ZONING GUIDELINES – CITY OF KIGALI

1.1.4 Low Rise Residential District (R2)

General Description: The Low Rise Residential District (R2) is a zoning district
established to allow for intensification, redevelopment and improvement to existing
informal housing areas.

Variety in the housing types, higher building coverage and building height is expected
to stimulate the redevelopment and intensification of these housing areas. The
purpose of R2 District is to improve the overall physical condition of the informal
housing areas in the city, and allow incremental development.

Table 1.4: Low Rise Residential District (R2).

Regulation Remarks

These regulations shall apply to:

• All new and redeveloped residential uses within the Low Rise Residential District (R2)

• Lots zoned or re-zoned for residential uses within the Low Rise Residential District (R2)

1.0 USES
• Single family houses (all types)
1.1 Permitted Uses
• Low rise apartments
• Industrial uses
1.2 Prohibited Uses • Major infrastructure
• General commercial use
• Standalone food outlet with less than 50 seats Refer land
• Hotels (incl. its ancillary uses) use plan for
• Public facilities guidance on
•
2 location of
Convenience stores not exceeding 60m of floor area
• Home Office facility

Refer
1.3 Conditional Uses appendix for
regulations
regarding
facilities.

Refer
regulations for
home offices
• Car parking garage
• Guard house
1.4 Ancillary Uses • Maids’ quarters
• Outdoor kitchen
• Store rooms
Type 1:
• Lot size of 90 m for landed housing development, semi
2

detached & attached houses

1.5 Minimum Lot Size
Type 2:
• Minimum lot size of 600 m for apartments
2

2.0 COVERAGE
• No site coverage for Type 1: semi detached or attached
2.1 Maximum Building houses.
Coverage • 40% for apartment
• 60% for landed house, attached houses

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 ZONING GUIDELINES – CITY OF KIGALI

Regulation Remarks
2.2 Minimum • 20% minimum
Landscaping
Coverage
2.3 Maximum Floor • 1.4 maximum
Area Ratio (FAR)
3.0 BUILDING
3.1 Maximum Number • G+3 (apartments)
of Floors • G (ancillary buildings)
3.2 Floor to Floor • 4m maximum
Height
• Detached villas
• Semi-Detached villas
3.3 Building Form
• Attached villas
• Apartments (low rise)
• Additions and alterations necessary to retain an existing
approved legally non-conforming building and its use in
good order and repair will be allowed, subject to:
• No material change in use which does not comply with
the prevailing zoning regulations;
• No further increase in floor area of the existing non-
conforming use
• Any additional floor area required for the non-conforming
use will:
3.4 Existing Buildings • Be subject to the evaluation and approval of the City of
Kigali, One Stop Centre; and
• Not to exceed 10% of the existing use
• Conversion of a residential villa to other permitted uses
shall be considered, subject to:
• Compliance with parking requirements for non-
residential use
• Removal of the front boundary wall;
• Aesthetic enhancement of the front elevation of the
building
4.0 BUILDING SETBACK (Minimum)
For Detached Developments: Attached
• Front:3 m (min) housing
• Side: 2m (min) should include
• Rear: 2m (min) minimum of 3
(Minimum width of plot= 8m) plots.

For Semi-detached Developments: Maximum

• Front:3 m (min) street wall
• Side: 2m (min) length for a
• Rear: 2m (min) building on a
4.1 Building (Above • Common Side: 0m single zoning
Grade) (Minimum width of plot= 8m) lot is 60m

For Attached Developments:

• Front:3 m (min)
• Side: 2m (min)
• Rear: 2m (min)
(Corner plots require Side setback of 2m min)

For Attached and Semi Detached buildings:

(Minimum width of corner plot= 8m)
(Minimum width of intermediate plot= 6m)
• Common lot boundaries: 0 m
4.2 Basement Setback • All lot boundaries fronting roads: 0 m (min)

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 ZONING GUIDELINES – CITY OF KIGALI

Regulation Remarks
• In the front setback along the lot frontage,
• May be allowed at the zero setback provided their
width does not exceed 25% of the lot frontage
4.3 Ancillary Buildings • Other ancillary uses
• May be allowed within the side and rear setbacks
• Are subject to their overall width not exceeding 25% of
length of the boundary within which they encroach

4.4 Between Multiple • N/A

Buildings on the
Same Lot
5.0 SERVICE AREAS AND EQUIPMENT
5.1 Loading Docks • N/A
5.2 Outdoor Storage • No outdoor storage shall be allowed
Areas
• Proper location of the outdoor refuse areas shall be
5.3 Refuse Storage decided by the City of Kigali, One Stop Centre upon
Areas review of the development application

• At grade water tank and mechanical equipment:

• Shall be located to the side or rear of the building
5.4 Mechanical • At grade or rooftop water tank, mechanical and
Equipment telecommunications equipment :
• Shall be screened subject to approval by the City of
Kigali, One Stop Centre
6.0 PARKING
• Required parking stalls shall be provided within the lot
6.1 Location
boundary
• Parking shall be hard surfaced and provided with
6.2 Surfacing
adequate drainage
• No onsite parking shall be required for developments
2
having less than 90m Gross Floor Area .
• For detached, attached and semi-detached buildings
2
6.3 Minimum Required having Gross Floor Area more than 90m : 1 parking lot
Parking Stalls per unit shall be provided
• Apartment – 1 Parking Lot per 2 dwelling units
• Food outlet -1 Parking Lot per 5 seats shall be provided
• Hotel - 1 Parking Lot per 100 m shall be provided
2

• 1 disabled Parking Lot shall be provided for an apartment

6.4 Disabled Parking
complex with more than 20 units.
6.5 Minimum • N/A
Dimensions
• Only 1 vehicular ingress and egress point shall be allowed
6.6 Vehicular Access • Additional vehicular ingress and egress point shall be
to Parking Lot evaluated on case-by-case basis by the City of Kigali,
One Stop Centre
7.0 FENCING AND WALLS
• Fencing and walls in the front, side and rear yards shall
7.1 Location
be at the perimeter of the lot
• Rear and side fencing or walls shall not exceed 2.5 m in
height, front boundary wall shall not exceed 2 m
7.2 Heights • Additional height
• Shall be evaluated on case-by-case basis by the City
of Kigali, One Stop Centre
• The front boundary wall shall use materials that allow
50% transparency
7.3 Materials

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 ZONING GUIDELINES – CITY OF KIGALI

Regulation Remarks
8.0 CIRCULATION
8.1 Pedestrian • N/A
8.2 Public Transit • N/A
9.0 SIGNAGE
• One sign shall be located on the fencing wall along the
front setback
• A maximum of 35cm height x 35cm width of signage shall
be permitted
• Larger sign is allowed for an apartment complex, subject
9.1 Permitted to approval from City of Kigali, One Stop Centre.
• Protrusion of the signage must be contained within plot
boundary

10.0 LANDSCAPING AND RECREATION

10.1 Minimum Width • N/A
10.2 Maintenance • N/A
10.3 Recreational • N/A
Amenities
Source: Surbana

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