The role of the OTÉK

What it governs

The OTÉK, government decree 253/1997 (XII. 20.), contains the national requirements for the building and for developing the plot. Where the procedural decree says how to apply for a permit, the OTÉK says what the building has to be like.

Its typical subjects:

• the siting of the building on the plot, front, side and rear setbacks,
• site coverage and building height,
• room sizes, ceiling heights, natural lighting and ventilation,
• parking and vehicle storage,
• accessibility,
• the framework of basic requirements for building elements, including the expectation of sound and thermal protection.

The OTÉK and the local code

The OTÉK is the national baseline. Alongside it the municipality has a local building code, which gives the development parameters for the specific plot: how much can be built, at what height, what roof form, where building is allowed.

The practical order is: the local code first, because it is narrower; the OTÉK steps in where the local code is silent. Local building code.

Where it bears directly on light gauge steel design

Sound protection

The acoustic expectation for building elements derives from the OTÉK, with the detailed requirement values given by a standard. It is what determines which build-ups can be considered for a party wall or floor. Party walls.

Thermal protection

The energy requirements are detailed in a separate decree, but the framework starts here. Energy performance requirements.

Ceiling heights and room sizes

These feed back into the structure: the depth of the floor and the build-up eat into the ceiling height. With a light gauge steel floor that is often an advantage, because the requirement can be met with a shallower structure.

Why knowing the OTÉK is not enough

Because the OTÉK gives minima, not good solutions. A building can comply with the OTÉK and still be poor — if the sound insulation only just reaches the requirement where the use calls for more, for example.

This is not legal advice

The summary above reflects a September 2026 reading of the OTÉK. For a specific plot it always has to be read together with the local building code in force.