Rules to Follow When Building a House

Owning a home is a dream for every individual. Whether you are buying materials and building a house yourself or purchasing a pre-constructed home, it is essential to ensure that all government regulations have been followed. Hiring an experienced engineer to oversee the construction or verifying that the house built by a structural engineer complies with government rules is the best way to avoid future problems.

Government Regulations

The Tamil Nadu Combined Building Rules 2019 (TNCBR 2019) outlines the procedures that must be followed for constructing a building. Only buildings constructed according to these regulations can receive a complete certificate from an engineer. This certificate is necessary for obtaining electricity and water connections, as well as for property tax assessment. Therefore, understanding the TNCBR 2019 is crucial for anyone planning to build or buy property.

Where to Get Permits?

To obtain building plan approval, it is advisable to approach the municipal corporation or the local planning authority with an approved engineer. Only registered engineers, such as Registered Engineers (RE), Registered Construction Engineers (RCE), Registered Structural Engineers (RSE), and Registered Geotechnical Engineers (RGTE), can sign off on building plans. With their supervision, you can obtain the necessary approvals and subsequently receive a completion certificate for the building, which is required for utility connections and property tax registration.

Rules to Follow During Construction

According to the approved plan from the local authorities, it is important to construct the building without altering the square footage, height, or side setbacks. Constructing more square footage than permitted, adding extra floors, or reducing the side setbacks are considered violations.

The width of the access road determines the side setbacks, or it can be based on the height of the building. Areas are classified into continuous building areas, economically weaker sections, and other sections. For a plot measuring 1,000 square feet, a building can be constructed up to 2,000 square feet, which is referred to as the Floor Space Index (FSI).

High and Low Rise Buildings

Buildings up to 18.30 meters in height are considered low-rise buildings, while those exceeding this height are classified as high-rise buildings. The TNCBR 2019, with amendments issued by the government in G.O. No. 16 on 31.01.2020, includes various regulations for different types of land use, such as residential layouts, industrial layouts, parks/commercial layouts, special economic zones, and open spaces.

How to Build a House?

For example, if you have a plot of 5.5 cents (one ground) with a 40-foot access road, you should follow these guidelines:

- Front setback: 3 meters (10 feet)

- Rear setback: 1.5 meters (5 feet)

- Side setbacks: 1.5 meters on both sides

Given these setbacks, a single floor can be built on 1,350 square feet. For three floors, it would be 1,350 square feet each, and the remaining floor can be 750 square feet, totaling 4,800 square feet. (Refer to Table 1 and Plan 1). You need to obtain the necessary plan approval from the relevant local authority.

Constructing beyond four floors, exceeding 4,800 square feet, or reducing the side and front setbacks is a violation. Only by consulting with a registered engineer can you obtain the necessary building plan approval. Adhering to these rules during construction will protect the building from future legal actions.

Awareness and Compliance

Understanding TNCBR 2019 and its amended rules is essential for every individual. It is crucial to buy property in approved layouts and construct buildings according to regulations. Recently, buildings violating regulations have been sealed or demolished. Therefore, it is wise to be cautious before building a house.