Tamil Nadu has amended its Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019, increasing the permissible height of non-high-rise buildings from 18.3 metres to 19.5 metres and easing several development regulations across the state. The amendments, issued on October 26, 2026, also reduce parking requirements for information technology (IT) offices and permit additional categories of development in Chennai’s restricted aquifer recharge area.
The changes cover building heights, commercial zoning, parking provisions, hospitality facilities, swimming pools and accessibility requirements. The revised rules are intended to provide greater flexibility in building planning while retaining existing requirements related to road width, floor space index (FSI), setbacks and other planning conditions.
Kirlosh Kumar, secretary of the housing and urban development department, said the increased height limit would allow developers to plan higher ceilings and improve building design. The amendments also make accessibility compliance mandatory for specified provisions concerning persons with disabilities, elderly people and children before a completion certificate is issued.
Revised Building Heights and Commercial Zoning
The permissible height for non-high-rise buildings has increased from 18.3 metres to 19.5 metres. The amendments update height references across several building categories, including institutional buildings and transport terminals. However, the revised height limit does not override other applicable development regulations, and individual projects must continue to comply with the prescribed road-width, FSI and setback requirements.
The government has also revised commercial zoning provisions for properties located along wider roads. In designated residential and primary residential zones, sites abutting and gaining access from roads measuring at least 12 metres wide may be treated as having commercial zoning under specified circumstances.
For areas outside the Chennai Metropolitan Area, another amended provision sets the corresponding road-width threshold at 9 metres. According to a Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority official, the changes are expected to reduce the number of applications required for land-use reclassification.
These provisions could simplify planning for eligible properties and provide greater clarity for developers considering commercial activities along designated roads.
IT Office Parking Requirements Reduced
The amendments reduce parking requirements for IT office buildings, bringing them in line with the norms applicable to commercial buildings.
Under the revised provisions, the requirement for car parking has been reduced from one space for every 50 square metres of floor area to one space for every 75 square metres. The two-wheeler parking requirement has also been reduced from one space for every 25 square metres to one space for every 50 square metres.
The revised norms may help developers use available plot space more efficiently, particularly in office developments where parking provisions account for a significant portion of the site. The changes could also influence the planning and feasibility of new IT office projects, subject to other applicable development requirements.
More Development Permitted in Chennai Aquifer Recharge Area
A significant change concerns development in Chennai’s restricted aquifer recharge area. The permitted height for specified non-high-rise residential and commercial buildings has increased from 9 metres to 14 metres, while the limit of six dwelling units remains applicable to the covered category.
The revised height provision allows an additional floor in eligible buildings compared with the earlier restrictions. The amendments also expand the list of permitted developments, subject to prescribed conditions.
These include hostels and dormitories with an area of up to 500 square metres, working women’s hostels, old-age homes, specified government offices, restaurants and tourism-related developments. Hotels, beach cottages and recreational activities on plots measuring at least one hectare are also covered under specified provisions.
Accessibility and Other Regulatory Changes
The revised rules introduce additional provisions for hospitality and recreational facilities. Hotels and lodges must provide dormitory facilities for drivers, while definitions relating to open kitchens and requirements for swimming-pool decks and clearances have also been updated.
Accessibility compliance has received greater emphasis, with specified provisions required to be fulfilled before completion certificates are issued.
Meanwhile, high-rise building FSI norms remain unchanged at 2.0 for roads measuring 12 metres wide, 2.5 for 15-metre roads and 3.25 for 18-metre roads. Maximum plot coverage continues at 50%.
Overall, the amendments introduce greater flexibility in building heights, parking and selected land-use categories while retaining key planning controls. Their impact will depend on how developers apply the revised provisions to eligible projects across Tamil Nadu.
