Rule 9: Thou shalt not steal thy neighbour’s daylight
The regulation: ‘54.04-3 Standard A12 – Daylight to existing windows regulation 416’
This standard states that buildings opposite an existing habitable room window shouldprovide for a light court to the existing window that has a minimum area of 3 square metres and minimum dimension of 1 metre clear to the sky.
It also states that walls or carports more than 3 metres in height opposite an existing habitable room window should be set back from the window at least 50 per cent of the height of the new wall, if the wall is within a 55 degree arc from the centre of the existing window.
Translation: You need to allow light into your neighbour’s existing windows. In order to do this, you must provide a minimum area of 3 metres square with 1 metre clear to the sky around your neighbour’s window. This area can be calculated from either yours or your neighbour’s property.
Solution: Create courtyard and garden spaces similar to the standard before. This will allow light not only into your neighbour’s windows but also into your own.
Rule 10: Thou shalt protect the energy efficiency of thy neighbours
The regulation: ‘54.04-4 Standard A13 – North facing windows regulation 417’
Here, we are told that if a north-facing habitable room window of an existing dwelling is within 3 metres of a boundary on an abutting lot, a building should be set back from the boundary 1 metre, plus 0.6 metre for every metre of height over 3.6 metres up to 6.9 metres, plus 1 metre for every metre of height over 6.9 metres, for a distance of 3 metres from the edge of each side of the window.
Translation: You need to preserve your neighbour’s northern sun and if their window is within 3 metres of the boundary, you must set back your building 1 metre plus 0.6 metres for every metre higher than 3.6 metres. This continues until 6.9 metres – every metre after that, you must set back your house another metre.
Solution: Note where your neighbour’s north-facing windows are before you design your building, so that you can plan around them early rather than getting nasty shocks later during the planning process.
