A farmhouse in Lahore is, under LDA rules, a dwelling attached to a farm on a 4 to 60 kanal plot with no more than 30% ground coverage and two storeys, so buyers should confirm the land's zoning, title and scheme approval before paying.
Under LDA's building regulations, a farmhouse is a dwelling attached to a farm on a plot of 4 to 60 kanal, built on no more than 30% of the land. Many "farmhouse" offers around Lahore are smaller plots in unapproved schemes, so the rules and the land record matter more than the brochure.
What counts as a farmhouse in Lahore
LDA's Building Regulations define a farmhouse as "a dwelling place attached to a farm on a plot not less than 4-Kanal and not more than 60-Kanal" (LDA Amended Building Regulations 2007). The same regulations set the building envelope.
| LDA rule (farmhouse) | Limit |
|---|---|
| Plot size | 4 to 60 kanal |
| Ground coverage | Maximum 30% of the plot |
| Height | Two storeys, 30 ft; one basement allowed |
| Setbacks | 20 ft building line, 10 ft rear, 10 ft each side |
| Farm uses | Dairy or poultry allowed, subject to environmental law |
LDA counts a marla as 225 sq ft in Lahore District, so 4 kanal is 18,000 sq ft and 60 kanal is 270,000 sq ft. On the 272.25 sq ft marla used in much of Pakistan, the same 4 kanal would be 21,780 sq ft. Ask which basis the seller is using.
Where farmhouses are found
Lahore's farmhouse belt sits on the city's fringes, where land is still agricultural. Agents have long pointed to Bedian Road, Barki Road, Jallo Mor and Harbanspura as areas where land is much cheaper than central Lahore.
Bedian village is about 30 km from the city centre, close to the Indian border, with the BRB Canal running through the area. Proximity to the border matters, as the next section shows.
Why approval is the main risk
In July 2023, authorities identified 91 illegal farm housing schemes in Lahore: 62 in Tehsil Cantt and 29 in Tehsil Shalimar. Some fell within the restricted radius of the border, where farm housing on agricultural land is prohibited under the West Pakistan Border Area Regulation 1959. Officials said buyers and sellers of agricultural land there would need affidavits that it won't be used for farm housing.
Zoning can also change. Under the Lahore Master Plan 2050, LDA reclassified 33,000 acres from housing to green use, including 6,000 acres along the BRB Canal. Check the current land-use status of any farmhouse plot with LDA before you buy.
Prices: what our data covers
Houseplot's indicative price data (Oct 2026) doesn't include farmhouses or agricultural land, so we don't publish ranges for them. Prices swing widely with road frontage, distance from the Ring Road, plot size, how much is built and whether the scheme is approved. Compare price per kanal on the same road, and value the land and the building separately.
Documents and fees
Farmhouse land is usually recorded with the revenue department, not a society, so the paperwork runs through PLRA.
| Document or step | What it shows | PLRA fee, FY2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Fard (standard / express) | Current owner and share in the khewat | Rs900 / Rs4,000 |
| Mutation (intiqal), regular | Transfer recorded in revenue record | Rs1,200 |
| Express mutation | Faster mutation | Rs11,200 |
| Registered deed copy | Earlier sale deeds | Rs1,400 |
| E-registration of sale | Registered sale | 0.1% of land value, minimum Rs3,600 |
Fees are from PLRA's revised service charges notified in July 2026. Punjab stamp duty is 1% in urban and rural areas. Filer buyers pay 1.25% advance tax under 236K and filer sellers 2.75% under 236C; non-filers pay much more (FBR rate card 2027).
This guide is general information; confirm current rates with FBR/the bank/a lawyer before you pay.
Checks before you pay
- Get a fresh fard and match the seller's name, khasra numbers and share to the land you are shown.
- Ask LDA whether the land falls in an approved scheme or a zone that permits farmhouses.
- Check it isn't inside the border restriction radius.
- Have the boundaries demarcated by the patwari or a surveyor.
- Confirm access by a public road, plus electricity and water arrangements.
- If built, ask for the approved plan; a covered area above 30% suggests it wasn't approved under LDA rules.
Red flags
- "Farmhouse plots" of 1 or 2 kanal sold as farmhouses; LDA's minimum is 4 kanal.
- A scheme with no LDA approval letter, or one named in the 2023 list.
- Land shared with many co-owners (a joint khewat) without clear partition.
- Sellers who will only transfer by "file" or stamp paper, not mutation or registry.
Sources
- LDA Amended Building Regulations 2007 — farmhouse definition, coverage, height, setbacks, marla size
- Lahoris are ready for apartment living — Profit (Jun 2021) — cheaper land on Bedian and Barki roads
- Bedian — Wikipedia — distance, border, canals
- 91 illegal farm housing schemes uncovered in Lahore — Profit (Jul 2023) — schemes, border regulation, affidavits
- 33,000 acres declared green areas — Dawn (Jan 2023) — BRB Canal reclassification
- Land Record Authority notifies revised service charges — APP (Jul 2026) — PLRA fees
- Governor signs stamp duty amendment ordinance — The News (Apr 2026) — 1% stamp duty
- FBR Withholding Tax Rates Card 2027 — 236K and 236C