State government relaxes norms for height restriction on non-high rise buildings

The Tamil Nadu state government has recently relaxed height restrictions for non-high rise buildings. Previously, any building taller than 18.3 metres was classified as a high rise structure, subjecting it to stricter construction norms. This new amendment increases the permissible height of non-high rise buildings to 19.5 metres. The change aims to provide builders with improved conditions, allowing them to receive completion certificates more easily for homes in the non-high rise category.

The relaxation of height restrictions also offers benefits to residents. With an increased ceiling height, homes will benefit from better ventilation and enhanced aesthetics. The amendment covers sites adjacent to roads of varying widths, assigning different zoning statuses based on the road width. For instance, commercial zones will be designated for Chennai Metropolitan Area sites with roads 12 metres or wider, while other regions with roads 9 metres or wider will also be considered commercial zones.

Minimum road width requirements for various types of buildings are also specified in the amendment. Buildings like conference halls, exclusive multi-storeyed parking lots, and air-conditioned cinemas with single-screen facilities require a minimum road width of 12 metres. Exhibition halls, community halls, and kalyana mandapams in municipal corporations and municipalities need a minimum width of 15 metres, while star hotels, multiplexes, or malls will require a 18-metre road width.

The qualifying road width must be continuous for a stretch of 100 metres from a site's edge, with an additional requirement of a road intersection within that 100-metre zone.

The amendments also touch upon swimming pool regulations, but no specific details regarding this aspect have been provided in the source material.