New building rule may drive sales of independent homes in Chennai
Tamil Nadu’s government now permits stilt plus two-floor buildings up to 10 meters, benefiting families aspiring to own villas and independent homes in Chennai. This change unlocks stilt space for parking, speeds up handovers, and is expected to spark fresh demand for plotted developments. The self-certification scheme simplifies approvals, saving time and costs for builders and customers.
CHENNAI: Families aspiring to own villas and independent homes in Chennai have reason to cheer, with the Tamil Nadu govt now permitting stilt + two-floor buildings up to 10 metres. The change unlocks stilt space for parking and speeds up handovers, making villas more practical for buyers. Developers and investors, meanwhile, expect the move to spark fresh demand for plotted developments across the city and suburbs.
S Ramprabhu, chairman of the DTCP committee at Builders Association of India, said the change will support the growing demand for independent homes in Chennai. “Earlier, when self-certification was limited to G+1 homes, parking space was added to the FSI, which led to roadside parking. Now that it has been extended to stilt + two floors, it will be far more beneficial. We will soon see more villas on OMR and ECR,” he said.
The self-certification scheme,launched by chief minister M K Stalin on July 22, 2024, was designed to benefit economically weaker sections and middle-income groups by enabling immediate building permits through a single-window online portal. Initially, it applied to G+1 constructions up to 7 metres in height, with a built-up area of 3,500
sqft on plots of up to 2,500 sqft.More than one lakh citizens availed themselves of the facility since its launch.
“This will benefit the common man who is building individual houses on plots less than 2,500 sqft and built-up area up to 3,500 sqft, giving them much-needed space for car parking under stilt in the self-certification model without going to the local body, DTCP or CMDA. This will also help villa developments in a big way,saving time for handing over. We have also represented to govt to consider increasing the plot/construction area in a phased manner,” said S Sridharan, executive committee member, CREDAI National.
For builders, the new rule entails faster approvals, a simplified single-window process, and reduced costs,with scrutiny and certain infrastructure charges consolidated into a single fee.According to Sivakumar P, global sales head of G Square, the scheme is a game changer for the real estate sector. “By simplifying approvals for G+2 and G+1 homes, it saves time and cost for builders while making the process more transparent and convenient for customers,” he said.
Customers also benefit from time savings, transparent guidelines,instant downloads of approved plans,and the convenience of applying from home-without repeated visits to govt offices.
Applicants must submit building plans signed by registered professionals at https://onlineppa.tn.gov.in/along with documents such as sale deeds, patta, approved layout papers,and site photos.
