ᐅ Is subdividing the plot advisable for a semi-detached house?
Created on: 13 Mar 2026 09:10
I
intothesunI
intothesun13 Mar 2026 09:10Hello everyone,
I am considering buying a plot of land that is about 1000 square meters (10,764 square feet) in total. For financial reasons, I would need to divide it into two parts, so roughly 500 square meters (5,382 square feet) each.
The development plan is quite flexible: a site coverage ratio of 0.4 and a floor area ratio of 0.8, two full floors are allowed, and all roof types are possible. The building line is located almost exactly to the north of the existing building; I have marked it in red on the sketch.
The issue with the plot is that although it is quite deep, it is relatively narrow. On the street side it is only 20.5 meters (67 feet), and about 21 meters (69 feet) at the building line. Because there is a setback regulation requiring half the building height (0.5 H), each semi-detached house can probably only be about 7 meters (23 feet) wide, which is not ideal but also not unusually narrow for semi-detached houses in this urban area.
My goal is a living area of about 150 square meters (1,615 square feet), either spread over two full floors with a flat roof, or with a smaller footprint and a gable roof (the roof height counts as one-third towards the building height). The building should be located roughly where the existing building is, so there remains a south-facing garden (south is down towards the street).
The plot is well located and priced attractively.
What I would need feedback on: Is building two semi-detached houses on this plot firstly realistic, and secondly sensible (in terms of living quality, economic viability, etc.)?
Thanks for your ideas.
I am considering buying a plot of land that is about 1000 square meters (10,764 square feet) in total. For financial reasons, I would need to divide it into two parts, so roughly 500 square meters (5,382 square feet) each.
The development plan is quite flexible: a site coverage ratio of 0.4 and a floor area ratio of 0.8, two full floors are allowed, and all roof types are possible. The building line is located almost exactly to the north of the existing building; I have marked it in red on the sketch.
The issue with the plot is that although it is quite deep, it is relatively narrow. On the street side it is only 20.5 meters (67 feet), and about 21 meters (69 feet) at the building line. Because there is a setback regulation requiring half the building height (0.5 H), each semi-detached house can probably only be about 7 meters (23 feet) wide, which is not ideal but also not unusually narrow for semi-detached houses in this urban area.
My goal is a living area of about 150 square meters (1,615 square feet), either spread over two full floors with a flat roof, or with a smaller footprint and a gable roof (the roof height counts as one-third towards the building height). The building should be located roughly where the existing building is, so there remains a south-facing garden (south is down towards the street).
The plot is well located and priced attractively.
What I would need feedback on: Is building two semi-detached houses on this plot firstly realistic, and secondly sensible (in terms of living quality, economic viability, etc.)?
Thanks for your ideas.
Please show the excerpt from the zoning plan and cadastral map, ideally with a roughly 100 m (330 ft) image diagonal. Elevation data are not useful on their own but only meaningful when shown with their reference points. For a semi-detached house, it is best if the plot has little elevation change along the main axis of the house (eaves width) to avoid height differences on the street side. A buildable plot requires access. Would the path “behind” the property be suitable for vehicle access (I estimate its width at 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) or less), and is it public?
If the rear property must be accessed from the street, a right of way over the adjacent property is necessary. Often, a form of joint ownership under condominium law is useful— for example, when an arrangement of parking spaces for vehicles and trash bins at the front half would otherwise cause a fragmentation into non-contiguous, individually designated usage areas. The issue of plot division for semi-detached houses is almost a frequently asked question in this and other forums.
The zoning plan should allow “E/D” (single-family/semi-detached) developments. Please show the above images preferably with elevation points or contour lines.
In many of my semi-detached house posts, you’ll come across keywords like “without basement” / “with basement” / “underpinning” and “Goalkeeperthread.”
My initial assessment based on the aerial photo is that an axis of the house parallel to the plot boundary—i.e., a gable end facing the street semi-detached house—would be most advantageous.
Your partner should be willing to plan and construct the shell together; finish work trades can then be divided.
The standard model used by the “usual suspects” comes to about 140/145 sqm (1,507/1,561 sq ft) with roughly 80 sqm (860 sq ft) per half plot area, roof pitch 35° with knee wall height 0 over two straight walls stories, resulting in a total house height of about 7.5 m (25 ft) (6 m (20 ft) plus one third of the gable height).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
If the rear property must be accessed from the street, a right of way over the adjacent property is necessary. Often, a form of joint ownership under condominium law is useful— for example, when an arrangement of parking spaces for vehicles and trash bins at the front half would otherwise cause a fragmentation into non-contiguous, individually designated usage areas. The issue of plot division for semi-detached houses is almost a frequently asked question in this and other forums.
The zoning plan should allow “E/D” (single-family/semi-detached) developments. Please show the above images preferably with elevation points or contour lines.
In many of my semi-detached house posts, you’ll come across keywords like “without basement” / “with basement” / “underpinning” and “Goalkeeperthread.”
My initial assessment based on the aerial photo is that an axis of the house parallel to the plot boundary—i.e., a gable end facing the street semi-detached house—would be most advantageous.
Your partner should be willing to plan and construct the shell together; finish work trades can then be divided.
The standard model used by the “usual suspects” comes to about 140/145 sqm (1,507/1,561 sq ft) with roughly 80 sqm (860 sq ft) per half plot area, roof pitch 35° with knee wall height 0 over two straight walls stories, resulting in a total house height of about 7.5 m (25 ft) (6 m (20 ft) plus one third of the gable height).
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
11ant schrieb:
If the rear neighbor There probably won’t be a rear neighbor...
11ant schrieb:
building potential requires access. Would the path "behind" the property be suitable for vehicle access as well (I estimate its width at 2.8 meters or less) and is it public? ... and no access path behind the property will be necessary either.
intothesun schrieb:
The issue with the plot: it is very deep but relatively narrow. On the street side only 20.5 meters (67 feet), at the building location about 21 meters (69 feet). Since there is a setback regulation with 0.5 height, each semi-detached house can probably only be about 7 meters (23 feet) wide, which isn’t ideal, but for semi-detached houses around here (big city) it’s not unusually narrow. I don’t see this as a problem if you accept that a semi-detached house targets around 6 meters (20 feet) width on the interior. It would be a simple standard semi-detached design, with parking space in front or beside the house. I would favor parking in front, which also provides some privacy from the street, and leaves a border strip on the left and right sides of the house.
It is definitely possible, provided the building authority approves the semi-detached house.
ypg schrieb:
There probably won’t be a backyard access path.. I wouldn’t turn one towel into two bowling lanes.
ypg schrieb:
.. and no path behind the property is needed either. Not necessary, but it avoids the right of access requirement to prevent a landlocked property.
ypg schrieb:
I don’t see this as a problem if you accept that a semi-detached house just aims for the 6 meters (20 feet) inner width. It would be a simple standard semi, with parking space in front or next to the house. I would favor in front, as it also provides privacy from the street and leaves a border strip on both sides of the house. With an open parking space, that might work. But with a garage (and 5 meters (16 feet) in front of its door!), the garage would end up next to the house (due to the rear building line), and you would only be able to reach the garden from the street by going through the garage :-(
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
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