What can you build on a 30×50 ft plot in Chennai?
Rules as published in TNCDBR 2019, Rule 35(1)(a) (non-high-rise residential, CMA) · Last reviewed
A 30×50 ft plot (1,500 ft²) in Chennai (CMA-R) can legally be built to 4 floors on a 30 ft road (9–18 m band) under TNCDBR 2019. Setbacks are 3 m front, 1.5 m each side and 1.5 m rear, leaving a buildable footprint of about 20.2×35.2 ft (~710 ft² per floor) and up to 3,000 ft² of total built-up area at FSI 2.0 within the 12 m height cap.
A 30×50 ft plot is 1,500 ft² (139 m²) — about 3.4 cents, or 0.6 grounds. Under the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 (non-high-rise residential), it carries an FSI of 2 and a 12 m height cap; the setbacks — and so your buildable footprint — depend on the width of the road the plot faces.
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about 710 ft² per floor after the required open strips
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What size is the plot?
Which side does the road touch?
How wide is that road?
Not answered yet, so assumed: plot size 30×50 ft; east-facing (road on the east side); 30 ft road.
Buildable area by road width
Assuming the 30 ft side faces the road (side and rear setbacks 1.5 m each; front setback varies):
| Road width | Front setback | Buildable footprint | Per floor | Max total built-up (FSI 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30 ft (under 9 m) | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) | ~20.2×40.2 ft | ~809 ft² | 3,000 ft² |
| 30–59 ft (9–18 m) | 3 m (9.8 ft) | ~20.2×35.2 ft | ~710 ft² | 3,000 ft² |
| 60–100 ft (18–30.5 m) | 4.5 m (14.8 ft) | ~20.2×30.3 ft | ~611 ft² | 3,000 ft² |
| Over 100 ft (30.5 m+) | 6 m (19.7 ft) | ~20.2×25.4 ft | ~512 ft² | 3,000 ft² |
Footprints are the rectangle left after setbacks; the FSI cap applies to the whole building across floors. Corner plots, wider frontages and layout conditions change these numbers — the generator computes them for your exact facing and road.
Cost to build on a 30×50 plot (2026 estimates)
Using the same mid-2026 rates as the feasibility report, on a 30 ft road. Figures include ~12% over the construction rate for sanction fees, compound wall, borewell/sump and contingency; land cost is excluded.
| Finish tier | Rate | Ground + 1 (typical family home) (~1,420 ft²) | Full allowance (4 floors) (~2,840 ft²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic RCC frame, vitrified tiles, standard fittings | ₹1,900/ft² | ₹30.2 L | ₹60.4 L |
| Standard Better finishes, branded sanitary/electrical, false ceiling in living | ₹2,400/ft² | ₹38.2 L | ₹76.3 L |
| Premium Premium flooring/elevation, modular kitchen, quality woodwork | ₹3,200/ft² | ₹50.9 L | ₹1.02 Cr |
Estimate-grade market assumptions, not quotes — rates move with steel, cement and labour, and vary by locality and contractor. The feasibility report runs the same numbers for your exact road width and facing, plus rental potential.
Get a floor plan for a 30×50 plot — free
Plot2Plan turns these limits into an actual room-by-room floor plan: the rule engine freezes the legal envelope, AI arranges the rooms inside it, and a validator checks every wall, door and stair before you see it.
Frequently asked questions
How many floors can I build on a 30×50 plot in Chennai?
The height cap is 12 m (about four floors at 3 m each), and FSI 2.0 limits total built-up area to 3,000 ft². On a 30 ft road: Here the height cap binds first: 4 full-footprint floors of ~710 ft² give about 2,840 ft², still inside the FSI cap.
What is the setback for a 30×50 plot in Chennai?
Side and rear setbacks are 1.5 m each. The front setback depends on the road: 1.5 m on roads under 9 m, 3 m on 9–18 m roads, 4.5 m on 18–30.5 m roads and 6 m on roads over 30.5 m (TNCDBR 2019, Rule 35(1)(a)).
How much construction is allowed on a 30×50 plot in Chennai?
At FSI 2.0, a 1,500 ft² plot allows up to 3,000 ft² of total built-up area across all floors, subject to setbacks and the 12 m height limit.
How much does it cost to build a house on a 30×50 plot in Chennai?
Estimate (mid-2026 rates, incl. ~12% for sanction fees, borewell, compound wall and contingency): ground + 1 (typical family home) of 1,420 ft² runs ₹30.2 L–₹50.9 L depending on finishes; full allowance (4 floors) of 2,840 ft² runs ₹60.4 L–₹1.02 Cr depending on finishes. Land cost excluded — these are estimates, not quotes.
This size by facing
Vastu placement, entrance position and sun differ by facing — each gets its own guide:
Other plot sizes
- 20×30 ft plot
- 20×40 ft plot
- 24×36 ft plot
- 25×40 ft plot
- 30×40 ft plot
- 30×60 ft plot
- 40×40 ft plot
- 40×60 ft plot
- 50×80 ft plot
New to the rules? Start with the Chennai setback rules guide.