Tamil Nadu Expands Powers of Local Bodies to Approve Building Plans

The Tamil Nadu government has expanded the powers of urban and rural local bodies to approve residential and commercial building plans, aiming to speed up planning permissions and simplify the construction approval process. Under the revised rules, corporations and municipalities can approve residential building plans with a total Floor Space Index (FSI) area of up to 1,500 square metres (approximately 16,140 square feet), subject to a maximum of 16 dwelling units. The earlier limit was 10,000 square feet. Town panchayats and rural local bodies have also been granted enhanced powers. They can now approve residential buildings with an FSI area of up to 1,200 square metres (approximately 12,912 square feet), with a maximum of 12 dwelling units, compared with the earlier limit of eight units. The revised provisions also increase the permitted building height under the delegated approval framework. Urban and rural local bodies can approve eligible residential and commercial buildings up to 14 metres in height, subject to a maximum of stilt-plus-three floors or ground-plus-two floors. The earlier height limit for residential buildings was 12 metres. The expansion of approval powers is intended to decentralise decision-making and reduce procedural delays by enabling local authorities to handle a wider range of building proposals within their jurisdiction. The move is expected to benefit property owners, homebuyers and builders undertaking eligible projects by making the planning permission process more accessible. However, proposed buildings must continue to comply with applicable FSI limits, land-use regulations, setbacks, safety requirements and other relevant development rules. The revised framework marks a step towards streamlining building approvals across Tamil Nadu while giving local bodies greater responsibility for managing construction-related permissions.