Israel Apartment Area Measurement: Justice Ministry Approves New Standard 9.1

The precise measurement of apartment floor space in Israel will now be governed by the new Standard 9.1, officially approved by the Ministry of Justice. The new regulation replaces outdated 2006 rules and establishes a uniform method for conducting measurements. The document closes legal loopholes that previously allowed contractors and appraisers to interpret the size of residential properties differently.

The updated rules strictly outline how specific building elements are factored into the total square footage. Attics are now included in an apartment’s area only if accessed by a permanent, stationary staircase. Storage rooms are counted in the measurements solely if they feature a direct, separate entrance from the living area. Facilities in common areas are no longer added to a property owner’s personal floor space.

The changes also revise the measurement principles for shared walls adjacent to stairwells and underground support structures. The uniform calculation system prevents developers from artificially inflating apartment sizes. The standard’s implementation minimizes disputes among buyers, construction companies, and state authorities during the registration of property rights.

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