REGULATORY EXCEPTIONS FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS IN JAPAN : A STUDY ON LOCAL ORDINANCES PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 3.1.3 OF THE BUILDING STANDARDS ACT

Using a nationwide online database, this study identified 37 local ordinances categorized as “other ordinances” pursuant to Article 3.1.3 of the Building Standards Act. Comparative analysis revealed variations in the types of buildings covered and regulatory content, reflecting differences in local approaches to balancing safety and preservation. Since the 1990s, the system’s scope has expanded to include modern heritage and disaster relics. These developments suggest that the progressive development of cultural property, landscape, and historic-townscape frameworks has facilitated closer coordination between cultural heritage and building control administrations.