Official guidance, Tamil Nadu land law
Circular, Supplementary Power Delegation to Field Officers
The Office of the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning issued an unnumbered circular dated 14 March 2019, giving field officers additional authority to grant planning permission for a single block used as an educational institution or industry, without an FSI area limit on that delegated authority, provided the building height complies with the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 requirements for non-high rise buildings. The circular supplements Office Circular Roc.No.4367/2019-BA2 dated 7 March 2019.
What the circular does
The Office of the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning issued the unnumbered circular dated 14 March 2019 as a supplementary delegation of planning permission powers to field officers. It adds to the powers already listed in Office Circular Roc.No.4367/2019-BA2 dated 7 March 2019.
The additional delegation applies where:
- Only one block is proposed on the site.
- The proposed use is an educational institution or industry.
- The building height complies with the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 provisions for non-high rise buildings.
When these conditions are met, the field officer may grant planning permission at the field officer's own level without any limit based on the FSI area proposed in that single block.
Who may be affected
The circular directly guides field officers handling planning permission. It was addressed to the Member Secretaries of all Composite LPAs and NTDAs, and all Regional DDs and ADs. Copies were also sent to all DDs, ADs, Planning Assistants and Supervisors.
Owners, developers and professionals may be affected when seeking planning permission for a site containing a single educational institution block or a single industrial block. The circular concerns the level at which permission may be granted. It does not extend the delegation described here to sites with multiple proposed blocks or to uses other than educational institutions and industries.
Key limits and related rules
The delegated power is subject to the following points:
- The proposal must contain only a single block on the site.
- The permitted uses identified are educational institution and industry.
- No FSI area ceiling is stated for the field officer's delegated authority over that single block.
- Building height must follow the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 requirements for non-high rise buildings.
The circular refers to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019, notified through G.O.Ms.No.18 of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MA.1) Department dated 4 February 2019, and published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, Part III, Section 1(a), dated 4 February 2019.
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 field officer approve a single industrial block regardless of its proposed FSI area?
Yes. The circular gives the field officer authority without an FSI area limit where only one industrial block is proposed, subject to the building height requirements for non-high rise buildings under the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019.
Does the delegated power cover educational institution buildings?
Yes. It covers a site where only one educational institution block is proposed, provided its height complies with the requirements for non-high rise buildings.
Does the circular apply when more than one block is proposed?
The additional delegation stated in the circular applies only where a single block is proposed on the site.
Does the circular replace the earlier field officer delegation circular?
No. It adds further delegated power to the items in Office Circular Roc.No.4367/2019-BA2 dated 7 March 2019.
