G.O.(Ms) No.86, Risk Based Classification and Delegation of Powers for Site Inspection, 2019

What the order does

Government Order (Ms.) Number 86, dated 14 June 2019, supports the Business Reforms Action Plan and the single window process for planning permission and permit applications. It accepts the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority proposal to classify developments by risk and assign site inspections to officials at different levels.

The classification follows the distinction between non high rise and high rise buildings in the Tamil Nadu Combined Development Building Rules, 2019. The risk assessment considers development density and site size.

Who is affected

Government Order (Ms.) Number 86 applies to building inspections in:

• The Chennai Metropolitan Area, through the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and local bodies.
• Areas administered by the Directorate of Town and Country Planning.
• Residential, commercial and other developments requiring inspection as part of planning permission or permit processing.

Property owners, developers and applicants may therefore have their sites inspected by different levels of officials depending on the scale and type of development.

Chennai Metropolitan Area inspection levels

The Housing and Urban Development [UD1(2)] Department assigns the following inspection levels in the Chennai Metropolitan Area:

• Low risk residential buildings up to 12 metres, not exceeding 3 dwelling units or 750 square metres of built-up area, may be inspected by an Assistant Planner or a Junior Engineer or Assistant Engineer at the local body.
• Low risk commercial buildings up to 12 metres and not exceeding 300 square metres of built-up area have the same inspection level.
• Other developments above 300 square metres and up to 7,500 square metres are assigned to a Deputy Planner.
• Developments above 30,000 square metres, or sites above 1 hectare, are assigned to a Chief Planner.
• High rise developments up to 30 metres are assigned to an Assistant Planner. Those above 30 metres and up to 60 metres are assigned to a Deputy Planner. Those above 60 metres, or on sites above 1 hectare, are assigned to a Chief Planner.

Directorate of Town and Country Planning areas

Government Order (Ms.) Number 86 applies the same general approach in Directorate of Town and Country Planning areas, using Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Joint Director inspection levels. For low risk commercial buildings, inspection may also be handled by a Junior Engineer or Assistant Engineer at the local body.

Allocation and future revision

The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority system provides for computerized automatic allocation of inspectors according to the geographical unit or division assigned to the job. The Government may revise the delegated inspection powers through later orders.