Kerala government amends building rules, getting permits now easier

[SaloniMehta]

Govt introduced sweeping amendments to state's building rules to simplify approvals, enhance transparency and speed up construction permits. Announcing the changes on Wednesday, local self-govt and excise minister M B Rajesh said the revisions were based on feedback from district-level adalats and consultations with experts, town planners and industry representatives.

The most significant reform is the expansion of the self-certified permit category. Residential buildings up to 300sq m will now be eligible for instant approval without height limits, enabling nearly 80% of homes to get permits automatically once applications are submitted online. For commercial buildings, the limit for self-certified permits has been raised from 100sq m to 250sq m, while G-1 category industrial units up to 200sq m under pollution control board's white and green categories will also qualify for immediate approval.