On September 22, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council approved new zoning regulations for areas near metro stations and depots. Residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments in these zones will be permitted to increase their floor area ratio (FAR) by a maximum of 1.5 times.
The boundaries of each zone will be approved by the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. These boundaries may encompass stations, depots, and surrounding plots within a radius of up to 1,000 meters. When determining the boundaries, factors such as existing developments, roads, administrative divisions, natural conditions, and public transport accessibility will be taken into account.
Once the boundaries are approved, the city will be able to develop a new spatial plan or amend the existing one. A separate assignment for preparing the layout plan will not be required, which will help reduce administrative procedures. Documents can be developed either for the entire area or for individual plots, provided they are connected by shared transportation and utility infrastructure.
The floor area ratio indicates the ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the land plot. A 1.5-fold increase in FAR will make it possible to accommodate more residential, commercial, and public space within the same territory. However, these new parameters will not automatically apply to all projects. The allowable building area and population density must align with the capacity of local roads, utility networks, and social infrastructure in each specific district.
Additionally, for areas near metro stations, the required parking and social infrastructure standards may be reduced by up to 50%. Building setback requirements from plot boundaries may also differ from general standards if provided for in the approved plan.
Green roofs and publicly accessible green spaces on building floors will be allowed to count toward public landscaping area calculations. In such cases, 50% of the actual area of these spaces will be included in the calculation. Multi-functional facilities, as well as utility and social infrastructure, may be located within station and depot areas.
New master plans are currently being prepared for several sections of the city's urban transport system. Along the second metro line (Ben Thanh - Tham Luong), the boundaries of five zones with a total area of approximately 940 hectares have been approved, covering ten stations and the Tham Luong depot.
Planning is also underway near the first metro line (Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien) and the future Thu Thiem station complex in the An Khanh and Binh Trung wards.
Revenues generated from land use in areas near metro stations will remain entirely within the Ho Chi Minh City budget. The city will be able to channel these funds into the construction of metro lines and other transport infrastructure. The new regulations will come into effect on October 1, 2026.