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June 2015 <br />Metropolitan Council <br />390 Robert Street North <br />Saint Paul, MN 55101 <br />metrocouncil.org <br />Main: 651.602.1000 <br />TTY: 651.291.0904 <br />Public Information: 651.602.1500 <br />public.info@metc.state.mn.us <br />LOCAL PLANNING HANDBOOK <br />FAR ILLUSTRATED <br />EXAMPLE: Calculating FAR <br />A development company is planning to build a two-story building on a rectangular parcel that has 100 feet of street <br />frontage and 200 feet of depth. The first story measures 50 feet by 200 feet, and the second story measures 50 feet by <br />200 feet. There are no public rights-of-way, or other exceptional development limitations on the parcel. <br />Step 1. Determine the total BUILDABLE LAND AREA for the site. <br />(B) = (Parcel Width x Parcel Depth) <br />(B) = 100 ft. x 200 ft. <br />(B) = 20,000 ft2 <br />Step 2. Determine the FLOOR AREA of each story of the building. <br />Story 1 Floor Area = 50 ft. x 200 ft. = 10,000 ft2 <br />Story 2 Floor Area = 50 ft. x 200 ft. = 10,000 ft2 <br />Step 3. Determine the GROSS FLOOR AREA of the Building. <br />(G) = 10,000 ft2+ 10,000 ft2 = 20,000 ft2 <br />Step 4. Calculate the FLOOR AREA RATIO. <br />FAR = G/B <br />FAR = 20,000 ft2 / 20,000 ft2 = 1.0 <br />Figure 1. FAR Illustration (Image Credit: Julie Campoli, Visualizing Density)