G.O. (Ms.) No. 118, Extension of Self Certification Scheme for Residential Buildings up to Stilt Plus Two Floors, 2025

What the amendment covers

G.O. (Ms.) No. 118 of the Housing and Urban Development [UD4(1)] Department changes the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. A self-certified residential building may now have ground plus one floor or stilt plus two floors, subject to all of these limits:

• Plot area up to 2,500 square feet.
• Floor Space Index area up to 3,500 square feet.
• Maximum two dwelling units.
• Maximum height of 10 metres.

Who may apply

The amended self certification scheme permits an owner, leaseholder or power of attorney holder who intends to construct, reconstruct or develop an eligible residential building to submit building plans.

Applicants must certify that the online information and uploaded documents are true. They must also indemnify the competent authority against claims arising from permission issued on the basis of the self-certified records.

Documents and drawings

An application under the amended scheme must include applicant, plot and building details, together with:

• Site photographs.
• A self-attested registered sale deed proving ownership.
• A self-attested Patta or Town Survey Land Register in the owner's favour.
• An approved layout, approved subdivision plan, field measurement book, regularised plot or layout record, or one link document proving that the site or plot existed before 20 October 2016.
• Building, site, specification and key plans signed by an architect or registered engineer.

Plans must be compiled in no more than three A4 sheets. Depending on the proposal, they must show the site, stilt or ground floor, upper floors, setbacks, adjoining survey numbers, road width, parking, rooms, services, water sump, area statement, terrace, elevation, cross-section, specifications and key plan. Every sheet must carry prescribed property and location details, signatures, north direction and space for a QR code. Dimensions must be in metres.

Main planning limits

The amended planning parameters provide:

• Minimum road width of 1.5 metres in continuous building areas and economically weaker section areas, and 3 metres in other areas.
• Permissible Floor Space Index of 2.0.
• Front setbacks of 1.5 metres in continuous building areas, 1 metre in economically weaker section areas and 1.5 metres in other areas.
• Side and rear setbacks that vary by area, plot width and whether building height is up to 7 metres or more than 7 metres up to 10 metres.
• Water body buffers of 1 or 3 metres for canals depending on width, 3 metres for lakes and 15 metres for rivers.