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Requirements
Design and build the project to meet the densities specified below. Minimum densities must be met for both (1) the entire project at full build-out and (2) the portion of the project that will be built within five years of the date that the first new building of any type is occupied.
Case 1. Projects with access to quality transit
For projects with existing or planned transit service (i.e., service with the funding commitments as specified in SLL Prerequisite Smart Location) that meets or exceeds the 2-point threshold in SLLc3 Access to Quality Transit Option 1, build at the following densities, based on the walking distances to the transit service specified in that SLL credit:- for residential components located within the walking distances: 12 or more dwelling units per acre (30 DU per hectare) of buildable land available for residential uses;
- for residential components falling outside the walking distances: 7 or more dwelling units per acre (17.5 DU per hectare) of buildable land available for residential uses;
- for nonresidential components located within the walking distances: 0.80 or higher floor-area ratio (FAR) for the buildable land available for nonresidential uses; and
- for nonresidential components falling outside the walking distances: 0.50 or higher FAR for the buildable land available for nonresidential uses.
Case 2. All other projects
Build any residential components of the project at a density of 7 or more dwelling units per acre (17.5 DU per hectare) of buildable land available for residential uses. Build any nonresidential components of the project at a density of 0.50 or higher FAR for the buildable land available for nonresidential uses.For all projects
Density calculations include all planned and existing buildings within the project boundary, excluding those portions of parking structures devoted exclusively to parking. If the residential component of the project meets the minimum density requirement but the nonresidential component does not, or vice versa, include only the qualifying density. Use that component’s dwelling units or nonresidential floor area in the numerator and the total buildable land area in the denominator. If the resulting density meets the minimum requirement, the prerequisite is achieved. See all forum discussions about this credit »What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Design and build the project to meet the densities specified below. Minimum densities must be met for both (1) the entire project at full build-out and (2) the portion of the project that will be built within five years of the date that the first new building of any type is occupied.
Case 1. Projects with access to quality transit
For projects with existing or planned transit service (i.e., service with the funding commitments as specified in SLL Prerequisite Smart Location) that meets or exceeds the 2-point threshold in SLLc3 Access to Quality Transit Option 1, build at the following densities, based on the walking distances to the transit service specified in that SLL credit:- for residential components located within the walking distances: 12 or more dwelling units per acre (30 DU per hectare) of buildable land available for residential uses;
- for residential components falling outside the walking distances: 7 or more dwelling units per acre (17.5 DU per hectare) of buildable land available for residential uses;
- for nonresidential components located within the walking distances: 0.80 or higher floor-area ratio (FAR) for the buildable land available for nonresidential uses; and
- for nonresidential components falling outside the walking distances: 0.50 or higher FAR for the buildable land available for nonresidential uses.
