[rezrovs]

In the town I grew up in (South Africa), there was a planning law that prevented the footprint of a house from being larger than a certain size. It had been that percentage for years and I'm hoping that it doesn't change because it's helped the area stay green and lovely without becoming overly built up.

Do similar planning laws exist in other countries?

[cafard]

In Washington, DC, at least in some parts this is the rule. The builder of the McMansion next door had to jackhammer up part of the garage pad when he discovered he was going over the ratio. Neighbors down the street bought part of a neighboring lot not for use, but to offset an expansion they anticipated into their original lot.

[jcizzle]

I can't speak for the rest of America, but that law does exist in at least parts of Atlanta. Most people are surprised at how green and forest-y the urban parts of Atlanta are.