Tamil Nadu Land Use Map — CMDA Chennai (நில உபயோகம்)

The CMDA Land Use Map is part of Chennai's Second Master Plan, maintained by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. It assigns every parcel in the Chennai Metropolitan Area to a zoning category — residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, open space, etc. — that governs what can be built there.

Address with pincode, survey number, or door number — and whether the parcel is under CMDA, a local Town Panchayat, or DTCP. A map-based click on a known location also works.

The zoning category, permitted and prohibited uses, maximum FSI, set-back and parking rules, overlay zones (CRZ, heritage, airport funnel), adjoining zones, and any reservations (road widening, public utility, defence).

Primary Residential, Mixed Residential, Institutional, Commercial, Light Industrial, Special & Hazardous Industrial, Open Space & Recreational, Agricultural / Non-Urban, and Reserved Areas (water bodies, road widening, public utilities).

CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority) handles the Chennai Metropolitan Area — roughly 1,189 sq km covering Chennai city and surrounding peripheries. DTCP (Directorate of Town & Country Planning) handles the rest of Tamil Nadu. Their approval rules differ.

Yes, but only through a formal CMDA Master Plan amendment — a public process that involves applications, objections, and CMDA approval. Spot re-zoning is rare and typically rejected for individual parcels.

Floor Space Index — the ratio of total built-up area to plot area. An FSI of 1.5 on a 2,400 sq ft plot allows 3,600 sq ft of built-up area. CMDA assigns FSI by zone and road width.

It can be transferred but its development potential is restricted — you cannot build over the reserved portion, and any future widening will reduce the usable area. Banks may refuse loans on heavily reserved parcels. Buyers should be aware before paying advance.

CRZ rules restrict construction in coastal-belt zones. CMDA's master plan flags CRZ-I, CRZ-II, and CRZ-III areas with progressively relaxed rules. Properties near the coast — Besant Nagar, Neelangarai, Mahabalipuram — may sit in CRZ overlays.

The online copy is an informational reference. For building plan applications, sale-deed registration, or court submissions, the certified CMDA Land Use Certificate (with CMDA seal) is the authoritative document.