Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026, Volume II, Development Regulations
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority issued the Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026, Volume II, Development Regulations, originally approved by the Government of Tamil Nadu through G.O.Ms. No. 190 of the Housing and Urban Development Department, dated 2 September 2008. The document governs development across the Chennai Metropolitan Area and incorporates amendments up to May 2013.
What the regulations cover
The Second Master Plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area, 2026, Volume II, Development Regulations applies throughout the Chennai Metropolitan Area. It sets out the planning framework for developing land and buildings, changing land use, creating layouts and subdivisions, and obtaining planning permission.
Development includes building, engineering, mining and other operations on, over or under land. It also includes material changes in the use of land or buildings, subdivision, layout, reconstitution and amalgamation of land.
Who may be affected
The Development Regulations for Chennai Metropolitan Area are relevant to:
- Landowners, builders, promoters and power of attorney holders applying for planning permission.
- Buyers checking whether a plot, building or proposed use complies with the applicable land use zone.
- Owners planning construction, alteration, subdivision or a change of use.
- Developers of special buildings, group developments and multi-storeyed buildings.
- Owners of land in environmentally sensitive, restricted or specially regulated areas.
The competent authority is the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or a local authority to which it has delegated planning permission powers.
Key provisions
The Development Regulations for Chennai Metropolitan Area cover:
- Written permission for development, application procedures and completion certificates.
- Site approval, proposed road widths, street alignments and building lines.
- Transferable Development Rights and Special Transferable Development Rights.
- Residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, urbanisable, non-urban and agricultural land use zones.
- Restrictions concerning quarries, crushers, aquifer recharge areas, catchment areas, the Pallikkaranai Swamp area and the area around the Indian Air Force station.
- Special controls for the Mass Rapid Transit System influence area, Information Technology Corridor and areas near airports or aerodromes.
- Planning standards for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, religious and transport terminal developments.
- Parking, rainwater conservation, solar energy capture, electrical rooms, accessibility for persons with disabilities and recreational land reservations.
- Layouts, subdivisions, heritage buildings and buildings of historical or architectural interest.
Plot area and Floor Space Index
The Development Regulations for Chennai Metropolitan Area define Floor Space Index as total covered area on all floors, excluding specifically exempted areas, divided by plot area. If the site extent differs between actual site conditions, the Permanent Land Register extract or patta, and the registered ownership document, the lowest extent is used for Floor Space Index and plot coverage, after excluding encroachment. Setbacks are based on the inner boundary after excluding encroached land or land over which the applicant or developer has no right.
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
Do these development regulations apply outside Chennai city?
They extend to the whole Chennai Metropolitan Area, not only Chennai city.
Which plot area is used if my patta, sale document and site measurement differ?
For Floor Space Index and plot coverage, the lowest extent shown by site conditions, the Permanent Land Register extract or patta, and the registered ownership document is used, excluding encroachment.
Does changing the use of an existing building count as development?
A material change in the use of a building or land is included within the definition of development.
Is every building on agricultural land treated as a farm house?
No. A farm house must be constructed as an incidental use to an agricultural or horticultural farm. A building not associated with farm activities is not treated as a farm house under these regulations.
