G.O. (Ms.) No. 118, Extension of Self Certification Scheme for Residential Buildings, 2025
The Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development [UD4(1)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 118 dated 8 August 2025, amending the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 to extend self-certification to qualifying residential buildings of up to stilt plus two floors. The amendment defines eligible buildings and applicants, specifies application documents and drawing requirements, and sets planning parameters including height, Floor Space Index, setbacks and buffers from water bodies.
What the amendment covers
The Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development [UD4(1)] Department issued G.O. (Ms.) No. 118 dated 8 August 2025. It amends the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 and directs publication of the appended notification in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Extraordinary dated 11 August 2025.
A self-certified residential building may have:
- A plot area up to 2,500 square feet.
- Floor Space Index area up to 3,500 square feet.
- No more than two dwelling units.
- Ground floor plus first floor, or stilt plus two floors.
- A maximum height of 10 metres.
Who can apply
G.O. (Ms.) No. 118 allows the landowner, leaseholder or power of attorney holder who intends to construct, reconstruct or develop a qualifying residential building to submit plans under the self-certification scheme.
The applicant must certify that the information and uploaded documents are true. The applicant must also indemnify the competent authority against claims arising from permission issued on the basis of the self-certified records.
Documents and plans
The self-certification application must include:
- Site photographs.
- A self-attested registered sale deed proving ownership.
- A self-attested Patta or Town Survey Land Register in the owner's favour.
- Relevant approved layout, subdivision, field measurement or regularisation records, or a link document proving that the site or plot existed before 20 October 2016.
- Building, site and key plans signed by an architect or registered engineer.
The building plan must be compiled in no more than three A4 sheets. Depending on the proposal, these sheets must show the site, stilt or ground floor, first floor, second floor, terrace, area statement, Floor Space Index, joinery details, elevation, cross-section, specifications and key plan. All dimensions must be in metres, and every sheet must contain the prescribed property details, signatures, north direction, index and QR code space.
Main planning limits
G.O. (Ms.) No. 118 prescribes:
- 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 setback of 1.5 metres in continuous building areas, 1 metre in Economically Weaker Section areas and 1.5 metres in other areas.
- Water body buffers of 1 metre for canals below 1 metre wide, 3 metres for wider canals and lakes, and 15 metres for rivers.
Where a street alignment or new road is prescribed, setbacks are measured from that line. Otherwise, they are measured from the property boundary.
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 I use self-certification for a stilt plus two-floor house?
Yes, if the proposal meets the other limits, including a maximum height of 10 metres, plot area up to 2,500 square feet, Floor Space Index area up to 3,500 square feet and no more than two dwelling units.
Can a leaseholder submit the application?
Yes. The landowner, leaseholder or power of attorney holder may submit plans for an eligible self-certified residential building.
Must an architect or engineer sign the building plans?
Yes. The building plan and related drawings must be signed by an architect or registered engineer.
What is the maximum Floor Space Index under the scheme?
The permissible Floor Space Index is 2.0, while the definition of a self-certified residential building also limits Floor Space Index area to 3,500 square feet.
