DEVELOPMENT CONTROL RULES

FOR
CHENNAI METROPOLITAN AREA
- examine the Development Control Rules that is practiced in
the Chennai Metropolitan Area and focus on the amendments, merits and demerits of the system.
Development Control Rules
• Set of rules that are designed to ensure the proper and efficient development of a city,
as well as the general welfare of the public, are commonly know as Development Control
Regulations.

• Mechanism by which entire process of urban development is controlled to achieve the target
of promoting the overall benefit of the society as well as creating distinct image of the city.

• It inspects on
• Guiding the development of the built environment
• Reducing the misuse of land
• Stimulating the rational and orderly development of the built environment.

• In short, the rules are designed to ensure proper and efficient development of a city
Need
• It is imperative that the development rules affect the Overall fabric and Personality of
a city.
• To amplify the growth of a city, such regulations should fulfill the public interest and
general welfare of the community and should be competent enough to satisfy the
basic needs of the public such as
• Health
• Safety
• Convenience
• Economy
• amenity
History
• The building rules were first introduced in Chennai in the year 1940 and that was the starting
point for the evolution of Control on Developments.

• The scope of the building rules were limited to the regulations relating to
sanitary aspects,
lighting,
ventilation and
structural stability of the buildings.

• The Public Health Act and the Municipal Acts provided for broad designation of areas within
the city for residential or industrial purposes and also prohibition of certain types of uses in a
particular area of the city.
Types of DCR controls:
• Town and country planning : Forming strategies and implementing them to provide
better infrastructures for the people, in line with their requirements.
• Zoning regulations : It deals with the allocation of land for specific purposes and
keeping a check on the use of land, overall construction and height of buildings
• Slum Clearance : Reducing the number of slums and ensuring the rehabilitation and
inhabitants.
• Building Bye-Laws : They are a set of regulations imposed on developers which
must be mandatorily met to construct legally-sound buildings. It involves acquiring al
set of clearances and abiding by the indian building code.
• Periphery Control : To protect the peripheral land that comes under the jurisdiction
of a state from all sorts of encroachments and illegal use.
• Land Acquisition : Acquiring land for government projects and compensating the
landowners
Controllable factors under DCR :

Floor Space Index Parking Space

Structural design & Size of plot

services

Fire Safety Lifts

Manner of obtaining permission
• submit an application in the prescribed form to the Member-Secretary of the Authority or to
such other authority or person as designated by the Authority
• If the plan/information furnished is not satisfactory, they have to produce them within 30days.
• If they are found to be satisfactory,
• The written permission shall be issued by the Authority or person designated for the
purpose by the Authority.
• While granting permission the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority or other
authority or person to whom the Authority had delegated the powers may impose such
restrictions and conditions, which may be necessary under these regulations.
• When the permission is refused, the reasons for refusal shall be recorded and
furnished to the applicant as provided in Section 49(3) of the Act.
• Scrutiny fees
• Above 300sq.m in floor area and also requests for Reclassifications
Completion certificate
• The Applicant/Owner/Builder/Promoter/Power of Attorney Holder and any other Person who is acquiring
interest shall not put the building to use without obtaining Completion Certificate from CMDA for ‘Special
buildings’, ‘Group Developments’, ‘Multi-storeyed Buildings’ and Institutional buildings (exceeding 300M2
in floor area) and such other developments as may be notified by the chennai Metropolitan Development
Authority from time to time.
• The Applicant/Owner/Builder/Promoter/Power of Attorney holder and any other person who is acquiring
interest shall submit application in complete shape for issue of Completion Certificate before probable
date of completion, and CMDA/Local Body concerned, which had issued PP, shall dispose off such
application.
 Requirement for site approval
• No development shall be made in a site unless the
Authority approves the site for the development.
• No piece of land shall be used as a site for the
construction of a building for any development if the
Authority considers that:
• If the site is near a water body or a water course
and the proposed development is likely to
contaminate the said water body or water course
• If the site is likely to be inundated and satisfactory
arrangement for proper drainage is not possible
• If the site does not abut any existing public or
private street forming part of a Lay-out sanctioned
under the provisions of the relevant Local Body Act,
conforming to the minimum width prescribed for
various uses in these regulations.
• If the site is a filled up tank or low lying or of made
up of soil by depositing rubbish or offensive
matters and the proposal is likely to be affected by
dampness owing to the sub-soil water, unless
ameliorative measures to the satisfaction of the
Authority are provided
• No site in Municipal and Panchayat areas which is
within a distance of 30 metres from a place declared
and used as a burning or burial place/ground shall
be used for layout or sub division for human habitation
(residential) shall be built including addition / alteration /
reconstructions with in 30 metres of such declared
burning or burial place/ground unless such
burial/burning place/ground was closed and remained
closed for a period not less than 5 years certified by
the local body concerned.
• Reconstitution Deed:
• If a development is proposed in more than one plot
/ site proposing amalgamation or reconstitution of
the individual sites to one site, then the proposed
building shall fall on the dividing line of the plot / site,
such that the individual plot / site is not
recognizable as a separate entity after execution of
the proposed development there on.
Transferable Development Rights:
WHAT IS TDR?
Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) - additional built up area in lieu of the area relinquished
or surrendered by the owner of the land, so that he can use extra built up area either himself or
transfer it to another in need of the extra built up area for an agreed sum of money.
Purpose of TDR:
The process of land acquisition in urban areas for public purpose is complicated, costly and
time consuming. In order to minimize the time needed and to enable a process, which could be
advantageously put into practice to acquire land for reservation purposes mentioned above.
•For road widening,
•For transport infrastructures like bus stand, metro rails
•For parks and play grounds, For community space etc.,
•For urban infrastructures like water supply, sewerage, drainage, electricity, education, health.
Benefits of TDR - a mechanism to facilitate the speedy acquisition of land for developing
infrastructure such as city road development, satellite towns, and metro rail.

• The TDR program allows the landowners to separate the right of ownership of the land
from the right of its development. A farmer can continue to farm in his land, while giving up
his developmental rights to a property developer as TDR for a consideration.
• Local Governments can use TDR to direct, development in specific zones. They can use
this tool to preserve farming areas, forested areas, heritage areas etc. by allowing its
owners to give up their rights to develop these spaces commercially in lieu of TDR
• TDR allows the developers to exceed the mandatory FAR and allow them to build
additional floors in a building.
• The greatest advantage of TDR is its flexibility in use — it can either be used by the
landowner on the remaining portion of the land after the acquisition or be utilised on any other
property of personal choice. It can also be traded to other parties for an agreed sum of
money.

FAR- Floor Area Ratio

Types of TDR
• there are four types of TDR that are generated –
• Road TDR,
• Reserved plots TDR,
• Slum TDR and
• Heritage TDR.

In most of the cities, majority of the construction activities take place with the aid of slum TDR.
TDR CHENNAI
• The concept of TDR was approved by the government in 2009 and special TDR for slum
resettlers was also approved in 2010.
• Though the concept has been there for some time in the neighbouring states of Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, Chennai has a distinct advantage.
• For instance, in Mumbai, if one takes TDR for residential, he can use it only for residential
project whereas in Chennai, it can be used for commercial purposes
• In respect of the Chennai Metro Rail, property owners have indicated their willingness to part
with portions of their land for the metro rail project by opting Development Rights Certificate
(DRC).
 • The FSI credit in the form of DRC shall be equal to the surrendered land area multiplied by an
FSI of 1.5 multiplied further by a factor arrived at by dividing the guideline value of the land
surrendered with the guideline value of the land at which the development regulations
transferred is proposed to be received/utilised.
• For example, incase of slums. Each beneficiary household shall be equal to 30 square

When DRC is utilized in remaining portion of When DRC is utilized in a different site
SAME LAND
TDR Guidlines
• Additional FSI is in the form of DRC certificate.
• DRC is issued by the secretary member.
• DRC is granted under the Tamil Nadu Urban Land Ceiling Act 1978.
• Compound walls and gates should be constructed before getting DCR
• Sites in the following areas are not eligible
• CRZ
• EWS
• Notified Heritage Towns
• Receiving site should not exceed 0.5 times the normal FSI.
• If the road width is less than 9m, DRC is not allowed.
• DRC is valid for 5 years, it has to be renewed futher.
Proximity to quarries and crushers
• No subdivision or layout shall be laid out or building
for Residential, Commercial, Industrial or
Institutional or any structure for occupation shall
be constructed within 500m from an existing live
quarry or crusher.
• If a quarry is claimed as abandoned, then a
certificate from the local body or the licensing
authority concerned to that effect shall be produced
when necessary.
• No crusher is permissible within a distance of
500m from an existing residential area.
Primary Residential use zone

 Normally Permissible Category.

• Any residence including dwelling, detached, semi-detached, tenements or flats and service
apartments.
• Professional consulting offices and incidental uses thereto occupying a floor area not
exceeding 40 sq.m.
• Schools of Commerce including Tutorial Institutions not exceeding 100 sq.m. in floor area.
• Petty shops dealing with daily essentials like retail sale of provisions, soft drinks,
cigarettes, news papers, etc., tea stalls, bakery, confectionary, retail shops, mutton stalls,
milk kiosk, cycle repair shops, tailoring shops, internet/computer centers and ATMs etc.
occupying a floor area not exceeding 40 sq.m.
• Nursery schools, Primary Schools, Libraries and reading rooms.
• Parks, play grounds, farms, gardens, nurseries, including incidental buildings thereon.
• Cottage industries listed in G.O.Ps.Nos.565 and 566 dated 12.3.1962 as amended and
indicated in Annexure V, with number of workers not exceeding 8 and electric machineries
not exceeding 5 H.P.
• Garment industries, craft centers and assembly of electronic parts for manufacture of
radios, transistors, television sets, computer chips and such other electronic industries with
installations not exceeding 5 HP and the number of employees not exceeding 25 numbers.
• Installation of Motor for pumping water, Air conditioning, Lifts, Solar Heaters, Dish
Antennas, etc.
• Storage of domestic cooking gas cylinders subject to the conditions prescribed in
G.O.M.sNo.329 dated 24.2.1977 viz. the applicant should obtain necessary clearance from
the Director of Fire and Rescue Services and from the Dept. of Explosives of the Govt. of
India.
• Taxi stands and car parking including multilevel parking.
 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:
• Hostels, and dormitories not exceeding 300 sq.m. in floor area.
• Working women hostels, old age homes
• Religious buildings, Welfare Institutions and Assembly Halls occupying floor area not
exceeding 300 sq.m.
• Govt./Semi Govt. Offices, Banks, Pay Offices, Post Office, Offices of Electricity Board,
Chennai City Corporation, Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited, etc.
occupying a floor area not exceeding 300 sq.m.
• Public Utility Buildings like sewage pumping stations, water works, Fire stations, Telephone
exchanges.
• Swimming Pool attached to residential activity in a plot.
• Daily or weekly markets serving local needs.
• Transport depots, Bus Terminus and Railway Stations.
• Burning, Burial grounds, crematoria and cemeteries.
• High schools and Higher Secondary Schools
• Restaurants not exceeding 300 sq.m. in floor area provided the width of the abutting road is
minimum 10 metres
• Clinics, Nursing Homes, Dispensaries and other Health facilities not exceeding 300 sq.m. in
floor area provided the width of the abutting road is minimum 10 metres
• Departmental stores with a floor area not exceeding 100 Sq.m provided the width of the
abutting road is minimum 10 metres
• Fuel filling stations and service stations with installations not exceeding 5 HP provided the
width of the abutting road is minimum 10 metres
• Air-conditioned Cinema Theatres abutting min. 12 m wide road.

• All uses/activities not specifically mentioned under sub-regulations (1) above shall be
prohibited in this zone.
Mixed Residential use zone
 Normally permissible uses:
• All activities permissible in Primary Residential use zone.
• Banks and Safe Deposit Vaults, Business Office and other Commercial or Financial
Institutions occupying floor area not exceeding 500 sq.m
• Hotels, Restaurants occupying a floor area not exceeding 500 sq.m.
• Hostels, Dormitories, Boarding and Lodging houses and Welfare Institutions occupying a floor
area not exceeding 500 sq.m.
• Clinics, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Nursing Homes and other Health facilities occupying a floor
area not exceeding 500 sq.m.
• Establishments and shops retailing in vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish, meat and such other
daily necessities of the residents, including departmental stores occupying floor area not
exceeding 500 sq.m. or organized markets.
• Bakeries, Confectionaries, Laundries, tailoring, Goldsmith shops, hairdressing saloons
occupying floor area not exceeding 500 sq.m.
• Fuel filling stations, and automobile service stations with installation not exceeding 30 HP.
• Industries listed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board as ‘Green’ Industries listed in
Annexure-VI and subject to maximum installation of 30 HP.
• Taxi stands and car parking including multilevel parking.
• Automobile workshop with floor area not exceeding 300 sq.m and electrical installations not
exceeding 15 H.P.

 Permissible with special sanction of the CMDA:

• Religious buildings and welfare institutions occupying a floor area not exceeding 500 sq.m.
• Preview theatres and dubbing theatres.
• Colleges, higher educational, technical and research institutions.
• Foreign Missions, Embassies and Consulates.
• Assembly Halls, Kalyana Mandapams and, Multiplex complexes along roads of width min.
12m.
• All uses/activities not specifically mentioned under sub-regulations (1) shall be prohibited.
Commercial use zone
 Normally permissible uses:
• All activities that is permissible in Primary Residential and Mixed Residential Zones without
restriction of floor area (except industries)
• All commercial and business uses including all shops, stores, markets, shopping centers and
uses connected with the display and retail sale of merchandise but excluding explosives,
obnoxious products and other materials likely to cause health hazards and danger to lives.
• Fuel filling stations, automobile service stations and workshops with installation not exceeding
50 HP.
• Industries listed out by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board as “Green” Industries listed in
Annexure VI and as “Orange Industries” listed in Annexure VII subject to a maximum
installation of 50 HP.
• Research, Experimental and Testing laboratories not involving danger of fire, explosives or
health hazards.
• Warehouses and other uses connected with storage of wholesale trade in commodities not
notified under the Specified Commodity Act, but excluding storage of explosives or products
which are either obnoxious or likely to cause health hazards.
• Buildings for development of software and its associated computer technology applications, IT
Parks.
• Bio-informatics centres.

 Permissible with special sanction of the CMDA:

• Broadcasting, telecasting and telecommunication stations.
• Private helipads subject to clearance by Civil Aviation department, Directorate of Fire and
Rescue Services and police department.
• Manufacture of computer hardware
• All uses/activities not specifically mentioned under sub-regulations (1) shall be prohibited.
 Industrial use zone
 Normally permissible uses:
• In approved layouts residential, commercial, institutional and other activities as designated therein.
• All industries with machinery using electrical power not exceeding 200 H.P or with employees not
exceeding 100 in number but excluding industries of obnoxious and hazardous nature by reasons
of odour, effluent, dust, smoke, gas, vibration or other wise likely to cause danger or nuisance to
public health or amenity.
• Residential buildings for security and other essential staff required to be maintained in the
premises.
 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:
• All use permissible in Residential, Mixed residential, commercial use zones
• Storage of petroleum timber and explosives and inflammable and dangerous materials
• All industries (without restrictions of H.P or floor area or number of workers) not producing noxious
an dangerous effluents or where sufficient precautions to the satisfaction of the Pollution Control
Board have been taken to eliminate noxious or dangerous effluents.
• Container terminals (at sites abutting or gaining access from minimum 18 metre wide public road)
• All uses not specifically mentioned under sub-regulations (1) shall be prohibited in this zone.
Special and Hazardous Industrial use zone
 Normally permissible uses:
• All Industrial activities permissible in Industrial zone.
• All special and hazardous industries (classified as 'Red' by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control
Board) without restriction of Horse Power that are likely to be dangerous to human life or health or
amenity, but sufficient precaution to the satisfaction of the TNPC Board have been taken to
eliminate noxious or dangerous effluents and to alleviate danger to human life or health or amenity
(Annexure-VIII).
• Uses involving storage, handling and other uses, incidental to such industries.
• Residential, commercial, Institutional and recreational uses incidental to the uses listed above.

 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:

• Uses permissible in Industrial use zone as may be decided by the Authority.
• All uses not specifically mentioned under sub-regulations (1) above shall be prohibited.
Institutional use zone
 Normally Permissible Category.
• Educational institutions including colleges and institutions of higher education, research,
technical and training in nature.
• Govt. and quasi Govt. offices and institutions
• Professional and business offices
• Art galleries, Archives, Museums, Public Libraries, Social and Cultural Institutions and
Religious buildings.
• Hospitals, Sanatoria, and other medical and public health institutions.
• Parks, Play fields, Swimming pools and other public and Semi public open spaces.
• Broadcasting, telecasting, installations and Weather stations.
• Public utilities, municipal and community facilities.
• Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools.
• Social and Cultural Institutions including Sabhas.
• Residential and commercial spaces incidental to the activities permissible in this use zone.
• Burning, Burial grounds, crematoria and cemeteries.
• Taxi stands and car parking including multilevel parking.
 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:
• Transport terminals, bus and railway stations, Airport, Harbour, and parking lots including
multilevel parking lots
• Cinema theatres and others entertainment centres and Kalyana mandapams.
• Clubs, community halls, Assembly halls, Auditoriums and Theatres
• Sports stadium, Recreation Complexes, Exhibition, Fares.
• Burial Ground, Burning Ground, Cemeteries, crematoria
• Buildings for development of software and its associated computer technology applications
I.T.Parks
• Manufacture of computer hardware
• Bio- informatics centres.
• Container terminals at sites abutting and gaining access from public roads of width minimum
18 metres
• Foreign mission, Embassies, Consulates
• All uses not specifically mentioned under sub regulations (1) shall be prohibited.
 Open Space and Recreational use zone
 Normally permissible uses:
• All public and semi public recreational uses and open spaces, parks and play grounds, zoological
and botanical gardens, nurseries, waterfront developments museums and memorials.
• Installations that may be necessary for the uses mentioned above.

 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:

• Theme parks and amusement parks
• Open Air Theatre, Exhibitions, Circuses, Fairs and Festival grounds, public utilities.
• Burial and burning grounds or crematoria.
• Incidental residential uses for essential staff required to be maintained in the premises.
• Incidental commercial uses
• Hotels and restaurants not exceeding 300 sq.m.
• Beach cottages each not exceeding 100 sq.m. in floor area and 7.5 m in height.
• Sports stadia and recreational complexes.
• All uses not specifically mentioned in sub regulations (1) shall be prohibited.
Urbanisable use zone

 Normally permissible uses:

• All uses permissible in primary and mixed residential use zones.

 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:

• All uses permissible in commercial and institutional use zones
• All industries with installations not exceeding 200 H.P and permissible in industrial use zone
• All uses not specifically mentioned in sub regulations shall be prohibited.
Non-Urban use zone
 Normally permissible uses:
• All Agriculture uses
• Burning, Burial grounds, crematoria and cemeteries
• Salt pans and salt manufacturing.
• Brick, earthen tile or pottery manufacturing.
• Stone crushing and quarrying.
• Sand, clay and gravel quarrying.
• Installation of electrical motors not exceeding 50 HP that may be required for the uses mentioned
above.
 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:
• Incidental residential uses.
• (2) All uses not specifically mentioned in sub regulations (1) shall be prohibited.
Agricultural use zone:
 Normally Permissible Category.
• All Agricultural uses.
• Farm houses and buildings for agricultural activities.
• All the uses permissible in the residential use zone within the natham boundaries
(settlements)
• Dairy and cattle farms
• Piggeries and poultry farms
• Forestry
• Storing and drying of fertilizers
• Installation of electric machinery of not exceeding 15 horse power may be allowed for the uses
mentioned above.
 Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:
• All uses normally permissible in the Primary Residential use zone with the exception of
residences.
• Sewage farms and garbage dumping sites.
• Mills for grinding, hulling, etc. of cereals, pulses, food grains and oil seeds provided the site
has proper access and installations do not exceed 50 H.P.
• Burning and Burial grounds, Crematoria and Cemeteries.
• Brick kilns and clay tile manufacturing.
• (2) All uses not specifically mentioned in sub regulations (1) shall be prohibited.
ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREA
1.Coastal Regulation Zone
• As populations in coastal areas increase and the economic activity diversifies. all the
impacts on coastal environment are bound to worsen threatening survival several species,
and productivity of the biota. It is, therefore, clear that unless governments and resource
users take appropriate action, the degradation of the coastal and marine environment will
become uncontrollable and there will be no possibilities for sustainable use of resources
from these waters
• The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are
influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) upto 500 metres from the High Tide Line
(HTL) and the land between the Low Tide Line (LTL) and the HTL as Coastal Regulation
Zone; and imposes with effect from the date of this Notification, the following restrictions on
the setting up and expansion of industries, operations or processes, etc. in the said Coastal
Regulation Zone (CRZ).
• The High Tide Line means the line on the land up to which the highest water line reaches
during the spring tide.
• The distance from the High Tide Line shall apply to both sides in the case of rivers, creeks
and backwaters and may be modified on a case to case basis for reasons to be recorded in
writing while preparing the Coastal Zone Management Plans provided that this distance
shall not be less than 100 meters or the width of the creek, river or backwaters, which ever
is less.
• For regulating development activities, the coastal stretches within 500 metres of High Tide Line on
the landward side are classified into four categories, namely:
• Category I (CRZ-I):
• Ecologically sensitive areas (national/marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats,
mangroves, coral reefs, areas close to breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life, and
areas of outstanding natural beauty/historical/heritage.
• Those falling between HTL and LTL.
• Those areas likely to be inundated due to sea level rise due to global warming and such other areas as may
be declared by the concerned authority.
• Category II (CRZ-II):
• Areas that are already developed up to and close to the shoreline. For this purpose, "developed area" is
referred to as that area within the municipal limits or in other legally designated urban areas which is already
substantially built up and which has been provided with drainage and approach roads and other
infrastructural facilities, such as water supply and sewerage mains.
• Category III (CRZ-III):
• Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do not belong to either Category-I or II. These will
include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and undeveloped) and also areas within Municipal limits
or in other legally designated urban areas which are not substantially built up.
• Category IV (CRZ-IV):
• Coastal stretches in the Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and small islands, except those designated as
CRZ-I, CRZ-II or CRZ-III.
 Category I (CRZ-I):
 Normally permissible uses:
• No new construction shall be permitted in CRZ- I except
• Projects relating to Department of Atomic Energy
• Pipelines, conveying systems including transmission lines
• Facilities that are essential for activities permissible under CRZ-I.
• Installation of weather radar for monitoring of cyclone movement and prediction by Indian
Meteorological Department.
• Operational construction of wharves or construction, development or modernization of wharves.
In addition, between LTL and HTL in areas which are not ecologically sensitive and important, the
following may be permitted:
• Exploration and extraction of Oil and Natural Gas,
• Construction of dispensaries, schools, public rain shelters, community toilets, bridges, roads,
jetties, water supply, drainage, sewerage which are required for traditional inhabitants.
• salt harvesting by solar evaporation of sea water.
• desalination plants
• storage of non hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilizers and food grain within notified ports.
 Category II (CRZ-II):
 Normally permissible uses:
• Buildings shall be permitted only on the landward side of the existing road or on the landward side
of existing authorised structures. Buildings permitted on the landward side of the existing and
proposed roads/existing authorised structures shall be subject to the existing local Town and
Country Planning Regulations including the existing norms of Floor Space Index/Floor Area Ratio.
• Reconstruction of the authorised buildings to be permitted subject to the existing FSI/FAR norms
and without change in the existing use.
• storage of non hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilizers and food grain in notified ports.
• The design and construction of buildings shall be consistent with the surrounding landscape and
local architectural style.
 Category III (CRZ-III):
 Normally permissible uses:
• The area up to 200 metres from the High Tide Line is to be earmarked as ‘No Development Zone’
provided that such area does not fall within any notified port limits or any notified Special Economic
Zone.
• No construction shall be permitted within this zone except for repairs of existing authorised structures
not exceeding existing FSI, existing plinth area and existing density.
• However, the following uses /activities may be permissible in this zone – agriculture, horticulture,
gardens, pastures, parks, play fields, forestry, ,mining of rare minerals projects relating to the
Department of Atomic Energy and salt manufacture from sea water.
• Construction of dispensaries, schools, public rain shelters, community toilets, bridges, roads and
provision of facilities for water supply, drainage, sewerage which are required for the local inhabitants
may be permitted.
• Development of vacant plots between 200 and 500 metres of High Tide Line in designated areas of
CRZ-III with prior approval of Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF) permitted for construction of
hotels/beach resorts for temporary occupation of tourists/visitors subject to the conditions as stipulated
in the guidelines at Annexure-II.
• In notified SEZ, construction of non–polluting industries in the field of information technology and other
service industries, desalination plants ,beach resorts and related recreational facilities essential for
promotion of SEZ as approved in its Master Plan by SEZ Authority may be permitted
 Category IV (CRZ-IV):
 Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep and small Islands:
• No new construction of buildings shall be permitted within 200 metres of the HTL; except facilities
for generating power by non conventional energy sources, desalination plants and construction of
airstrips and associated facilities.
• The buildings between 50 and 500 metres from the High Tide Line shall not have more than 2
floors ,the total covered area shall not be more than 50% of the plot size and the total height of
construction shall not exceed 9 metres
• Corals from the beaches and coastal waters shall not be used for construction and other
purposes.
• Dredging and underwater blasting in and around coral formations shall not be permitted.

However, in some of the islands, coastal stretches may also be classified into categories CRZ-I or II
or III with the prior approval of Ministry of Environment and Forests
Guidelines for development of beach resorts/hotels in the
designated areas of CRZ III
 Construction of beach resorts/hotels with prior approval of MEF
in the designated areas of CRZ-III for temporary occupation of
tourists/visitors shall be subject to the following conditions:
• The project proponents shall not undertake any construction within
200 metres from the High Tide Line and within the area between the
LTL and HTL.
• Live fencing and barbed wire fencing with vegetative cover may be allowed
around private properties.
• no flattening of sand dunes shall be carried out.
• no permanent structures for sports facilities shall be permitted except
construction of goal posts, net posts and lamp posts.
• construction of basements may be allowed subject to the condition that no
objection certificate is obtained from the State Ground Water Authority.
• The total plot size shall not be less than 0.4 hectares and the total
covered area on all floors shall not exceed 33% of the plot size.
FSI =0.33.
• The construction shall be consistent with the surrounding landscape
and local architectural style;
• Ground water shall not be tapped within 200m of the HTL; within the 200 metre – 500 metre zone,
it can be tapped only with the concurrence of the Central/State Ground Water Board.
• Extraction of sand, levelling or digging of sandy stretches except for structural foundation of
building, swimming pool shall not be permitted within 500 metres of the High Tide Line.
• The quality of treated effluents, solid wastes, emissions and noise levels, etc. from the project area
must conform to the Pollution Control Board and Environment Protection Act.
• To allow public access to the beach, at least a gap of 20 metres width shall be provided between
any two hotels/beach resorts; and in no case shall gaps be less than 500 metres apart;
• Necessary arrangements for the treatment of the effluents and solid wastes must be made and it
should not be discharged on the beach.
• If the project involves diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes, clearance as required under
the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 shall be obtained.
• Approval of the State/Union Territory Tourism Department shall be obtained.
• In ecologically sensitive areas (such as marine parks, mangroves, coral reefs, breeding and
spawning grounds of fish, wildlife habitats and such other areas as may notified by the
Central/State Government/Union Territories) construction of beach resorts/hotels shall not be
permitted.
CRZ marking- CMDA
 2.Regulation for developments in the Aquifer
Recharge Area
 In the interest of maintaining the aquifers in the area
and to realise the full benefits of recharge into this
aquifer during precipitation, this aquifer recharge area
that serve as one of the major sources for city water
supply has been declared as aquifer recharge area
restricted for development.
(i) Kottivakkam
(ii) Palavakkam
(iii) Neelankarai
(iv) Okkiamthuraipakkam
(v) Injambakkam
(vi) Karapakkam
(vii) Sholinganallur
(viii) Uthandi
 Normally Permissible Category.
• Any ordinary residential building including dwelling, detached, semi-detached, tenements or
flats and service apartments.
• Professional consulting offices and incidental uses thereto occupying a floor area not
exceeding 40 sq.m. and G+1 floors in height
• Schools of Commerce including Tutorial Institutions not exceeding 100 sq.m. in floor area and
G+1 floors in height.
• Petty shops dealing with daily essentials like retail sale of provisions, soft drinks, etc., tea
stalls, bakery, confectionary, retail shops, mutton stalls, milk kiosk, cycle repair shops, tailoring
shops etc. occupying a floor area not exceeding 40 sq.m. and G+1 floors in height.
• Nursery schools, Primary Schools, High Schools, Higher Secondary Schools, Libraries and
reading rooms.
• Parks, play grounds, farms, gardens, nurseries, including incidental buildings thereon
• Storage of domestic cooking gas cylinders not exceeding 300 M2 in floor area with the
clearance certificate from the Director of Fire & Rescue Services and from the Dept. of
Explosives of the Govt. of India.
Permissible with the special sanction of the CMDA:
• Hostels and dormitories not exceeding 500 sq.m. in floor area and G+1 floors in height
• Working women's hostel / old age homes with G+1 floors in height
• Assembly halls, welfare institutions not exceeding 300m2 in floor area and 15.25m in height
(upto crown level in case of leaned roofs).
• Govt. Offices, Banks, Post Office, Offices of Electricity Board,etc. occupying a floor area not
exceeding 300 sq.m. and G+1 floors in height.
• Daily or weekly markets serving local needs not exceeding G+1 floors.
• Transport depots. bus terminals and railway stations.
• Public Utility Buildings like sewage-pumping stations, water works, Fire stations, Telephone
exchanges not exceeding 15.25m in height.
• Restaurants not exceeding 300 sq.m. in floor area with G+1 floors in height provided the width
of the abutting road is minimum 10 metres
• Clinics, Nursing Homes, Dispensaries and other Health facilities not exceeding 300 sq.m. in
floor area and departmental stores not exceeding 100sq.m.
• On plots/sites not less than 1 Hect. in extent tourism-based developments, recreations,
Educational institutions not exceeding 15.25m in height.
 3.Regulations for Redhills catchment area
• In the interest of maintaining the Redhills and Puzhal lakes
catchments area free from possible contamination and to realise the
full benefits of surface run off during precipitation the areas in the
catchment of these lakes which serve as the major source for city
water supply has been declared as Redhills catchment area
restricted for development.
• Details of the villages covered under the catchment area are given
in the Map No.
• (1) Attanthangal • (13) Kilkondaiyur
• (2) Pammadukulam • (14) Alathur
• (3) Pothur • (15) Vellacheri
• (4) Vellanur
• (16) Pakkam
• (5) Morai
• (6) Pulikutti • (17) Palavedu
• (7) Tenambakkam • (18) Mittanamallee
• (8) Arakkambakkam • (19) Muktha pudupattu
• (9) Pandeswaram • (20) Vijayanallur
• (10) Melpakkam
• (21) Palaya Erumaivetti palayam
• (11) Kadavur
• (12) Karlambakkam • (22) Thirumullaivoyal
• (23) Nallur
• (24) Oragadam
Development prohibited area
Pallikaranai Swamp area:
• Considering its importance and drainage system
in the area, the contiguous swamp area in
Pallikaranai has been declared for conservation
as swamp area, prohibiting development
therein. Description of the Pallikaranai Swamp
area prohibiting the development is given in
Map No. MP-II/CMDA.13/2008.
Areas of special character:
 MRTS Influence area

• Areas around MRTS from Thirumayilai to

Velachery have been declared as MRTS
influence area.

• Description of the area is given in Annexure

XIV (refer Map No.MPII/CMDA.15/2008).

• FSI allowable in this area is maximum 2.00 for

non-multistoreyed residential developments
with dwelling units each not exceeding
75sq.metres in floor area.

• Areas falling in the City Corporation Division

no.138, 142, 143, 147, 148, 149,151, 153, and
154.
 I.T Corridor
• Area to a depth of about 500 m on either side of the
Rajiv Gandhi Salai (Old Mamallapuram road) has been
declared as I.T Corridor (described below) from
Kottivakkam and Perungudi village to CMA limits.
• Computer technology shall be certified by the
appropriate authority designated by theGovernment for
the purpose and shall be in the following use zones as
indicated below :
i. Primary Residential use zone
ii. Commercial use zone
iii. Industrial use zone
iv. Mixed Residential use zone
v. Institutional use zone
vi. Urbanisable use zone
vii. I.T Corridor Zone
 I.T Corridor Zone lands along the Rajiv Gandhi Salai (Old Mammallapuram Road)-bounded by
1. North - Chennai City limit (Kottivakkam)
2. South - CMA limit (Semmancheri village)
3. East - Buckingham Canal
4. West - About 500 meters from Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OldMammallapuram Road) - as shown in the map.
DESCRIPTION

Road width The proposed development shall either abut on a public road of not less than 18m in width
or gain access from a passage of not less than 18m width which connects to a public road
of not less than 18m width. This for fire tender purposes.
Site extent The site extent shall not be less than 1500 Sq.m. but initially it was around 2000 sq.m.
This is to increase the density of it corridor.

Height (a) non-multi-storeyed buildings, it shall be in conformity with the requirements prescribed
in the respective Development Regulations.
(b) For Multi-Storeyed Buildings, 60m width - the abutting road is minimum 18m
exceeding 60 m width - abutting road is minimum 30.5 metres,
Development charges - double if the height of building exceeds 1.5 times ( initially it was
2) of the width of the abutting road. This is done to increase the revenue generation.
Floor Space Index 1.5
 Aerodromes:

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

• ARP - Airport Reference Point:

The designated point which is eshtablished in the horizontal plane at or near the geometric
centre of the airport.
• IMAGINARY SURFACES IN RUNWAY

Imaginary surfaces are basically eshtablished surface in relation to airport and to each runway
in which no obstruction should project. Those surfaces are

APPROACH SURFACE
TRANSITIONAL SURFACE
APPROACH SURFACE TRANSITIONAL SURFACE

 Approach surface is an imaginary surface  Trapizoidal in shape

that is provided at the end of the landing
side of the runway.  Extends along the landing strip

 This will be trapizoidal in shape  Slopes outward and upward to the Inner
Horizontal Surface.
 It diverges away with upgrade
Table showing the Height Restrictions with respect to Table showing the Height Restrictions with
the Approach Funnel respect to the Transitional surface
Map showing the development around Map showing the development around
Chennai airport in 2006 Chennai airport in 2018
PLANNING PARAMETERS
Ordinary Residential Buildings and other small developments

In Ordinary Residential
Buildings and other
small developments,

the plot extent have

been decreased and
plot coverage have
been increased to
increase the density
and maximize the
utilization of land in
an urban city.
 Ordinary Commercial Buildings and other small developments

In Ordinary Commercial Buildings and other small

developments, the plot extent have been
decreased and plot coverage have been increased
to increase the density and maximize the
utilization of land in an urban city.
List of cottage industries Industries classified as “Green”

• Appalam Manufacturing • Rice Mills

• Bakery - Biscuits, Cakes • Ice Boxes
• Bee-Keeping (Agriculture) Honey and Bee’s • Tailoring and garment making
wax • Shoe lace manufacturing
• Coffee roasting and grinding • Sports goods

• Fruit canning • Musical instruments manufacturing

• Artificial flowers • Furniture (wooden and steel)

• Fountain pens
• Syrups, aerated water, ice making
• Toys
• Laundry and cleaning clothes
• Foot wear (rubber)
• Canvas shoes manufacture

• Musical instruments – stringed or reed

 List of Industries Permissible in
Industries classified as “Orange” Special and Hazardous
Industries Zone
• Ice cream
• Lime Manufacture
• Mineralised water and soft drinks bottling plants • Ceramics
• Fragrance, flavours and food additives • Sanitary wares
• Surgical gauzes and bandages • Tyres and Tubes

• Readymade garment industries • Photographic films, papers and

photographic chemicals
• Bleaching
• Plant nutrients (manure)
• Granite Industry except quarrying
• Petroleum refinery
• Formulations of pharmaceuticals
• Vanaspathi hydrogenated, vegetable
• Potassium permanganates
oils/industrial purposes
• Laboratory ware • Basic drugs
• Alcohol (industrial or potable)
Industrial Zone
Cottage industries, Green Green industries, and Orange
industries and Orange industries (other than Special and
Light Industrial Zone Hazardous industries) up to 200 HP
industries upto 30 H.P
permissible in industrial us zone
General Industrial Zone Industries exceeding 200 H.P. (other than the
industries listed under Special and Hazardous
Industries)
Special and Hazardous Industries (Red Industries)

In special and hazardous industries, plot

frontage and set back is increased to
increase the land value and FSI is
increased to increase the density of
industries
Institutional buildings

In institutional building, the plot extent remains the

same as before the plot frontage and setbacks
have been increased to increase the land value.
Religious buildings with floor area less than Transport Terminals such as Bus Terminals,
300 sq.m. and height not exceeding G+1 Bus stands, Railway stations, Truck terminals,
floors container terminals:
PARKING REQUIREMENTS
Residential
Commercial
Offices
Auditorium, Kalyana Mandapams, Cinema Halls
Restaurants and Hotels

Parking space have been increased

Industries in CMA
Hospitals and Nursing Homes
Educational Institutions
Godowns, Ware Houses & Wholesale Stores, etc.

parking space have been increased

Regulations for special buildings
 Special Buildings -
• Residential buildings with more than 2 floors, more than
6 dwelling units.
• Commercial building with more than 2 floors, exceeding
a floor area of 300 square metres.

 Minimum width -
• The minimum width of the public road on which the site abuts or gains access shall be 10
metres.
• If the extent of the site is more than 1100 sq.m. a special building for residential use may be
permitted on a site abutting or gaining access from 9m wide public road.
Regulations for special buildings
In case it gains access from a passage road, the length of the passage should be:

DESCRIPTION MINIMUM WIDTH

When it serves upto 6 units and length is less than 80 3.6m
metres
When it serves upto 8 units and length is less than 100 4.8m
metres
When it serves upto 10 units and length is less than 120 7.2m
metres
When it serves upto 20 units and length is less than 240 9m
metres
When it serves more than 20 units 10m
 Regulations for special buildings
 The extent of site, FSI, Set back etc.
for Residential or Predominantly
residential Special buildings shall be
regulated according to the tables -

In Continuous Building Area, there shall

be atleast 1m wide internal passage
from rear to front in Ground floor,
directly accessible to road.
 Regulations for special buildings
* In cases where the minimum required
SSB is more than 3.5m option can be
had to leave the min. 3.5m on one side
and the remainder of the total of both the
minimum required SSBs on the other
side.
** Similarly when minimum required
RSB is more than 3.5m option can also
be had to leave the min required 3.5m
on the rear and the remainder of the
minimum in the front.
 Regulations for special buildings
* In cases where the min. required
SSB is more than 3.5m option can be
had to leave the minimum 3.5m on one
side and the remainder of the total of
both the minimum required SSBs on
the other side.
** Similarly when minimum required
RSB is more than 3.5m option can
also be had to leave the minimum
required 3.5m on the rear and the
remainder of the minimum in the
front.
 Regulations for special buildings
 Commercial or predominantly commercial
special building
Regulations for Group Developments
 Group Developments -
Residential or commercial developments which have
atleast two or more blocks. The blocks can be
Interconnected, but if two blocks are solidly connected
for more than 1/3 of their width, is considered as a
single block.

 Minimum width -
• The minimum width of the public road on which the site abuts or gains access shall be 10
metres.
Regulations for Group Developments
In case it gains access from a passage road, the length of the passage should be:

DESCRIPTION MINIMUM WIDTH

When it serves upto 6 units and length is less than 80 3.6m
metres
When it serves upto 8 units and length is less than 100 4.8m
metres
When it serves upto 10 units and length is less than 120 7.2m
metres
When it serves upto 20 units and length is less than 240 9m
metres
When it serves more than 20 units 10m
Regulations for Group Developments
 The extent of site, FSI, Set back etc.
for Group Development shall be
regulated according to the tables -
Special rules for multi - storeyed Buildings
Building that has more than 4 floors or 15.25m height.

• Site extent - The minimum extent of site shall not be

less than 1500 square metres.
• Road width - The site abut on a road not less than 18
metres in width.
Special rules for multi - storeyed Buildings
 The extent of the site, FSI, Set back etc. for Multi- storeyed Building shall be regulated
according to the table:
AREAS SET APART FOR MSB - 2004
Multistoreyed Buildings are permissible in the CMA excluding the following areas:
• Area starting near Park Station to Island grounds,
• Approved Residential layouts excepting such sites which have been reserved for construction of
Multi-storeyed building.
Special Area : The Government may permit multistoreyed commercial buildings with a maximum
FSI of 2.75 in the special area falling within 60 metres on either side of the roads listed below:
• Anna Nagar Main Road
• Periyar E.V.R. Salai
• Sterling Road.
• Kodambakkam High Road
• Theagaraya Road.
• Venkata Narayana Road.
• G.N. Chetty Road.
• Anna Salai upto City Limits.
• Turnbulls Road
AREAS SET APART FOR MSB - 2026
Multistoreyed Buildings are permissible in the CMA excluding the following areas:
• Park Station to Island Grounds.
• Approved residential layouts excepting such sites which have been reserved for construction
of Multistoreyed Buildings
• Aquifer Recharge Area bounded in
1. North by City limits
2. East by Bay of Bengal
3. West by Buckingham Canal
4. South by Chennai Metropolitan Area boundary
• Redhills Catchments Area.
Layout and sub-division regulations
• This regulations gives access to plots by roads and passageways, depending on the
intensity and length of the roads in that area.
• The minimum width of the public streets/road on which the site abuts or gains access
shall be
1. 7.2m. for residential layout developments
2. 9m. for industrial layout developments.
Layout and sub-division regulations
 The width of the streets/roads and
passages in the layouts
/subdivisions / amalgamations
shall conform to the minimum
requirements given in the table
For residential developments -
Layout and sub-division regulations
 for Industrial Development
Layout and sub-division regulations
 Splay - A splay at the intersection
of two or more streets / roads shall
be provided subject to the minimum
dimensions given in the table

• Reservation of land for recreational purposes in a layout or sub-division for residential,

commercial, industrial or combination of such uses shall be as follows.
Conservation of buildings of historical or architectural interest:
If a building or property of historical or architectural interest not covered under the Archeological
Monuments Act, needs to be conserved, such heritage buildings shall be listed and notified and
any development at such heritage building premises shall conform to the regulations.
• Restriction on Development/Redevelopment/Repairs, etc.
No alterations, repairs, renovation shall be carried without written permission of the Member
Secretary, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. The Member Secretary, shall act in
consultation with the Heritage Conservation Committee to be appointed by Government.
• Preparation of list of Heritage Buildings and Heritage Precincts:
The list of buildings of historic, and/or aesthetical /or cultural value etc. to which these
regulations apply will be notified by the Government after its approval on its merits with or
without modifications.
• Power to Alter, Modify or Relax Regulations:
With the approval of Government and after consultation with Heritage Conservation Committee,
the Member Secretary, will have the power to alter, modify if it is needed for the conservation of
historical quality of any listed Buildings/Heritage Buildings or listed Precincts/Heritage Precinct.
Conservation of buildings of historical or architectural interest:
• Hearing etc. to persons likely to be affected:
Provided that in case any alterations will cause loss to the owners or persons who have
development right over the Heritage Buildings, the Member Secretary, will give an opportunity of
hearing to the owner or persons who have development right over the Heritage Buildings and to
the public, before taking final decision in the matter.
• Maintaining Sky Line:
Buildings included in Listed Heritage Precincts shall maintain the sky line in the precincts as
may be existing in the surrounding area, so as not to destroy the value and beauty of the listed
Heritage Buildings.
Conservation of buildings of historical or architectural interest:
Heritage buildings are indicated by Grade I, II, III. The meaning of these Grades and basic
guidelines for development permissions are as follows:

GRADE I GRADE II GRADE III

A. DEFINITION
Comprises of buildings, and
precincts of national or historical
importance, embodying
excellence in architectural style,
design. They would have been
prime landmarks of the City.
Comprises of buildings, or
regional or local importance,
possessing historical value, lower
than in Grade I. They are local
landmarks, contributing to the
image and identity of the City.
Comprises importance for town
space; they evoke architectural
aesthetic not as much as in Grade
II. These contribute to determine
the character of the locality.

B. OBJECTIVE
Richly deserves careful Deserves intelligent preservation. Deserves protection of of unique
preservation. features and attributes.
Conservation of buildings of historical or architectural interest:
C. SCOPE FOR CHANGES
No interventions is permitted
either on the exterior or interior
unless it is necessary in the
interest of strengthening, minimal
changes can be made.
D. PROCEDURES
Permission given by the Planning
Authority on the advice of the
Heritage Conservation
Committee.
Internal changes and adaptive
reuse will be generally allowed,
but
external changes will be subject
to scrutiny.
Permission given by the Planning
Authority in consultation with a
sub
committee of the Heritage
Conservation Committee.
External and internal
changes, and adaptive reuse
would generally be allowed.
Permission given by the Planning
Authority, but in consonance
with guidelines, which are to be
laid down by Government in
consultation with the Heritage
Conversation Committee.
Premium FSI
• The Authority may allow premium FSI over and above the normally allowable FSI subject to a
maximum of 1 (one) relating the same to the road width parameters as follows:

• The Premium FSI shall be allowed in specific areas as may be notified, subject to Guidelines
and on collection of charge at the rates as may be prescribed by the Authority with the
approval of the Government. The amount collected towards the award of Premium FSI shall
be remitted into Government account to be allotted separately for this purpose for utilising it for
infrastructure development in that area as may be decided by the Government.
Architectural control:
The Architectural facade or elevation of any building should be in conformity as the Authority
may impose at the time of grant of permission.
Tree preservation:
TPO is for any tree or group of trees or belt of forestland, this prohibit the willful destruction of
the trees concerned, except when those operations are carried-out with the permission of the
Authority. In granting planning permission for any development, the Authority make adequate
provision for the preservation or planting of trees wherever appropriate.
Delegation of powers:
Any of the powers or functions imposed in the Authority by any of foregoing regulations may be
transferred to any Officer of Government or to a local authority.
Transitory provisions:
All applications for development including multistoried building, pending prior to 2nd September
2008 shall be disposed of in accordance with the DCR for the CMA under the first master plan.
Identification of boundaries:
According to these rules where uncertainty exists as to the boundaries in the land use maps,
the following regulations shall apply.
• Boundaries following the centre line of the streets, Highway lands.
• Boundaries following established boundaries of Survey Field Nos.
• Boundaries following the city limits.
• Boundaries following the shoreline and in the event of change in the shoreline shall be
construed as moving with the actual shoreline. Boundaries, indicated, as approximately
following the centre lines of streams, rivers, canals, lakes or other bodies of water shall be
construed to follow such centre line.

Penalties:
Every person who breaks the rule are punishable with fine which may extend, to Rs.1000 and in
the case of a continuing breach, with fine which may extend to Rs.50 for every day.
THANK YOU