Statutory Feasibility Assessment

Japan Road Contact Checker(接道義務・Setsudō Gimu Diagnostic)

Under Article 43 of Japan's Building Standards Act（建築基準法第43条）, any parcel must directly touch a designated public road by at least 2 meters to be eligible for reconstruction. Run this 4-step check to see if your Akiya meets legal rebuilding requirements.

4-Step Setsudō Gimu Diagnostic

Answers update the result instantly

Frontage Contact Width（間口 / 接面）

Contiguous width where your lot touches the legal road edge (meters)

Measure the contiguous width where your lot physically touches the legal road edge.

2Road Classification（道路種別）

Standard Public Road or Designated Road (Article 42-1 or 42-2)

Default — municipally designated legal road

Private Road / Shared Pathway（私道 / 通路）

May require neighbor agreements and 43-2 certification

Uncertain / Not listed on the property sheet（要確認）

Confirm on the municipal road ledger before proceeding

3Lot Shape & Access Path

Standard rectangular or corner lot (Faces road directly)

Direct public-road frontage

Flag-pole lot / Alleyway access with neck under 10m

Often compliant if neck and frontage meet local bylaws

Flag-pole lot with neck length over 10m

Many municipalities impose extra width/length rules

Landlocked lot / No direct access to public space（袋地）

Generally cannot obtain standard building confirmation

4Planned Building Usage

Standard single-family residential home

Default — 2.0 m frontage applies in most municipalities

Guesthouse, Minpaku, or multi-family rental building

Triggers local safety-ordinance width requirements

Meets Standard Setsudō Gimu Requirements

Eligible for Building Confirmation（建築確認）under normal Article 43 rules.

Meets standard Setsudō Gimu requirements

Nuance: A 2.0 m frontage satisfies the statutory minimum for single-family homes in many municipalities, but local safety bylaws may still require extra width for commercial uses or deeper flag-pole lots.

Action Checklist for the Buyer

Verify the road designation code on the municipal road ledger （道路台帳）.
Check whether private-road neighbours hold legal excavation and passage agreements（掘削・通行承諾書）.
Contact the local Kenchiku Shidō-ka（Building Guidance Division）and ask whether Article 43-2 certification or permission is realistic for this site.

Understanding Setsudō Gimu（接道義務）

What is Setsudō Gimu under Article 43?

Article 43 of the Building Standards Act requires a building site to border a legal road for at least 2 metres. This rule ensures fire engines, ambulances, and utilities can reach the structure. Without it, the lot is normally ineligible for new construction or full rebuilds.

Can you fix frontage under 2 metres?

Yes, but it is rarely simple. Buyers sometimes purchase a narrow strip from a neighbour, obtain a formal passage easement, or regularise an existing private road through a municipal Article 43-2 procedure. Each path requires signed neighbour consent, survey drawings, and a Building Review Board review.

Article 43-2-1 Certification（認定）vs. 43-2-2 Permission（許可）

A "certification" (認定) confirms that a specific site already satisfies statutory road-contact requirements through an alternative arrangement. A "permission" (許可) grants a limited exception where strict compliance is impossible. Permissions are discretionary, may impose conditions such as widened access corridors, and can be revoked if the route changes.

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