Chennai Revises Building Plan Approval Fees: ₹100/sqft in City, ₹74-88/sqft in Other Corporations

In Tamil Nadu, rules for building plan approval have been amended to revise the fees for residential and non-residential buildings in the State. As per the latest order from the municipal administration and water supply department, applicants will now need to pay a consolidated charge of ₹100 per sq ft for residential buildings above 3,500 sq.ft across Greater Chennai Corporation limits.

The fees vary for other city corporations, falling between ₹74 and ₹88 per square foot. These costs apply to multi-dwelling residential and commercial projects, promoting consistency in planning approval in our cities.

In a similar decision, in July 2024, the same ₹100 per square foot charge was introduced for smaller residential buildings (less than 3,500 sq ft) with a self-certification scheme; this charge was then reviewed once every two years under the same₹100 per square foot charge. Under the scheme, applicants can now pay their fees and obtain instant planning permission, significantly speeding up the approval process and minimising delays.

In its latest revision, the policy also applies similar charges to buildings above a certain size, adding to the government’s efforts to streamline the rules for urban development. The officials said they believe that the new charges will not only standardize approval costs but also encourage transparency in the building permit process.

As both urbanization and real estate development are on the upswing, this revised fee structure is likely to impact builders, developers and homebuyers across Tamil Nadu. Some industry experts see the move as an effort to improve governance and efficiency, but others have complained that it would substantially increase construction costs.

With new charges set to come into force, stakeholders within this sector will be closely watching the implications for approvals as well as development across Chennai and other major cities.