Sets the mandatory limits that municipal planning instruments must respect: building density, heights, distances between buildings and minimum public-space provision (urban standards). It divides the territory into homogeneous zones (A–F).
Applies to municipal urban planning and new building works. It remains in force through the Building Act (D.P.R. 380/2001). Municipalities and Regions cannot derogate below its minimum limits (e.g. distance between buildings), but may set stricter requirements.
If the Building Act sets which permit you build with, D.M. 1444/1968 sets within which limits. A 1968 decree, yet still a daily reference, especially for three things: the division of territory into zones, the minimum distances between buildings and the provision of public spaces.
The decree classifies each portion of territory into a homogeneous zone, and on this depend density, heights and the minimum provision of public spaces.
| Zone | What it denotes |
|---|---|
| A | historic centres and areas of environmental interest |
| B | already built-up areas (infill) |
| C | areas for new settlements (expansion) |
| D | productive / industrial settlements |
| E | agricultural areas |
| F | facilities and services of general interest |
Alongside zones and distances, the decree requires planning instruments to provide a minimum of public spaces in proportion to the settled population: for residential settlements, at least 18 sq m per inhabitant, split between education, community facilities, green and sport, and parking. Productive and tertiary zones follow different criteria. To these are added the density and height limits, differentiated by zone.
| Use | sq m/inhabitant |
|---|---|
| Education (nurseries, compulsory schools) | 4.5 |
| Community facilities | 2.0 |
| Green and sport | 9.0 |
| Parking | 2.5 |
| Total | 18.0 |
Where this rule shows up in past architect qualification exams — study the rule, not just the theme.
It applies to new construction, outside zone A, where a windowed wall faces the wall of another building: art. 9(2) says 'windowed walls and walls of facing buildings', so both need not have windows. The municipality cannot reduce it, only require greater distances. Since 2013, however, art. 2-bis of D.P.R. 380/2001 allows Regions and autonomous Provinces to provide derogations within the definition or revision of planning instruments: the final answer always lies in the regional law too, not in the 1968 decree alone.
They are the minimum provisions of public spaces (green areas, parking, schools, services) the decree requires in proportion to the population. They ensure a minimum settlement quality and bind municipal planning.
Yes. D.M. 1444/1968 remains in force under art. 136 of the Building Act and is applied daily, especially for homogeneous zones and distances. The context around it has moved, though: art. 2-bis of the Building Act, introduced in 2013 and supplemented several times, allows Regions and autonomous Provinces to lay down derogating provisions within the definition or revision of planning instruments. It has also been the subject of extensive case law clarifying its scope.
For residential settlements the decree sets at least 18 sq m per inhabitant, split between education, community facilities, green and sport, and parking. Productive and tertiary zones follow different criteria, and Municipalities may require more.