City to let Jakartans construct high houses

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Those who want to build three-story houses may want to put their plans on hold as the Jakarta administration is planning to issue a new regulation that will allow residents to build houses more than 12 meters in height.

Currently, Jakarta residents are allowed to build houses with a 12-meter ground-to-roof height or equal to two stories.

City Construction Supervision and Regulation Agency (P2B) head Djumhana Tjakrawiria said that his agency was preparing a gubernatorial decree that would grant permits to residents who want to build residential buildings with three stories or more.

"Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso will sign the decree by the end of this month," he told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

He said that the decree was made to accommodate the need for higher residential buildings amid higher land prices owing to spatial constraints.

"We have received input from various parties, including from residents and the architects' association, asking the administration to allow higher houses," he said.

According to Article 88 of Bylaw No. 7/1991 on buildings in Jakarta, the maximum allowed height of a residential building is 12 meters, or two stories. Rooftops higher than 12 meters are allowed as long as it is only part of ornamentation.

According to the bylaw, any violations of the bylaw will carry a maximum sentence of three months in prison or a Rp 50 million fine.

With the new decree, Djumhana said people could use the first floor for parking space as well as rooms for domestic helpers and use the upper floors for living.

"Hopefully, if people use their first floor as parking space, there will be fewer people parking on streets outside their houses, taking up the space needed for pedestrians and motorists," he said.

Despite the new regulation, the administration would impose a sanction on those who have already constructed houses higher than 12 meters.

"We will excuse them, but we will require them to pay a fine. The fine will be calculated based on the extent of the violation," he said.

City councillor Muhayar blamed the rampant violations on poor monitoring by the P2B.