G.O. Ms.No.16, Amendments to the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019
The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department issued G.O. Ms.No.16, dated 31 January 2020, to amend the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019. The amendments change planning permission timelines, land use treatment, professional registration, building projections, development standards, affordable housing provisions, link roads and permitted incidental uses.
What the amendments cover
The Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department issued G.O. Ms.No.16, dated 31 January 2020, under the State planning, municipal corporation, municipality and panchayat laws listed in the notification. The legal basis is expanded to include the Hosur City Municipal Corporation Act, 2019, the Nagercoil City Municipal Corporation Act, 2019 and the Avadi City Municipal Corporation Act, 2019.
Who may be affected
G.O. Ms.No.16 may affect property owners, developers, applicants for planning or building permission, architects and other technical professionals. It is particularly relevant to small buildings, affordable housing, large developments requiring road connectivity and residential projects exceeding 100 dwelling units.
Key provisions
- For layout and reclassification applications, a distance of 500 m is specified. The amendment adds 250 m for high rise buildings and 100 m for non high rise buildings.
- Written permission for buildings below 1,200 sq.ft. must be issued within 30 days from receipt of the plan and other requirements.
- Within the Chennai Metropolitan Area, sites gaining access from roads at least 12 m wide are deemed to be in a commercial use zone. For the rest of the Chennai Metropolitan Area, the stated road width is at least 9 m. Other sites are deemed residential.
- Architects are removed from the listed registration categories. A competent authority may use a person holding a B.Arch or equivalent degree, with at least two years of professional experience after graduation and a Council of Architecture registration certificate, as an architect.
- An air conditioner ledge up to 0.6 m is added as an allowed projection.
- Standards are revised for non high rise buildings containing up to 16 dwellings and specified small developments not exceeding 300 sq.metres. The table states a normally permissible Floor Space Index of 2.0 and provides road width, height, floor and setback controls.
- A sum of Rs.1,500 is inserted for non high rise buildings under the relevant provision.
- Affordable housing provisions apply to dwelling units up to 60 sq.m carpet area within the Greater Chennai Corporation Area and up to 90 sq.m in the rest of the State.
- For large developments, the competent authority may require link road space to be transferred free of cost to the local body through a registered gift deed.
- Residential developments exceeding 100 dwelling units in a primary residential use zone may include commercial and institutional uses of up to 10 per cent of habitable floor area for occupants.
- School development standards are revised, including 3 m side and rear setbacks for primary schools.
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Common questions
How quickly should permission be issued for a building below 1,200 sq.ft.?
G.O. Ms.No.16 requires written permission to be issued within 30 days from the date the plan and other requirements are received.
Can a large development be required to provide a public link road?
Yes. The competent authority may require road space for connectivity through the site, and the applicant must transfer it free of cost to the local body through a registered gift deed.
What dwelling size qualifies under the amended affordable housing provision?
The limit is 60 sq.m carpet area within the Greater Chennai Corporation Area and 90 sq.m carpet area in the rest of Tamil Nadu.
Can a residential project with more than 100 homes include shops or institutions?
Yes. In a primary residential use zone, commercial and institutional uses needed by occupants may occupy up to 10 per cent of the building's floor area at habitable floor levels.
