Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an ordinary building?

A residential or commercial or industrial building with not more than two floors and do not fall within the definition of special buildings, group developments or multistoreyed buildings.
 

2. What is Special Buildings?

Means -residential / commercial buildings with more than 2 floors; or Residential building with more than 6 dwelling units or Commercial building exceeding floor area of 300 sq.m.or Buildings like education, assembly, Institutional, public & semi-public, and mixed occupancies with any of the aforesaid occupancies irrespective of number of floors.
 

3. What is group housing/group development? 

Means - accommodation for residential or commercial or combination of such activities housed in two or more blocks of buildings in a particular site irrespective of whether these structures are interconnected or not. Any interlink between the structures in terms of connecting corridors shall be construed as making any two structures into one block.
 

4. What is Multistoreyed Building?

Multi-Storeyed Building or High Rise Building’- A building above 5 stories, and / or a building exceeding 15.0m or more in height above the average level of front road.
 

5. What is Coverage?

Means the ratio of covered area to the plot area multiplied by 100 

Coverage = covered area x 100 / Plot area
 

6. What is Floor Area Ratio or FAR or FSI ?

F.A.R. - means the quotient obtained by dividing the total covered area (plinth area) on all floors excepting the areas specifically exempted under these regulations (given in Annexure-XVI) and 100 by the area of the plot which includes part of the site used as exclusive passage i.e.,

F.A.R. = Total covered area of all floors x 100 / Plot area

Or

F.S.I. - means the quotient obtained by dividing the total covered area (plinth area) on all floors excepting the areas specifically exempted under these regulations (given in Annexure-XVI) by the area of the plot which includes part of the site used as exclusive passage. i.e.,

F.S.I. = Total covered area of all floors / Plot area
 

7. What is a setback?

Setback is an open space at ground level between a building and the adjoining boundary lines of the plot unoccupied and unobstructed except by encroachments or structures specifically permitted by these bye-laws, on the same plot with a building; all yard measurements shall be the minimum distances between the front, rear and side yard plot boundaries as the case may be, and the nearest point of the building including enclosed or covered porches. Every part of every set back shall be accessible from every other part of the same set back
 

8. What is Development of Land?

Means any material change on the use of land other than for agricultural purpose brought about or intended to be brought about by filling up of the land and/or water bodies or changing from the existing former use of the land, lay out of streets and foot paths, sub-division of land for residential plots or for other uses including layout of internal streets, conversion of wet land, and developing parks, play grounds and social amenities of the like, but does not include legal partitioning of family property among heirs.
 

9. What is building height? 

The vertical distance measured in the case of flat roofs, from the average level of the ground around and contiguous to the building or as decided by the Authority to the terrace of last livable floor of the building adjacent to the external walls; and in the case of pitched roofs, up to the point where the external surface of the outer wall intersects the finished surface of the sloping roof; and in the case of gables facing the road, the mid-point between the eaves level and the ridge. Architectural features serving no other function except that of decoration shall be excluded for the purpose of measuring heights
 

10. What is revocation of building permit and when it is done normally?

The Member Secretary of Planning Authority may revoke any permit issued under the provisions of the Puducherry Building Bye Laws and Zoning Regulation, 2012, wherever there has been any deviation from the approved plan or where a permit has been obtained by any false statement or misrepresentation of any material facts in the application on which the permit was based. The Licensed Technical Person found responsible for the same shall be blacklisted and debarred for 5 years from practising in the notified area. If the owner is found responsible for violations, action may be taken as per clause 19.
 

11. What are all the responsibilities and duties of the Owner who gets the building permit?

Neither the granting of the permit nor approval of the drawing and specifications, nor inspections made by the Authority during erection of the building shall in any way relieve the owner of such building from full responsibility for carrying out the work in accordance with the requirements of the Building bye-laws & zoning regulations.

Every owner shall: permit the Authority to enter the building or premises for which the permit has been granted at any reasonable time for the purpose of enforcing the bye-laws. submit a document of Ownership of the site. obtain, where applicable, from the Authority, permits relating to the building, zoning, grades, sewers, water mains, plumbing, signs, blasting, street occupancy, electricity, highways, and all other permits required in connection with the proposed work. give notice to the Authority of the intention to start work on the building site.

Give written notice to the Authority intimating completion of the work up to plinth level. submit the certificate for execution of work as per the structural safety requirements and give written notice to the Authority intimating completion of work, described in the permit and; give written notice to the Authority in case of termination of services of a professional engaged by him. obtain an occupancy permit from the Authority prior to any :-

Occupancy of the building or part thereof after construction or alteration of that building or part, or change in the class of occupancy of any building or part thereof.
 

12. What are all the actions initiated by the PPA against the deviated / unauthorized construction? 

In case of unauthorized development / deviated construction the Planning Authority shall take suitable action, which may include demolition of unauthorized works, sealing of premises and prosecution against the offender.
 

13. What is Town and Country Planning Board?

Town and Country Planning Board is an appellant body of Puducherry Planning Authority, any person aggrieved by the order of the Puducherry Planning Authority may appeal to the Town and Country Planning Board. 
 

14. What are all the functions of the Board?

1. To guide, direct, assist the Planning Authorities, to advice the Government in matters relating to Town and Country Planning.

2. Development and use of rural and urban land in the U.T. of Puducherry.

3. Direct and supervise the preparation of development plans by the Planning Authorities.

4. Undertake, assist and encourage the collection, maintenance and publication of statistics, bulletins and monographs on Town and Country Planning and its methodology.

5. Prepare and furnish reports relating to the working of this Act.

6. Perform any other functions which are supplemental, incidental or consequential to any of the functions aforesaid or which may be prescribed.

15. Who are all the members of the Town and Country Planning Board.?

The Town and Country Planning Board was constituted as per the provisions under Section 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1969. The Minister - in - Charge of Town and Country Planning and the Secretary to the Government in-charge of the subject shall be the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board respectively. The Board comprises of 5 officers including the Chief Town Planner and three non-officials. The Chief Town Planner is the Member Secretary of the TCP Board. The Term of Office of the Chairman and Members of the Board is three years from the date of publication of their names.
 

16. What is Industrial site clearance?

The District Industries Centre under Single Window Concept sends the applications submitted for setting up of Industries to various departments for issue of NOC. The Puducherry Planning Authority, being one such Organization of the Industrial guideline bureau in providing opinion/NOC regarding various planning parameters of the buildings i.e. Coverage, FAR, etc.,
 

17. What is SDBR?

STRUCTURAL DESIGN BASIS REPORT which is to be enclosed along with the building plan application submitted under the category of Special Building / multistoried building duly prepared and signed by a registered structural engineer.
 

18. Who is a Registered Town Planner / Architect / Engineer / Structural Engineer / Quality Auditor /Construction Engineer / Developer / Licensed Supervisor and their duties 

Means a Town Planner / Architect / Engineer / Structural Engineer / Quality Auditor / Construction Engineer / Developer / Licensed Supervisor registered or deemed to have been registered by the Planning Authority / Local Authority.