Civil Code, Article 672 — Buildings Across A Public Way

What this article means

The distance rule in article 670 does not apply to buildings that are separated by a public way or alley at least three meters wide. Such buildings remain subject to special regulations and local ordinances.

Article 670’s distance and opening restrictions exist to prevent one owner from overlooking or intruding on a neighbor’s property, so the rule loses its purpose once a public way or alley of at least three meters already separates the two buildings — the intervening space does the same work the distance requirement would otherwise do. That exemption is not unconditional, however: such buildings still remain subject to whatever special regulations and local ordinances apply to construction along that public way.

Questions about this provision

• Do the minimum distance rules for windows and views apply when the two buildings face each other across a public alley or street?

Related provisions

• Article 671 — How Distances Are Measured.
• Article 673 — Servient Owner's Building Setback.

Cases interpreting this article

• Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.