On September 24, 2024, the Town and Country Planning Department of Himachal Pradesh issued the Draft Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning (Thirteenth Amendment) Rules 2024.
Key Highlights of the Proposed Amendments
1. Special Commercial Buildings and Tourism Units
The proposed rules introduce specific regulations for Special Commercial Buildings, including tourism units. Here are the main features:
| Plot Area (M²) | Maximum Permissible FAR | Max Ground Coverage (%) | Max Building Height (M) | Max No. of Base Storeys |
| Above 4001 up to 10,000 | 3.5 | 40% | 5 | 13 |
| 10,001 and above | 4 | 35% | 5 | 14 |
Conditions for Application:
- In plain areas, regulations apply if the slope of the land is less than 15° and the road width exceeds 18 meters.
- In hilly regions, the slope must be less than 20°, with a road width greater than 15 meters.
- A Geological Investigation Report and Soil Testing, along with a Structural Design Report vetted by a Third-Party Agency, will be mandatory.
These regulations aim to facilitate the development of commercial spaces while ensuring structural integrity and safety.
2. Enhanced FAR for Central Business Districts (CBDs) and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Corridors
The amendments also propose enhanced FAR provisions for designated CBDs and TOD corridors, including 4-lane National Highways:
| Plot Area (M²) | Maximum Permissible FAR | Max Ground Coverage (%) | Max Building Height (M) | Max No. of Storeys |
| Above 4001 up to 10,000 | 5 | 40% | 7 | 18 |
| 10,001 and above | 5 | 35% | 7 | 20 |
Conditions for Application:
- Enhanced FAR is permitted only in designated areas.
- In plain areas, the slope must be less than 10° with a road width greater than 24 meters.
- In hilly areas, the slope must be less than 15° with a road width greater than 18 meters.
- A Geological Investigation Report and Soil Testing, along with a Structural Design Report vetted by a Third-Party Agency, will be mandatory.
3. Amendments to Industrial Regulations
The proposed amendments also detail new regulations for various types of industries:
| Type of Industry | Plot Area (M²) | Minimum Setback (m) | Max FAR | Max Height (m) |
| Small Scale Industries | 150 to 500 | 2.00 | 4.00 | Flexible |
| Services/Light Industries | Above 500 to 1,000 | 3.00 | 4.00 | Flexible |
| Medium Scale Industries | Above 1,000 to 2,500 | 5.00 | 3.00 | Flexible |
| Above 2,500 to 5,000 | 5.00 | 3.00 | Flexible | |
| Large Scale Industries | Above 5,000 to 10,000 | 7.00 | 2.50 | Flexible |
| Above 10,000 | 8.00 | 2.00 | Flexible |
Hostels/Dormitories in Industrial Zones: The construction of hostels and dormitories in industrial areas is now permissible, regulated according to the relevant Interim Development Plan and Development Plans.
Public Consultation:
The government has invited written objections or suggestions, which must be submitted to the Principal Secretary (TCP) within 30 days from the date of publication- October 24th 2024
