth limits, green coverage, railing, structural safety.
What are the regulations for greening rooftop platforms in Taipei's new buildings?
Rooftop platform greening in new Taipei buildings follows detailed planting and facility installation regulations. Rules mandate specific soil depths for plants and minimum shrub coverage. Regulations also cover required green coverage percentages, structural load calculations, and height exemptions for equipment. Guidelines ensure safety, proper drainage, and effective green integration.
- Planting: Soil depths, tree canopy, shrub coverage (30%+), concrete needs.
- Facilities: 50%+ green coverage, static load, height exemptions, railing, ungreenable exemptions.
How is green coverage area calculated under Taipei's new building regulations?
Calculating green coverage area under Taipei's new regulations involves specific methods for various plant types and permeable surfaces. Trees are measured by trunk diameter or height, while shrubs use actual covered area with density requirements. Other plants and permeable paving also have distinct calculation methods, ensuring standardized quantification of green contributions for compliance.
- Trees/Palms: Trunk diameter/height.
- Shrubs: Actual covered area (4+ plants/sqm).
- Flowers/Groundcover/Grass: Actual covered area; grass ditches +10%.
- Permeable Pavers: One-third paved area.
- Ponds/Streams: One-third water surface.
- Shading Walls: Trough width, 3m height/floor.
Are there any exceptions or special conditions to Taipei's new building greening rules?
Taipei's new building greening regulations allow exceptions under unique circumstances. If a building site's conditions make strict adherence impractical, developers can seek special approval. This requires successful review by the urban design committee. This provision offers flexibility while maintaining the overall goal of promoting green infrastructure, allowing tailored solutions for environmental benefits.
- Exemption: Special site conditions, urban design review approval.
How do building site categories influence greening requirements in Taipei?
Taipei's greening regulations categorize building sites into five types, each with distinct greening requirements. These categories, based on site area, land use, and public facilities, ensure tailored greening efforts. This tiered approach promotes equitable and effective greening across the city, aligning environmental benefits with urban development patterns and specific site contexts.
- Classification: Five types by area/use; green coverage (50-90%), green capacity (1.4-2.0).
- Carbon Sequestration: Minimum standard by greening area, type-specific baseline.
- Open Space Planting: Soil depths (e.g., trees 150cm+), roadside tree rules, pit areas.
- Pavement: 50%+ permeable with gravel; car ramps separated.
What documents are required for a building permit under Taipei's greening regulations?
To obtain a building permit under Taipei's new greening regulations, applicants must submit comprehensive documents. These include detailed planting plans and sections, specific review tables for green capacity, green coverage, and carbon sequestration. Plans for irrigation systems and a greening management/maintenance plan are also mandatory, ensuring design compliance from the outset.
- Planting layout (1:100/1:200).
- Planting section (1:50).
- Green capacity, coverage, carbon sequestration tables.
- Irrigation system plans.
- Greening management/maintenance plan.
- Other Urban Development Dept. documents.
Who is responsible for maintaining greening facilities in new Taipei buildings?
Responsibility for maintaining greening facilities under Taipei's new regulations rests with the building or land owner, user, or manager. Developers must provide a greening management and maintenance plan, including as-built drawings and photos, to the responsible party when applying for the occupancy permit. This ensures long-term effectiveness and upkeep of green infrastructure.
- Responsibility: Owner/user/manager.
- Documentation: Developer provides greening management plan upon occupancy permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Taipei's new building greening regulations take effect?
The updated Taipei City New Building Greening Facilities Regulations, including recent amendments, will officially take effect on January 1, 2026.
What is "equivalent green coverage area" in the new regulations?
It's a new term calculating green coverage based on plant type and its cooling coefficient, reflecting actual shading benefits.
What are the soil depth requirements for rooftop greening?
Soil depth varies: 70cm+ for trees/palms, 40cm+ for shrubs, and 10cm+ for vines, flowers, groundcover, and grass.
How are building sites categorized for greening requirements?
Sites are classified into five types based on area, land use, and facilities, each with specific green coverage, green capacity, and carbon sequestration targets.
What documents are needed for a building permit regarding greening?
Required documents include planting plans, green capacity/coverage/carbon sequestration tables, irrigation plans, and a greening management plan.
