Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare methods for estimating residential land capacity in two rural municipalities –one from the Lubelskie region and the other from the Mazowieckie region –in the context of preparing general plans. The scope of the analysis covered the years 2023–2024 and was based on planning documents, cadastral records, and spatial data. The research methodology relied on comparative analysis to integrate planning, cadastral, and environmental data, supported by the use of GIS tools. The analysis was based on planning, cadastral, and spatial data, using GIS tools. Three calculation variants were applied, differing primarily in the assumed plot sizes and development intensity indices. The results revealed significant discrepancies between planning assumptions and the actual spatial development patterns. The working hypothesis is that reliance on generalized assumptions in estimating development capacity risks considerable distortions when contrasted with analyses incorporating local spatial determinants. The study confirmed that there is no universal calculation model, and that the choice of indicators has a considerable impact on the outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of spatial data analysis as a foundation for developing reliable and locally appropriate general plans, which should be complemented by an assessment of the qualitative aspects of the built environment.