The Kerala government has rolled out a major set of amendments to the building rules, aimed at making it easier for both individuals and businesses to secure construction permits.
The reforms, announced by minister for local self governments MB Rajesh on October 29, are designed to simplify procedures, reduce bureaucratic delays, and address long-standing complaints raised at district-level adalats.
One of the most significant changes is the expansion of the “low-risk building” category — a move that could fast-track permit approvals for nearly 80% of residential buildings. Earlier, only two-storey houses up to 300 sq m in area and with a height not exceeding 7 metres were eligible for instant self-certified permits. The amendment removes the height restriction altogether, meaning most residential constructions will now get automatic permits within minutes of application.
The change was introduced after repeated complaints that the old height limit disqualified many standard two-storey homes from quick approvals.
For commercial buildings, the upper limit for self-certified permits has been raised from 100 sq m to 250 sq m, extending instant approval benefits to medium-scale enterprises. The same rule now applies to establishments up to 200 sq m in the Pollution Control Board’s white and green categories, which include non-polluting industries.
To reduce procedural bottlenecks, the government has also allowed local bodies to verify applications digitally before construction begins, removing the need for a physical site inspection at the initial stage. However, once construction reaches plinth level, an inspection will be mandatory, and violations will lead to the permit being frozen.
The Floor Space Index (FSI) for government-owned IT parks has been raised from 4 to 7, while coverage area has been increased from 60% to 70%. The same benefits will apply to projects in transit-oriented development zones and central business districts. The government said the changes will allow better land use and encourage high-density development in urban areas.
A major shift involves extending the powers of local body secretaries. Hospitals up to 6,000 sq m, industrial units up to 3,000 sq m, storage buildings up to 8,000 sq m, and hazardous category buildings up to 500 sq m can now be cleared without the district town planner’s approval. The need for the chief town planner’s clearance in some building categories has also been scrapped.
Building permits will now be mandatory even for government constructions, after repeated cases of violations were found in public projects.
The rules also liberalise permit transfers — the validity of a permit will remain intact even if the landowner sells or gifts part of the remaining land to another person. Previously, such transfers invalidated the entire permit.
Exemptions available for residential constructions have been expanded to include small-scale businesses like flour mills, food processing units, and bakeries up to 100 sq m, and palliative care units up to 300 sq m. A new building category, “Group D1 – Recreational Constructions”, has been introduced to simplify approvals for turfs and sports courts, encouraging investment in local sports facilities.
For small industrial units up to 200 sq m, front setbacks have been reduced from 3 metres to 1.8 metres, while side and rear setbacks drop to 1 metre. The minimum room height has also been brought down from 3.6 metres to 3 metres, reflecting a more practical approach to small-scale construction.
To ease parking pressure, only 25% of the required parking area must now be within the same plot; the rest can be arranged within 200 metres. Hostels must provide parking for only half of their residents — and just 25% if located within the same compound as the institution. Old-age homes, orphanages, convents, and seminaries will also have reduced parking requirements.
The fee for extending a building permit’s validity has been halved. New constructions must include child-friendly toilets, and sheet roofing for houses up to three storeys can now be done without extra permits. Restrictions on revised permit applications and regularisation have been relaxed, making the overall process more flexible and citizen-friendly.
Minister M.B. Rajesh said the amendments were crafted after extensive consultations with a 14-member committee representing local bodies, architects, and industry experts. The aim, he said, was to ensure ease of doing business while also addressing the practical difficulties faced by common people.
With these amendments, Kerala’s construction approval system is expected to move faster, cutting down the time, cost, and paperwork involved in getting a permit — a long-overdue reform in the state’s building governance framework.