Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
Right To Information Act 2005, Sec 4(1) (b)
The Directorate of Town and Country Planning, functioning under the Housing and Urban Development Department, published this disclosure under Section 4(1)(b) of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It explains the Directorate's jurisdiction, planning functions, development approval responsibilities, delegated powers and public records. The document gives no order number or issue date.
Scope and purpose
The Directorate of Town and Country Planning operates under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 and the Housing and Urban Development Department. Its jurisdiction covers Tamil Nadu except the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority area.
The Directorate prepares and implements Master Plans, New Town Development Plans and Detailed Development Plans. Its functions include notifying planning areas, creating planning authorities, approving layouts and building plans, assisting local bodies with planning permission and enforcing statutory planning obligations.
Plans and land use controls
The Directorate of Town and Country Planning describes three main planning tools:
- Regional Plans support coordinated development across regions, including transport and communication networks.
- Master Plans and New Town Development Plans regulate land use and major road networks to support orderly urban development.
- Detailed Development Plans provide detailed zoning, parks, playfields, link roads, traffic circulation, public purposes, commercial areas and industrial areas.
Land use details from Master Plans and Detailed Development Plans, together with approved layout and building details, are uploaded by the department.
Planning permission and layout approval
The Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 requires planning permission before development of land or a building begins. Development remains unauthorised if the required planning permission is not obtained, even where permission or a licence has been obtained under another law.
The disclosed approval arrangements include:
- Layouts exceeding 10 acres in rural areas or 5 acres in urban areas receive technical clearance from the Directorate. Planning permission is then issued by the relevant planning or district authority, with final approval by the local body after roads, open space reservations and other required areas are handed over.
- Layouts up to 10 acres in rural areas and below 5 acres in urban areas are handled by the relevant Member Secretary and local body, with district level technical clearance under Directorate of Town and Country Planning Circular Roc.No.4367/2019/TCP2, dated 11 October 2021.
- District offices may issue planning permission for non high rise buildings up to 40,000 square feet of floor space index area under Circular Roc.No.7963/2022/K1, dated 11 April 2023.
Powers delegated to local bodies
The Government delegated planning permission and licensing powers through G.O.No.154, Housing and Urban Development Department, dated 13 October 2020, and G.O.No.265, Housing and Urban Development Department, dated 21 December 2022.
Outside Chennai, local bodies may grant planning permission for specified residential buildings up to 10,000 square feet, up to eight dwelling units and within the stated height and floor limits. They may also handle commercial buildings up to 2,000 square feet consisting of ground and first floors in a single block.
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
Does the Directorate of Town and Country Planning cover property in Chennai?
The Directorate's jurisdiction covers Tamil Nadu except the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority area.
Can building work start with only a local body licence?
No. Planning permission must be obtained before development begins. The development is unauthorised if required planning permission is missing, even when a permission or licence has been obtained under another law.
Where can I check approved layouts, buildings or land use details?
The Directorate states that Master Plan and Detailed Development Plan land use details, approved layout details and approved building details are uploaded.
Who gives final approval for a large layout?
For layouts exceeding 10 acres in rural areas or 5 acres in urban areas, the Directorate gives technical clearance, the relevant planning or district authority issues planning permission, and the local body gives final approval after roads, open space reservations and other required areas are handed over.
