Building a farmhouse in Islamabad involves more than choosing a large plot and preparing a house design. The building footprint, open spaces, number of floors, covered area, setbacks, landscaping, fencing and supporting structures all need to comply with the applicable construction requirements.
For farmhouse plots in CDA-approved farm housing schemes, the applicable farmhouse provisions specify requirements for plot size, covered area, floors, setbacks, porches, landscaping, rainwater harvesting and other construction elements.
For Gulberg Greens buyers and plot owners, understanding these requirements before finalising a farmhouse design can help identify planning limitations at an early stage.
If you are exploring available options, see Farmhouse Plots for Sale in Gulberg Greens.
> Regulatory note: The specific farmhouse measurements discussed in this guide are based on the applicable farmhouse building provisions for CDA-approved farm housing schemes. Construction requirements can be amended or supplemented by later regulations, clarifications and scheme-level requirements. The latest applicable requirements should be confirmed before preparing or approving a building plan.
Farmhouse building bylaws are rules that determine how a farmhouse can be planned and constructed on its plot.
They cover practical aspects such as:
• Minimum plot size
• Permitted floors
• Covered area
• Front, side and rear setbacks
• Porch construction
• Basement
• Mumty
• Guard room
• Servant quarter
• Swimming pool
• Rainwater harvesting
• Landscaping
• Boundary fencing
• Gates
• Residential units
These requirements are particularly relevant to farmhouse plots in CDA-approved farm housing schemes in Islamabad.
For buyers researching Gulberg Greens, understanding the different blocks and property categories can also help before selecting a plot. See the Gulberg Greens Islamabad Block-Wise Guide 2026 for an overview of the area's farmhouse and residential property categories.
Gulberg Greens Farm Housing Scheme is located in Zone 4, making the applicable farmhouse construction requirements particularly relevant to owners planning construction there.
The main farmhouse requirements include:
These requirements need to be considered together because the final building design has to accommodate the applicable covered area, setbacks, open space and other provisions.
If you are exploring available options, see Farmhouses for Sale in Gulberg Greens.
The farmhouse building provisions specify 4 Kanals as the minimum plot size.
This means the farmhouse-specific requirements discussed in this guide start from a 4-Kanal plot.
Before preparing a building plan, the owner should confirm:
• Actual plot size
• Plot dimensions
• Approved use
• Plot category
• Location on the approved layout
• Applicable development requirements
This is particularly relevant in Gulberg Greens, where farmhouse plots are available in different land-size categories.
For buyers researching the market before selecting a plot, see Gulberg Greens Farmhouse Plot Prices 2026.
The farmhouse provision allows:
Basement + Ground + First
This means the permitted building configuration includes:
• Basement
• Ground floor
• First floor
The basement should not be treated as unlimited additional construction. It is specifically included in the covered-area wording for the Basement, Ground and First floors.
The building design should therefore be prepared around the complete set of applicable requirements rather than considering each floor separately.
Covered area is one of the most important requirements to understand before designing a farmhouse.
The farmhouse provision states:
20% of the total plot area on each floor, including Basement, Ground and First.
The words “on each floor” are important.
The provision should not be interpreted as allowing 60% of the plot to be covered at ground level. Instead, the stated 20% applies to each of the listed floors, subject to the complete applicable requirements.
One Kanal is calculated as 5,445 sq ft.
Therefore:
4 × 5,445 = 21,780 sq ft
20% of 21,780 sq ft:
4,356 sq ft per floor
5 × 5,445 = 27,225 sq ft
20% = 5,445 sq ft per floor
10 × 5,445 = 54,450 sq ft
20% = 10,890 sq ft per floor
These are calculations based on the stated 20% provision. They are not a substitute for an approved building plan because the final design also needs to account for setbacks, porch provisions and other applicable requirements.
The porch is specifically counted in covered area, so it should also be considered during the design stage.
A setback is the open space required between the building and the plot boundary.
The farmhouse provisions specify:
• Front setback: 75 feet
• Side setbacks: 15 feet
• Rear setback: 30 feet
These measurements directly affect the permissible building footprint.
A large farmhouse plot does not mean the building can be positioned anywhere on the land. The required setbacks need to be marked first, after which the building can be planned within the remaining permissible area.
For buyers comparing plots, exact plot dimensions and shape can therefore be important alongside the total Kanal size.
The farmhouse provisions contain specific allowances for a porch.
A porch is allowed:
• 50% in the side setback
• 10 feet in the front setback
• The porch is also counted in covered area.
Therefore, it should be included in the overall covered-area calculation instead of being treated as completely separate construction.
The architect should consider the porch while preparing the site plan and calculating the permissible building area.
Several supporting spaces are also covered by the farmhouse provisions.
A 450 sq ft mumty is allowed.
A mumty is generally associated with the staircase or roof-access area of a building.
A 140 sq ft guard room is specified adjacent to the gates.
Its position should therefore be considered while preparing the site plan.
The provision specifies a minimum 140 sq ft servant quarter with a bath.
These spaces should be considered during the initial design rather than added later without checking their effect on the approved plan.
Yes, a swimming pool is allowed under the farmhouse provision.
However, water management is the owner's responsibility.
The provision does not specify a universal swimming-pool size within this requirement. Therefore, allowing a swimming pool does not mean that every pool dimension is automatically permitted.
If a pool is planned, it should be incorporated into the overall site design and checked against the applicable requirements.
Rainwater harvesting is listed as mandatory under the farmhouse building provision.
This means rainwater management should be considered during the planning and design stage.
It should form part of the overall site and building plan rather than being treated as an optional feature to add after the main construction has been completed.
The farmhouse provision states that 50% of the open area shall be in the form of soft landscape.
Soft landscaping can include planted areas such as:
• Grass
• Trees
• Plants
• Shrubs
An important point is that the requirement refers to 50% of the open area, not 50% of the total plot.
The site plan therefore needs to leave sufficient open space for the required landscaping after accounting for the building and other permitted site elements.
The boundary fence also has specific requirements.
The provision allows a:
• See-through fence up to 7 feet high
• 2-foot solid portion at the bottom
In simple terms, the lower portion can be solid, while the upper portion remains see-through.
The fence should be incorporated into the site planning according to the applicable specifications rather than being treated as a separate element after construction planning is complete.
The farmhouse provisions include additional rules for corner plots and larger farmhouse plots.
For a corner plot, one porch from the corner side is allowed.
This should be considered when planning the building position and entrance.
For farmhouse plots measuring 10 Kanals or more, two gates are allowed.
This allowance specifically applies to plots of 10 Kanals and above and should not automatically be extended to smaller plots.
The farmhouse provision allows a maximum of two residential units.
This is relevant for owners planning a larger farmhouse layout.
A larger plot does not automatically allow an unlimited number of independent residential units. The final design should remain within the applicable unit limit and approved building plan.
Gulberg Greens is a farm housing scheme in Islamabad, with farmhouse plots available in different land-size categories.
For someone planning to construct a farmhouse in Gulberg Greens, the applicable construction requirements should be considered before the architectural design is finalized.
For a broader understanding of Gulberg , explore Gulberg Greens lifestyle guide 2026.
CDA requirements and scheme-level requirements should be considered separately.
CDA provides the applicable planning and development framework, while the relevant scheme or sponsor can have its own procedures, documentation requirements and approval process.
For a Gulberg Greens plot owner, the practical process can therefore be viewed as:
CDA requirements → Scheme-level requirements → Building plan approval
This is important before construction begins.
If you are still evaluating a property before purchase, see How to Verify a Property in Gulberg Islamabad Before Buying for a broader property-verification process.
Before an architect prepares the final farmhouse design, confirm the following.
Confirm the actual Kanal size and plot dimensions.
Check the block, plot number, road position and location on the approved layout.
Mark the required:
• 75-ft front setback
• 15-ft side setbacks
• 30-ft rear setback
before deciding the building footprint.
Calculate the applicable 20% covered area for each permitted floor.
Include the basement within the overall covered-area planning.
Remember that the porch is counted in covered area.
Reserve sufficient open area for the required soft landscaping.
Include rainwater management in the site and building design.
Account for the guard room, servant quarter and mumty.
Check the applicable fence specifications and gate allowances.
If a pool is planned, include it in the site design and account for water management.
Check for any later amendments, clarifications or updated approval requirements before submitting the building plan.
A 5-Kanal plot has:
• 5 × 5,445 = 27,225 sq ft
• 27,225 × 20% = 5,445 sq ft
Therefore, the stated covered-area figure is 5,445 sq ft per floor for the Basement, Ground and First floors, subject to the complete applicable requirements.
However, the design still needs to accommodate:
• 75-ft front setback
• 15-ft side setbacks
• 30-ft rear setback
• Required open area
• Soft landscaping
• Porch
• Servant quarter
• Guard room
• Mumty
• Rainwater harvesting
• Other applicable site requirements
This shows why calculating 20% alone is not enough to prepare a final farmhouse design.
Two farmhouse plots can have the same Kanal size but different dimensions or positions.
This can affect how the permitted building footprint fits within the required setbacks.
An architect may need to consider:
• Plot width
• Plot depth
• Corner position
• Road frontage
• Orientation
• Access points
• Surrounding construction
Therefore, buyers should consider the actual dimensions and position of a farmhouse plot instead of looking only at its total area.
For a detailed guide to the factors that affect Gulberg Greens plot prices, see What Determines Gulberg Greens Plot Prices? 2026 Guide.
Understanding the bylaws is only useful when they are applied correctly. Some common planning mistakes include:
The 20% provision applies to each listed floor. It should not be presented as 60% ground coverage.
The porch is counted in covered area, so it needs to be included in the calculation.
The required setbacks should be considered before finalising the building footprint.
The basement forms part of the stated Basement + Ground + First configuration and the covered-area provision.
The 50% soft-landscaping requirement applies to the open area and needs to be considered during site planning.
A larger plot provides more land, but construction remains subject to the applicable covered-area, floor, setback and other requirements.
Applicable scheme-level procedures and requirements should also be checked.
The required building-plan approval should be obtained before construction begins.
Construction bylaws are useful even before purchasing a farmhouse plot.
A buyer can assess the potential planning implications through:
Plot size → Plot dimensions → Setbacks → Potential building footprint → Open area → Landscaping → Intended house design
This can help identify practical limitations before purchasing a particular plot.
Two plots with the same area may not provide exactly the same design flexibility because their dimensions, position and surrounding conditions can differ.
For broader market context, see Gulberg Greens Property Prices 2026 >> before comparing individual farmhouse options.
How much covered area is allowed on a farmhouse in Islamabad?
The farmhouse provision states 20% of the total plot area on each floor, covering the Basement, Ground and First floors.
How many floors can be built on a farmhouse?
The applicable farmhouse provision allows Basement + Ground + First, subject to the complete requirements and required approval.
What are the CDA farmhouse setbacks?
The specified setbacks are 75 feet at the front, 15 feet on the sides and 30 feet at the rear.
Can a basement be constructed in a farmhouse?
Yes. The farmhouse floor configuration specifically includes a basement, and the covered-area provision includes the Basement, Ground and First floors.
Can a swimming pool be built on a farmhouse plot?
Yes. A swimming pool is allowed under the farmhouse provision, with water management being the owner's responsibility.
Is rainwater harvesting mandatory for farmhouses?
Yes. Rainwater harvesting is listed as mandatory under the farmhouse provision.
How much soft landscaping is required?
The requirement states that 50% of the open area should be in the form of soft landscaping.
What is the minimum farmhouse plot size?
The farmhouse provision specifies 4 Kanals as the minimum plot size.
How much construction is allowed on a 5-Kanal farmhouse?
A 5-Kanal plot has 27,225 sq ft based on 5,445 sq ft per Kanal. Twenty percent equals 5,445 sq ft per floor under the stated covered-area provision. The final approved plan should still be checked against all applicable requirements.
How many residential units are allowed?
The farmhouse provision allows a maximum of two residential units.
Are these farmhouse rules relevant to Gulberg Greens?
They are relevant to farmhouse construction in Gulberg Greens. However, the plot owner should also check the latest applicable requirements and any scheme-level procedures before preparing or submitting a building plan.
For anyone planning a farmhouse in Gulberg Greens, understanding the applicable farmhouse construction bylaws is essential before finalising a plot or building design. Plot size, setbacks, covered area, landscaping, supporting structures and other requirements all affect how the property can be developed. Reviewing these requirements early can help buyers and property owners plan their farmhouse within the applicable guidelines and avoid design changes later.
Get in touch with 4Dewaari for reliable assistance, verified property listings, current market insights, and the latest information about Gulberg Greens Islamabad. Receive accurate details and professional guidance throughout your property search.
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Chief Consultant: Mian Sajid
Office Address: Office No. 203, 2nd Floor, Homes pk marketing, LG.50, Gulberg trade centre, business park, Gulberg greens islamabad.
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