G.O.(Ms).No.46, Simplification of Planning Permission Applications in Notified Hill Areas, 2026
The Housing and Urban Development Department issued Government Order (Ms.) No. 46 dated 24 February 2026 to simplify planning permission procedures in areas covered by the Hill Areas Conservation Authority. It removes the Revenue Divisional Officer no objection certificate requirement, changes when Forest and Geology and Mines clearances are needed, and limits which proposals must be placed before the Hill Areas Conservation Authority Committee.
What the order governs
Government Order (Ms.) No. 46 of the Housing and Urban Development Department applies to planning permission for development in areas under the Hill Areas Conservation Authority. The notified coverage previously comprised 597 revenue villages in 16 districts.
The procedures distinguish between sites in hill stations and sites in other Hill Areas Conservation Authority areas. Hill station procedures apply within the local body jurisdictions listed in the annexure.
General procedural change
Government Order (Ms.) No. 46 makes the following change for all notified hill areas:
- A no objection certificate from the Revenue Divisional Officer is not required because revenue details can be checked through government online services.
Sites in hill stations
For sites within the annexure hill station jurisdictions:
- Change of land use proposals up to 2 hectares in urban areas and up to 4 hectares in rural areas follow the procedure used in areas outside the Hill Areas Conservation Authority.
- Proposals above those limits must be sent to the Director of Town and Country Planning for placement before the Hill Areas Conservation Authority Committee.
- Forest Department and Geology and Mines Department clearances are required for all change of land use proposals.
- Layout applications do not require prior clearance from the Hill Areas Conservation Authority Committee.
- For buildings, Forest and Geology and Mines clearances are required where development conforms to land use permitted by an approved Master Plan, and for development in a non-plan area.
- Those departmental clearances are not required for a building proposed in an approved layout.
- Clearances already obtained for change of land use need not be obtained again for layout or building development.
Other Hill Areas Conservation Authority sites
For covered sites outside hill stations:
- The same 2 hectare urban and 4 hectare rural limits apply to change of land use proposals.
- Larger proposals must go through the Director of Town and Country Planning to the Hill Areas Conservation Authority Committee.
- Geology and Mines clearance is not required for change of land use, layouts or buildings.
- Forest Department clearance is required for change of land use and for specified development in approved Master Plan or non-plan areas.
- Forest Department clearance is not required where the proposed building site is in an approved layout.
- A clearance already obtained for change of land use need not be obtained again for later layout or building development.
Listed hill station jurisdictions
The annexure identifies local bodies in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Tirupattur, Nilgiris, Salem, Tirunelveli and Theni districts. These include Valparai, Kodaikanal, Elagiri, Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Gudalur, Yercaud, Manimutharu and Highways, together with the other municipalities, town panchayats and village panchayats listed in the annexure.
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 I still need a no objection certificate from the Revenue Divisional Officer for a site in a notified hill area?
No. Government Order (Ms.) No. 46 exempts all notified hill areas from that requirement because revenue details can be verified through government online services.
Must every change of land use proposal go before the Hill Areas Conservation Authority Committee?
No. Proposals up to 2 hectares in urban areas and up to 4 hectares in rural areas follow the procedures used in non-Hill Areas Conservation Authority areas. Proposals above those limits must be sent to the Director of Town and Country Planning for placement before the Committee.
Are separate clearances required again when land use clearance was already obtained?
No. Where the relevant clearances were already obtained for change of land use, they need not be obtained again for the subsequent layout or building development.
Does a building in an approved layout require Forest and Geology and Mines clearances?
For a hill station site in an approved layout, neither clearance is required. For other covered sites, Geology and Mines clearance is not required, and Forest Department clearance is also not required when the proposed site falls in an approved layout.
