G.O. (Ms.) No. 154, Delegation of Powers to Local Bodies, 2020
The Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 154, dated 13 October 2020, increasing the residential building plan approval powers delegated to local bodies outside Chennai. It allows those local bodies to grant planning permission for qualifying residential buildings with a total built-up area of up to 10,000 square feet, while continuing the existing delegation for commercial buildings.
What the government changed
G.O. (Ms.) No. 154, issued by the Housing and Urban Development [UD4(3)] Department on 13 October 2020, expands the residential planning permission powers of local bodies outside Chennai. The change was accepted following a proposal from the Director of Town and Country Planning to simplify planning permission for small residential buildings.
Before the change, local bodies could approve qualifying residential buildings with a total built-up area of up to 7,000 square feet. The new delegation raises that area limit to 10,000 square feet while retaining the other stated conditions.
Residential buildings covered
Local bodies outside Chennai may grant planning permission where a residential building meets all the following conditions:
- Total built-up area is up to 10,000 square feet.
- The building contains up to 8 dwelling units.
- The building does not exceed 12 metres in height.
- The building is no more than stilt plus 3 floors, or ground plus 2 floors.
A residential proposal exceeding these limits is not included in the expanded local body delegation described in G.O. (Ms.) No. 154.
Commercial buildings and other proposals
G.O. (Ms.) No. 154 does not increase the delegated limits for commercial buildings. It expressly continues the existing delegation of powers for commercial building plans.
The approval structure recorded in the order states that building plans exceeding the delegated limits, building plans for other categories of buildings, and all layout plans are handled by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or the Town and Country Planning Department, as applicable.
Who may be affected
G.O. (Ms.) No. 154 may affect:
- Owners and developers proposing small residential buildings outside Chennai.
- Professionals preparing residential building plans for local body approval.
- Local bodies responsible for granting planning permission within the delegated limits.
- Applicants whose projects exceed the limits and therefore require consideration by the relevant planning authority.
The Director of Town and Country Planning and the Member Secretary of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority were directed to take action in accordance with the revised delegation.
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Common questions
Can my local body approve a 9,000 square foot residential building?
A local body outside Chennai may approve it if the proposal also has no more than 8 dwelling units, does not exceed 12 metres in height, and is no more than stilt plus 3 floors or ground plus 2 floors.
Does the increased delegation apply within Chennai?
No. G.O. (Ms.) No. 154 delegates the expanded residential planning permission power to local bodies except Chennai.
Did the government also increase local body powers for commercial buildings?
No new commercial building limit is introduced. The order states that the existing delegation of powers for commercial buildings will continue.
Who handles plans that exceed the delegated limits?
The approval structure stated in the order assigns plans exceeding the limits, other categories of building plans, and all layout plans to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or the Town and Country Planning Department, as applicable.
