Thiruvananthapuram: In a major relief to building owners, the Kerala government has introduced significant amendments to the Kerala Building Construction Rules, including a proposal to halve the fee for extending building permits after 10 years. Local Self-Government Minister MB Rajesh announced the decision on Wednesday.

As per the revised rules, if a building undergoes any change in construction — including extensions made after obtaining the permit — the owner can submit a fresh application at any time before filing the completion application. Since regularisation will be required only for the additionally constructed area, the financial burden on building owners will be considerably reduced.

The new provisions also allow strengthening works for buildings located on plots that remain after partial land acquisition for road development projects.

Out of the total 117 rules, 53 have been amended, one has been omitted, and two new rules have been added. Upon approval from the Law Department, these amendments will be officially notified.

The updated regulations stipulate that a building permit will remain valid even after transferring a portion of the property for which the permit was initially issued, allowing construction in the remaining area as per the permit. The revised rules also specify the minimum distance to be maintained between the road and the structure.

A new occupancy group has been introduced for turf grounds and game courts.

The category of buildings that can receive construction approval directly from the local body secretary — without requiring layout clearance from the District Town Planner — has been expanded to include more medium and large structures. Exemptions have also been granted to buildings associated with small-scale industries.