Tamil Nadu Relaxes Parking Norms for Large Residential Buildings, Boosting Usable Construction Space

In a move aimed at offering greater design flexibility for homeowners and developers, the Tamil Nadu government has amended its 2019 building rules, reducing the mandatory parking space requirement for large residential buildings. The new regulation, issued on October 10 by the State Housing and Urban Development Department, applies to all corporations, municipalities, and town panchayats across the state.

As per the revised norms, residential buildings constructed on plots measuring over 3,200 square feet (or 300 square metres) must now provide parking space for at least four cars and four two-wheelers. Earlier, the rule required one car parking slot for every 75 square metres of built-up area, which meant a 5,000-square-foot home needed space for at least five cars. This often consumed valuable floor space and posed design constraints for builders.

Industry experts say the amendment will help optimise Floor Space Index (FSI) usage — the ratio of the total built-up area allowed on a plot to the plot size itself. Since parking areas, staircases, and other service spaces are classified as non-FSI zones, the change effectively enables developers and individual homeowners to utilise their FSI more efficiently. Builders believe this will allow the inclusion of additional rooms or design features that were previously restricted by parking space requirements.

S. Ramprabhu from the Builders Association of India noted that the revised norms will ease planning challenges for residential developers. “The earlier parking rule limited flexibility in design and reduced the liveable area. The new guideline gives more scope for optimal space planning,” he said.

However, city planners and urban experts have raised concerns that the relaxation may increase on-street parking, especially in densely populated urban areas. R. Naveen, a city planner, warned that reduced mandatory parking could result in more vehicles occupying public roads, leading to congestion and reduced road space for other motorists.

While the new rule is seen as a progressive step toward easing construction norms, its implementation will require balanced urban management to prevent parking-related challenges in Tamil Nadu’s growing cities.