The Development Bureau today announced that enhanced arrangements for exempting car parks in the calculation of gross floor area (GFA) in private development projects have taken effect, along with a series of related measures.

A measure to allow full GFA exemption for up to two levels of aboveground parking, while also doing away with the requirement of locating some of the car parks underground, was included in the 2025 Policy Address.

The bureau highlighted that as construction costs for aboveground carparks are lower, and construction times shorter, the measures will reduce construction costs and expedite developments.

The enhanced measure is applicable to both types of car parks in private development projects: “private carparks” (also known as “ancillary carparks”) that provide parking for residents and visitors; and “public carparks”, which are provided by project developers for the benefit of the general public, as per the Government’s requirements for local parking facilities.

Moreover, in private developments with three or more levels of aboveground parking, a 50% GFA will be granted for each level beyond the second, regardless of whether these car parks are for private or public parking. In the past private and public carparks were subject to different arrangements.

Other arrangements pertaining to cark park GFA exemptions will continue to apply, such as all underground carparks continuing to enjoy full GFA exemption regardless of whether they are private or public.

To facilitate the enhanced measure’s implementation, town planning procedures relating to aboveground car park height approvals will be streamlined.

If developers submit applications for minor relaxations of height restrictions in relation to the construction of up to two levels of aboveground parking, under most circumstances they will need to submit only visual appraisals, and – if the site involves major breezeways – simple air ventilation impact assessments.

The Planning Department has reviewed the situation at New Development Areas, where most development sites have height restrictions sufficient to accommodate two levels of aboveground parking.

For the remaining sites in New Development Areas where relaxation of height restrictions is required, the Government will initiate applications in accordance with town planning procedures next year.

Details of the enhanced arrangements can be found in the Building Department's updated Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered Geotechnical Engineers APP-2.

They are also available in the Lands Department’s latest Lands Administration Office Practice Note 9/2025.