G.O. (Ms.) No. 69, Amendment to Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019, 2024 (24)
The Housing and Urban Development Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 69 dated 11 March 2024 to amend the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. The amendments raise several thresholds for non high rise buildings from 12 metres to 14 metres, revise related professional, setback, rainwater harvesting and building classification provisions, and increase one 9 metre limit to 10 metres.
What the amendment does
The Housing and Urban Development Department's G.O. (Ms.) No. 69 dated 11 March 2024 increases the maximum height used in several provisions for non high rise buildings from 12 metres to 14 metres. The appended notification was directed to be published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Extraordinary dated 11 March 2024.
The changes affect owners, developers, registered architects, registered engineers and professionals dealing with planning permission or building approval for non high rise buildings.
Main height and professional changes
The amendments to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 provide that:
- A non high rise building up to 14 metres may be handled by a Registered Architect or Registered Engineer under the amended provision.
- The next height category now covers non high rise buildings above 14 metres and up to 18.30 metres, instead of above 12 metres.
- References to special requirements for non high rise buildings above 12 metres are changed to buildings above 14 metres.
- Several provisions concerning buildings up to 12 metres now apply to buildings up to 14 metres.
- A category previously described as non high rise buildings up to 9 metres is changed to up to 10 metres.
Setback changes
The amended setback tables include the following requirements for the entries replaced by the notification:
- For buildings up to 7 metres, the side setback is nil where the plot width is up to 9 metres. For wider plots, it is 1 metre on either side or 2 metres on one side.
- For buildings above 7 metres and up to 14 metres, a plot up to 6 metres wide requires 1 metre on one side.
- For that same building height range, plots above 6 metres and up to 9 metres require 1.5 metres on one side.
- For plots above 9 metres, the requirement is 1.5 metres on either side or 3 metres on one side.
- The replacement rear setback is nil for buildings up to 7 metres and 1.5 metres for buildings above 7 metres and up to 14 metres.
Other amended provisions
The Housing and Urban Development Department notification also updates connected references throughout the rules and annexures:
- Building categories based on the former 12 metre threshold now use 14 metres.
- The category for buildings above the threshold remains capped at 18.30 metres and also refers to buildings exceeding 16 dwelling units.
- Rainwater harvesting categories now distinguish buildings up to 14 metres from those above 14 metres and up to 18.3 metres, including industries and institutional buildings in the latter category.
- A maximum building height and a related table entry are changed from 12 metres to 14 metres.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Can a Registered Architect or Registered Engineer handle a non high rise building up to 14 metres?
Yes. The amended provision identifies a Registered Architect or Registered Engineer for non high rise buildings with a height up to 14 metres.
Does the amendment allow every non high rise building to exceed 14 metres?
No. The notification keeps a separate category for non high rise buildings above 14 metres and up to 18.30 metres. It does not state that every building may automatically use that height.
What rear setback is listed for a building above 7 metres and up to 14 metres?
The replacement table specifies a rear setback of 1.5 metres. For buildings up to 7 metres, it specifies no rear setback.
Did the rainwater harvesting height categories change?
Yes. The categories now refer to non high rise buildings up to 14 metres and buildings above 14 metres and up to 18.3 metres, rather than using 12 metres as the dividing point.
