Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019

What the rules govern

The Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 were made by the Governor of Tamil Nadu and notified by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department through G.O. Ms. No. 18, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MA 1), dated 4th February 2019. They were published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary on 4th February 2019 and come into force from the date of publication in the Gazette.

The notification relies on powers under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, the Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act, 1920, the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994, and the laws governing the listed city municipal corporations.

Who may be affected

The Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 are relevant to owners, buyers, developers and professionals dealing with land development, construction, structural alterations, changes in building occupancy or changes in planned land use. They are also relevant when an application or approval must be obtained from the competent authority.

A buyer reviewing a property may need to consider whether its present building structure, occupancy and land use match the approvals granted by the authority.

Key provisions in the supplied extract

The preliminary provisions and definitions include the following:

• An application is one made in the form specified by the authority from time to time.
• Approved means approved or sanctioned by the authority under the rules.
• Access means a way to a plot or building.
• Addition or alteration includes a change of occupancy, structural change, added area, changed height, removal of part of a building, work affecting walls, partitions, columns, beams, floors or supports, and changes affecting required access, entry or exit.
• Conversion of an occupied building includes a change from one occupancy to another, or a structural or space and use change requiring an additional occupancy certificate.
• Conversion of land use means changing land from one land use category to another in a Master Plan, Detailed Development Plan or New Town Development Plan.
• Carpet area is the covered area of usable rooms in a dwelling unit at a floor, excluding wall area.
• Covered area is the ground area covered by a building above plinth level, including projecting parts on another storey and basement floor levels.
• An advertising sign includes outdoor advertising or information surfaces and structures attached to buildings, trees, the ground, poles, fences, hoardings or displayed over water within the competent authority's jurisdiction.