Maral Shemiran - Islamic Azad University, Sciences & Researches Branch, Tehran, Iran,

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is one of the main features of urban area, which has become one of the major bases of urban development policy in Iran within the past recent years and been emphasized through the framework of several urban development plans. Therefore, a fundamental view in this regard is mandatory. The most important achievement of the current century is considering citizens rights and qualitative aspects of their life. Non-professional interference such as selling excessive FAR and un-controlled and unplanned developments, especially for housing purposes in most major cities without considering the variability and difference of urban lands and merely for achieve earning for municipali-ty and profitability of a limited group of investors have occurred. As the effect of tall buildings on ur-ban area and citizens in terms of physical, economic, social, urban development, etc. is undeniable, special focus on urban development laws is required. The purpose of this study includes recognizing effecting urban laws relating to FAR through examin-ing laws on FAR and tall building construction in some sample countries across the Globe, to identify variable and suitable solutions using global experiences. Eventually, through studying Tehran and New York, as two modern cities with roughly similar conditions and comparing the laws and manner to face issues of urban development and FAR, we understand what are more suitable solutions. Study method in this article is combined, in a way that using research method and documented and library base stud-ies, the relevant information is collected and further examined using quantitative and qualitative meth-od.

Floor Area Ratio (FAR), Excessive FAR, Urban Development, Citizen Rights, Urban Develop-ment Ratifications