Building
Schedule of Rates downloads, the official building-control rulebook, and the two authorities that govern construction in Tamil Nadu.
TN PWD Schedule of Rates
Base construction rates set annually by the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department.
This is the document valuers actually use — a single per-square-foot rate by building type, meant for quick cost estimation. The full Schedule of Rates below is the detailed, item-by-item backup (cement, steel, labour, etc.) that those per-sqft rates are built from — only needed if you're itemizing a cost estimate rather than estimating it in one shot.
The archive above is one listing page (not per-year direct links) hosted by the TN PWD Engineers Association — not a .gov.in domain — covering 2025–26, 2024–25, 2023–24†, 2020–21, 2019–20, 2018–19, 2016–17, 2014–15, 2013–14, plus Plinth Area Rates for Rental Valuation for several of those years. †Source PDF lists this as "2023–2022" — likely a typo for 2022–23 or 2023–24; confirm the exact year on the archive page before citing it.
CPWD Schedule of Rates
Central Public Works Department Plinth Area Rates — set nationally, not specific to Tamil Nadu. Lives on its own page and is linked from every state's Building page instead of being repeated on each one.
Building Control Rules — Official Document
Static reference link only. For a plain-language answer to a specific question, the Building Control Rules Q&A tool is coming next.
Authority Websites
CMDA and DTCP issue planning permission. For ordinary buildings inside Chennai city limits, the actual building permit is issued by Greater Chennai Corporation under CMDA's framework — a separate site and a separate step.
Frequently asked
Which Schedule of Rates document do valuers actually use in Tamil Nadu?
The Plinth Area Rates (Rough Cost Estimates) — a single per-square-foot rate by building type, meant for quick estimation. The full itemized Schedule of Rates is only needed for a detailed, item-by-item estimate.
What is the building-control rulebook for Tamil Nadu?
TNCDBR 2019 (Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules), covering the full PDF plus government orders.
Who issues the building permit in Chennai vs. the rest of Tamil Nadu?
Inside Chennai city limits, Greater Chennai Corporation issues the actual permit under CMDA's planning framework. Outside Chennai, DTCP handles planning permission for the rest of the state.
Is CPWD's Schedule of Rates relevant to Tamil Nadu?
Not directly for state works — Tamil Nadu uses its own PWD rates. CPWD's rates apply nationally for central-government-executed works and are kept on a shared page since they're the same across every state.