Circular No. 17/2025/TT-BXD Issuing norms, methods for establishing and managing costs for urban and rural planning activities

CIRCULAR

Issuing standards, methods for establishing and managing costs
for urban and rural planning activities

__________________

   On the basis of the Urban and Rural Planning Law No. 47/2014/QH15 dated November 26, 2024;

  On the basis of Decree No. 33/2025/NĐ-CP February 25, 2025, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction;

  At the proposal of the Director of the Economic Management Investment and Construction Department and the President of the Construction Economics Institute;

  The Minister of Construction issues this Circular on standards, methods for establishing and managing costs for urban and rural planning activities.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates standards, methods for establishing and managing costs for urban and rural planning activities as provided for in Clause 5, Article 10 of the Urban and Rural Planning Law.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals using state budget funds to determine and manage costs for urban and rural planning activities.

2. It is encouraged for agencies, organizations, and individuals to use other legitimate sources of funding to determine and manage costs for urban and rural planning activities.

Article 3. Principles for determining costs

1. Costs for urban and rural planning as specified in this Circular must be accurately calculated, consistent with the nature of the work, area scale, and population size.

2. Costs for urban and rural planning activities shall be determined in accordance with the content, quantity, volume, quality, progress, and required product quality standards.

3. The cost standards set out in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular are for reference and use during the process of determining and managing costs for urban and rural planning and related tasks.

Chapter II

STANDARDS, METHODS FOR DETERMINING AND MANAGING COSTS

FOR URBAN AND RURAL PLANNING ACTIVITIES

Article 4. Cost Standards for Urban and Rural Planning

1. The content and products of planning tasks, urban and rural planning are defined in the Circular detailing certain provisions of the Urban and Rural Planning Law issued by the Ministry of Construction.

2. The cost standards for establishing planning tasks and urban and rural planning issued in this Circular include:

a) Cost standards for establishing planning tasks and general urban planning for areas designated for urban development, special economic zones within the urban system;

b) Cost standards for establishing planning tasks and general village planning for areas not part of the urban system;

c) Cost standards for establishing planning tasks and national economic zone and tourist area planning;

d) Cost standards for establishing planning tasks and urban area zoning planning;

đ) Cost standards for establishing planning tasks and industrial park, high-tech park, high-tech agricultural park, and high-tech forestry park zoning planning;

e) Cost standards for establishing planning tasks and detailed planning for urban and rural areas and functional zones;

g) Cost standards for establishing specialized infrastructure technical planning for centrally governed cities;

h) Cost standards for managing business operations in urban and rural planning project preparation;

i) Cost standards for making planning models.

Article 5. Methods for Determining Costs for Urban and Rural Planning

1. Costs for establishing planning tasks and urban and rural planning are determined based on the cost standards in Appendix 1 or by preparing budgets according to the guidelines in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular or in accordance with relevant laws.

2. Costs for implementing urban and rural planning activities are determined based on the cost standards in this Circular, excluding value-added tax. When determining the budget for urban and rural planning costs, value-added tax should be added according to current regulations.

3. In cases where the scale of the planning project falls between two scales defined in Appendix 1 attached to this Circular, the cost standard (or percentage) of the planning project is determined based on the upper and lower limits of the scale defined in this Circular using the following interpolation formula:

Where:

- N_{organize credit institutions, foreign bank branches are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.}: Cost standard (or percentage) to be calculated, unit: million VND (or percentage);

: bid price after corrections and adjustments, minus any discount (if applicable) of the lowest bidder among those detailed financial evaluations;_{organize credit institutions, foreign bank branches are responsible for organizing the implementation of this Circular.}: Population or area scale of the planning project to be calculated; unit: value;

: bid price after corrections and adjustments, minus any discount (if applicable) of the lowest bidder among those detailed financial evaluations;_a: Lower limit population or area scale of the planning project to be calculated; unit: value;

: bid price after corrections and adjustments, minus any discount (if applicable) of the lowest bidder among those detailed financial evaluations;_b: Upper limit population or area scale of the planning project to be calculated; unit: value;

- N_a: Cost standard (or percentage) corresponding to Ga; unit: million VND (or percentage);

- N_b: Cost standard corresponding to Gb; unit: million VND (or percentage).

4. Cost standards for urban and rural planning projects with smaller scales than those defined in this Circular are determined based on the smallest scale project defined in this Circular.

5. For planning projects with larger scales than those defined or for planning tasks without defined cost standards or where the cost standards in this Circular are not suitable, costs are determined by preparing budgets. The content of the budget is determined according to the guidelines in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular.

Article 6. Determination of Costs for Preparing Urban and Rural Planning

1. The costs for preparing urban and rural planning include: labor costs for implementing the planning, other costs (costs for purchasing materials, data, office supplies, planning software (if applicable), depreciation costs for equipment, travel costs, accommodation costs, conference and seminar organization costs, and other expenses (if applicable)).

2. The costs for preparing urban and rural planning shall be determined as follows:

a) The costs for preparing general urban planning, areas designated for urban development, and special zones within the urban system shall be determined based on the area scale specified in the planning task, the population density of the planning area, and the cost standards set forth in Table 1 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

b) The costs for preparing general planning for communes and special zones not included in the urban system shall be determined based on the population scale specified in the planning task and the cost standards set forth in Table 2 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

c) The costs for preparing general planning for economic zones and national tourist areas shall be determined based on the area scale specified in the planning task and the cost standards set forth in Table 3 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

d) The costs for preparing detailed planning for urban areas shall be determined based on the area scale specified in the planning task and the cost standards set forth in Table 4 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

đ) The costs for preparing detailed planning for industrial zones, high-tech zones, high-tech agricultural zones, and high-tech forestry zones shall be determined based on the area scale specified in the planning task and the cost standards set forth in Table 5 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

e) The costs for preparing detailed planning for urban areas, rural areas, and functional zones shall be determined based on the area scale specified in the planning task and the cost standards set forth in Table 6 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

g) The costs for preparing specialized technical infrastructure planning for centrally-administered cities shall be determined by budget estimates according to the guidelines set forth in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular but shall not exceed the costs calculated as a percentage (%) set forth in Table 7 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

h) The costs for preparing general planning for centrally-administered cities; the costs for preparing general urban planning, areas designated for urban development, and special zones within the urban system with overlapping areas within the scope of general functional zone planning (economic zones, national tourist areas); the costs for preparing general functional zone planning (economic zones, national tourist areas) with overlapping areas within the scope of general urban planning, areas designated for urban development, and special zones within the urban system; the costs for preparing underground space planning for centrally-administered cities shall be determined by budget estimates according to the guidelines set forth in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular.

i) The costs for preparing detailed planning for key infrastructure zones; other functional zones directed by regional planning or provincial planning or general planning shall be determined by budget estimates according to the guidelines set forth in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular.

k) In cases where separate urban design preparation is carried out, the costs for preparing urban design shall be determined by budget estimates but shall not exceed 1.5 times the level of costs calculated according to the detailed planning cost standards for urban areas, rural areas, and functional zones at a scale of 1/500 corresponding to the area of the urban design.

3. The costs for preparing overall site planning shall be determined as 65% of the costs for preparing detailed planning for urban areas, rural areas, and functional zones.

4. For urban and rural planning that requires preparing planning documentation based on geographic information systems (GIS), the planning preparation costs shall be adjusted with a factor K=1.1.

5. In cases where foreign consultancy services are hired to prepare tasks and urban and rural planning according to the decision of the competent authority, the costs for preparing planning tasks and urban and rural planning shall be determined by budget estimates appropriate to the content of consultancy work, the number of experts, the expertise level of consultants, the working time of experts, the salary level of experts from the country and region expected to be hired, and other necessary costs to complete the consultancy work. The budget estimate for hiring foreign consultancy services includes all necessary costs to prepare tasks and urban and rural planning: expert fees, management costs, related expenses, pre-tax income, contingency costs, and taxes payable as prescribed.

Article 7. Determination of Costs for Reviewing and Adjusting Urban and Rural Planning

1. The review and adjustment of urban and rural planning shall be carried out in accordance with the laws on urban and rural planning.

2. The consulting costs for reviewing urban and rural planning shall be determined based on the budget estimate as guided in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular.

3. The costs for adjusting urban and rural planning shall be determined as follows:

a) In cases where partial adjustments to the planning are made: The costs shall be determined based on the scope of work to be adjusted using the budget estimate but shall not exceed 50% of the cost of preparing a new plan corresponding to the adjusted portion.

b) In cases where comprehensive adjustments to the planning are made but the scope of adjustment does not exceed the approved area and population size, the costs for adjusting the planning shall be determined based on the budget estimate but shall not exceed 80% of the cost of preparing a new plan corresponding to the adjusted portion. If the scope of adjustment exceeds the approved area and population size, the maximum costs for adjusting the planning shall not exceed 100% of the cost of preparing a new plan corresponding to the adjusted portion.

Article 8. Determination of Costs for Preparing Tasks for Urban and Rural Planning

1. The costs for preparing tasks for urban and rural planning include: labor costs for preparing the planning tasks, other costs (costs for purchasing materials, data, office supplies, planning software (if applicable), depreciation of equipment, travel expenses, accommodation expenses, conference and seminar expenses, and other expenses (if applicable)).

2. The costs for preparing tasks for urban and rural planning shall be determined as follows:

a) The costs for preparing general planning tasks for cities, areas designated for urban development, and special economic zones within the urban system shall be determined based on the area scale, population density of the planning area, and cost standards set forth in Table 1 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

b) The costs for preparing general planning tasks for communes and special economic zones outside the urban system shall be determined based on the population scale and cost standards set forth in Table 2 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

c) The costs for preparing general planning tasks for economic zones and national tourist areas shall be determined based on the planning area scale and cost standards set forth in Table 3 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

d) The costs for preparing detailed planning tasks for urban areas shall be determined based on the planning area scale and cost standards set forth in Table 4 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

đ) The costs for preparing detailed planning tasks for industrial zones, high-tech zones, high-tech agricultural zones, and high-tech forestry zones shall be determined based on the planning area scale and cost standards set forth in Table 5 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

e) The costs for preparing detailed planning tasks for areas within urban and rural areas and functional zones shall be determined based on the planning area scale and cost standards set forth in Table 6 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular.

g) The costs for preparing specialized infrastructure technical planning tasks for centrally-administered cities shall be determined based on the budget estimate as guided in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular but shall not exceed the percentage cost calculated according to Table 7 of Appendix 1 attached to this Circular relative to the general urban planning task corresponding to the city.

h) The costs for preparing specific urban design planning tasks shall be determined based on the budget estimate but shall not exceed 1.5 times the cost of preparing detailed planning tasks for urban and rural areas and functional zones at a scale of 1/500 corresponding to the area of the urban design.

i) The costs for preparing planning tasks for other types of planning shall be determined based on the budget estimate as guided in Appendix 2 attached to this Circular.

Article 9. Determination of Management Costs for Urban and Rural Planning Work

1. Management costs for urban and rural planning work refer to expenses for activities of management agencies during the planning process such as: fees for experts, part-time staff, meetings, travel expenses, materials, office supplies, and other tasks serving the management of planning work according to current laws on revenue management and expenditure regulations.

2. Management costs for urban and rural planning work are calculated as a percentage (%) of the planning preparation costs. The standard for management costs for planning work is determined in Table 8 of Appendix 1 attached hereto. For general urban planning of centrally-administered cities, management costs for planning work are determined based on the budget estimate.

Article 10. Other Costs Related to Urban and Rural Planning Activities

1. Model-making costs for planning are determined according to the cost standards in Table 9 of Appendix 1 attached hereto and multiplied by the area of the planning model.

2. The costs for establishing tasks, preparing plans, and managing urban and rural planning work as stipulated in Articles 6, 8, and 9 of this Circular do not include costs for performing the following tasks:

a) Purchasing or preparing topographic maps for planning purposes (if applicable).

b) Setting boundary markers according to urban and rural planning;

c) Hiring organizations or experts to review planning or specialized seminars to serve the review of planning.

d) Organizing opinions from state management agencies, organizations, experts, and relevant community residents.

đ) Announcing approved planning.

e) Hiring organizations or individuals to advise on the preparation and review of planning cost estimates.

g) Organizing competitions for consulting organizations to prepare planning (if applicable).

h) Other tasks serving the establishment of tasks, preparation of plans, and management of urban and rural planning work.

3. The costs at Clause 2 of this Article are determined based on the budget estimate or other relevant legal provisions.

4. The fee for reviewing urban and rural planning is determined according to the regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

Article 11. Management of Planning Activity Costs

1. Agencies assigned the task of managing urban and rural planning work are responsible for managing planning preparation costs and related costs economically and effectively according to relevant regulations. During the cost management process, agencies assigned the task of managing urban and rural planning work may hire organizations or individuals with sufficient capacity and experience to prepare and review planning cost estimates.

2. Approval of the budget estimate for the cost of establishing tasks; the budget estimate for preparing and adjusting urban and rural planning shall be carried out according to the legal regulations on urban and rural planning.

3. In cases where the project investor organizes the preparation of the overall site plan, the approval of the budget estimate for the preparation and adjustment of the overall site plan shall be carried out according to the current regulations on construction investment cost management.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Transitional Provisions

1. For works for urban and rural planning activities that have been tendered or signed contracts, they shall be implemented according to the tender documents or signed contracts.

2. For works for urban and rural planning activities that have been approved for budget estimates but have not yet selected contractors, the competent authority approving the budget estimate shall consider and decide on the application of the provisions of this Circular.

Article 13. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2025.

2. Circular No. 20/2019/TT-BXD dated December 31, 2019 guiding the determination and management of construction planning costs and urban planning, and Circular No. 02/2024/TT-BXD dated May 20, 2024 guiding the determination and management of detailed planning costs according to the simplified procedure of the Ministry of Construction cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.