HOUSING STANDARDS AND NORMS

FOR EWS, LIG AND MIG

 GENERAL
These guidelines cover planning and general building standards for
low-income groups having a maximum built-up area of 40 m2
including future expansion, built on notified (as notified by the State
Governments) rural areas. The provisions on layout planning of low-
income housing colonies in rural areas are applicable to public and
private agencies/ government bodies. The provisions of this Code on
design and construction of buildings for low income housing in
approved layouts are applicable to all private and public agencies.
ECONOMICALLY WEAKER SECTIONS (EWS)
EWS were classified in 2009 as Households with monthly income of
up to Rs 3,300 (or 39600 /annum) .
Government, later in 2010, revised the income ceiling in respect of
Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) from the earlier limit of ‘up to -
Rs. 3300’ to ‘up to Rs. 5000’ or Rs. 60,000 a year.
On 14 November 2012 ,this was further revised such that urban
poor having an annual household income of up to Rs. 1 lakh were
classified as EWS.
Latest as per 2015,EWS households are defined as households
having an annual income of up to Rs.3,00,000.
SETTLEMENT PLANNING
Plot size: 80 Sq. m. Min
Density(gross) : 60 plots per
hectare, Max
Minimum frontage: 6m
Ground Coverage : 33 percent
(subject to a maximum of 50
percent)
Floor area ratio (FAR): 2, Max
Open spaces : 1.21 hectare
open space for a village with
200 houses.
STANDARDS ROOM SIZES
Habitable Room
a) Every dwelling unit to be provided should have at least two
habitable rooms.
b) Even if one room house is provided initially it should be capable of
adding a new second room in future.
c) In a house of two rooms, first room shall not be less than 9.0 m2
with minimum width of 2.5 m and second room shall not be less
than 6.5 m2 with a minimum width of 2.1 m provided the total
area of both the rooms is not less than 15.5 m2.
d) In incremental housing the bigger room shall always be the first
room.
STANDARDS ROOM SIZES
To facilitate INCREMENTAL HOUSING in case of flatted
development or otherwise, habitable space at mezzanine level may
be permitted. The minimum size of such a mezzanine floor should not
be lesser than 6.5 m2. Such a mezzanine floor should have
appropriate openings to facilitate light and ventilation. Minimum
clear height below and above the mezzanine floor should be 2.4 m
and 2.1 m respectively.
As far as possible mezzanine floor should have direct ventilation
from the external face of the building. Where this is not possible
ventilation through main room may be allowed provided total area
of openings in the main room is provided taking into consideration
area of mezzanine floor.
Such mezzanine floor may be accessible through the main room by
a ladder, whose minimum angle with vertical plane should be 22 ½
deg. Height of the riser should be less than 250 mm.
STANDARDS AREAS
WATER-CLOSET/BATHROOM
The size of independent
water-closet shall be 0.9 m2;
with minimum width of 90 cm.
The size of independent
bathroom shall be 1.2 m2
with minimum width of 1m,
and
The size of combined bath
and water closet shall be 1.8
m2 with minimum width of 1
m.
KITCHEN
The size of a cooking alcove(recessed
part) serving as cooking space shall 'not
be less than 2.4 m2 with a minimum
width of 1.2 m.
 The size of individual kitchen shall not
be less than 3.3 m2 with a minimum
width of 1.5 m.
Provision for smokeless CHULLHA in
Semi open spaces with respect to
climatic conditions shall be made in all
kitchens considering fuel efficiency and
health hazard due to smoke inhalation.
STANDARDS HEIGHTS
BALCONY
The minimum width of individual
balcony, where provided, shall be
0.9 m and shall not be more than
1.2 m and it shall not project
beyond the plot line and on roads
or pathway.
MINIMUM HEIGHT
The minimum height of
rooms/spaces shall be as follows:
a) Habitable room -2.75 m
b) Kitchen -2.6 m
c) Bath/water-closet -2.2 m
d) Corridor -2.1 m
In the case of sloping roofs, the
average height of roof for
habitable rooms shall be 2.75 m
STANDARD LIGHTING AND VENTILATION
The windows and other openings shall abut onto open spaces either
through areas left open within the plot or the front, side and rear
spaces provided in the layouts which shall be deemed to be sufficient
for light and ventilation purposes.
Wherever ventilation/lighting is provided by means of JALI or grill
of any material, total area of openings shall calculated excluding
solid portion of the JALI or grill.
STANDARD STAIR SIZES
The following criteria shall be
adopted for INTERNAL
INDIVIDUAL STAIRCASE:
Minimum width
a) Double storeyed- straight -
0.60 m
b) Double storeyed-winding -0.75
m NOTE — This could be reduced
c) Triple or more storeyed-
straight -0.75 m
d) Triple or more storeyed-
winding -0.90 m
Riser 200 mm, Max
Tread
a) Double storeyed -225 mm,
Min
b) Triple storeyed or more -250
mm, Min
to 200 mm as the clear tread
between perpends, with
possibility of open riser as well
as nosing and inclined riser to
have an effective going of 225
mm.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM REQUIREMENT
Water from drains shall be connected to village ponds and
appropriate. eco-friendly methods like growing of duck weed plants
shall be adopted to treat waste water.
This treated water may be used for irrigation and agriculture.
Appropriate methods (namely conservation, ground water
recharging, rain water harvesting, etc.) should be employed to
ensure effective water management.
WATER SEAL LATRINE NORMS
No building plan shall be approved and no building shall be
deemed to have been completed and fit for human occupation unless
provision is made for water seal latrine. No dry latrine shall be
allowed. Water seal latrines can also be provide on the basis of
community toilets or shared toilets as per the recommendation .
Where leaching pits are used, it should be constructed within the
premises of the households as it would be economical as well as
facilitate their cleaning. However, where, due to space constraint,
construction of pits within the premises may not be possible, pits may
be constructed in places like lanes, streets and roads.
WATER SEAL LATRINE NORMS
In case the pit is located under the road, street or foot path, the
inverted level of the pipe connecting the latrine pan with the pit shall be
at least 1.1 m below ground level or below the bottom of the water
main existing within a distance of 3 m from the pits whichever is more.
 The water seal latrine should be properly maintained and kept in
sanitary condition by the owner or the occupier. The contents of the septic
tanks, soak pits, leach pits, etc. should be periodically emptied.
Location of sanitary facility either as part of the house or separately.
The house site shall provide space for storage of food grains and
keeping cattle. A manure pit having a minimum area of 1.0 m2 shall also
be catered for. This will take care of biodegradable waste.
 LOW INCOME HOUSING IN URBAN AREAS
GENERAL
• Applicable to public, private and government bodies.
• Max. plinth area 40 sq. m. including future expansion.
• Estimated open spaces at 0.3 ha for 1000 persons.
• Road areas are 10 and 20 % of the site area.
• A nursery school of 0.1 ha for 1500 people and shopping centres at 4
shops for per 1000 people.
PLANNING
Type of planning
• Plotted development as row housing.
• Flatted development as row housing.
• Group housing on cluster pattern.
LAYOUT PATTERN
• In land to be developed, at least 75% of the plot, or up to 60 sq. m.
dwelling unit in metropolitan towns and 100 sq. m. in other towns and hilly
areas.
• Remaining 25% may be more than 60 sq. m. but no plot should be more than
200 sq. m..
• In case of group housing or flatted development at least 75 % units should
have a plinth area (excluding external circulation such as stairs, lifts, lobbies,
etc.) up to or not exceeding 40 sq. m. including future expansion.
• The layout should generallyLand
conform to the
under each usefollowing land use:
General Hill area
Saleable
• Residential 50 % min. 35 %
• Work places, schools, 20 % 15 %
institutions, shops, max.
community places, etc.
Non- Saleable
• Roads, pedestrian paths, 30 % 50 %
drains, public and semi- max.
public open spaces
PLOT AREA
Plot size
• The minimum plot size with ground coverage not exceeding 75 %, shall not be less
than 40 sq. m. in small and medium towns and not less than 30 sq. m. in metropolitan
cities.
• Plot sizes below 30 sq. m. but not less than 15 sq. m. may be permitted in case of
cluster planning, however, in such cases the ground coverage and FSI shall be 100
%and 2 % respectively.
Minimum frontage
• The minimum frontage of the plot shall be 3.6m in width.
DENSITY
• The density norms for plotted development and mixed development shall be as
follows: Type of development Range of Densities
a) Plotted development 65-120 plots per hectare
b) Mixed development
i) Small towns 75-100 dwelling units per hectare
ii) Cities 100-125 dwelling units per hectare
iii) Metropolitan Cities 125-150 dwelling units per hectare

• In case of developments with per dwelling unit covered area of 15 m2 maximum

densities of 500 dwelling units per hectare shall be permissible.
HEIGHT OF THE BUILDING
• The height of building shall not exceed 15 m.
• For buildings up to the height of 15 m, there is no need to provide lifts.
• Housing for the low-income group shall preferably be up to a maximum of
two storeys.
• Buildings for housing beyond 15 m in height should be resorted to in
exceptional circumstances.
GENERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS
PLINTH
• The minimum height of plinth shall be regulated on the basis of environmental
and topographical condition and higher plinth height may be required in
areas prone to flooding.
SIZE OF THE ROOM
Habitable room
• Every dwelling unit to be provided should have at least two habitable
rooms.
• In case, single room tenements are required to be provided where
future additions are not possible, the carpet area of multipurpose
single room should be at least 12.5 sq. m..
• In a house of two rooms, first room shall not be less than 9.0 sq. m. with
min. width of 2.5m and second room shall not be less than 6.5sq. m.
with min. width of 2.1m provided the total area of both the rooms is not
less than 15.5sq. m..
Habitable room
• In Incremental housing the bigger room shall always be the first room.
• To facilitate incremental housing, in case of flatted development or
otherwise, habitable space at mezzanine level may be permitted.
• The minimum size of a mezzanine floor should not be lesser than 6.5sq.
m. and such a floor should occupy not more than 50% of the room area.
• A mezzanine floor should have appropriate openings to facilitate light
and ventilation.
• Minimum clear height below and above the mezzanine floor should be
2.4m and 2.1m respectively.
• Such mezzanine floor may be accessible through the main room by a
ladder, whose minimum angle with vertical plane should be 22.5 deg..
• Height of the riser should be less than 250 mm.
Water closet/ Bathroom
• The size of independent water-closet shall be 0.90sq. m. with minimum width of
0.9m.
• The size of independent bathroom shall be 1.20sq. m. with a minimum width of
1.0m
• The size of combined bathroom and water closet shall be 1.80sq. m. with minimum
width of 1.0m.
Kitchen
• The size of a cooking alcove serving as cooking space shall not be less
than 2.4sq. m. with a minimum width of 1.2m.
• The size of individual kitchen provided in a two-roomed house shall not be
less than 3.3sq. m. with a minimum width of 1.5m.
Balcony
• The minimum width of individual balcony shall be 0.9 m and shall not be
more than 1.2 m and it shall not project beyond the plot line and on roads
or pathway.
Basement
• No basement floor shall be allowed.
Minimum height a) Habitable room 2.6
m
• The minimum height of rooms/spaces shall be as follows: b) Kitchen 2.6
m
c) Bath/water-closet 2.1 m
d) Corridor
2.1 m
• In the case of sloping roofs, the average height of roof for habitable rooms shall be
2.6 m and the minimum height at eaves shall be 2.0m..
Stairs
• The following criteria shall be adopted for internal individual staircase:
a) Minimum Width
1) 2 storeyed —straight 0.60 m
2) 2 storeyed — winding 0.75 m
3) 3 or more storeyed straight— 0.75 m
4) 3 or more storeyed winding— 0.90 m
b) Riser: 200 mm, max
c) Tread
1) 2 storeyed 225 mm, min
2) 3 storeyed or more 250 mm, min
d) Head Room: The minimum clear head room shall be 2.1m.
Circulation area
• The circulation area on any floor including staircase, shall not exceed 8 sq.
m./dwelling unit.
Water seal latrine
• No building plan shall be approved and deemed to have been completed
and fit for human occupation unless provision is made for water seal latrine.
• No dry latrine shall be allowed. Water seal latrines can also be provide on
the basis of community toilets or shared toilets as per the recommendation.
• Where leaching pits are used, it should be constructed within the premises of
the households. However, where, due to space constraint, construction of pits
within the premises may not be possible, pits may be constructed in places
like lanes, streets and roads.
• In case the pit is located under the road, street or foot path, the inverted
level of the pipe connecting the latrine pan with the pit shall be at least 1.1
m below ground level or below the bottom of the water main existing within
a distance of 3 m from the pits whichever is more.
• Construction of such pits may be in accordance with good practice.
Roads and pathways
• The area under roads and pathways in such housing projects should normally
not exceed 20% of the total land area of the project.
• Access to the dwelling units should be by means of paved footpaths with a
right of way of 6m and a pathway of 2m only.
• Where pedestrian pathways are not meant for motor able access to the
minimum, right of way of such pedestrian pathway shall be 3m.
• Where houses are accessible from one side only pathway can be 2m wide.
• The maximum length of such pathways should not be more than 60m..
Other requirements
• One water tap per dwelling unit may be provided.
• If supply is inadequate, public hydrants shall be provided. In the absence of
piped water supply, hand pumps may be used for provision of water supply.
• Recognizing the need for informal use of space for shopping and informal
occupation like road side repairs, pan shops, etc., it is suggested that about
one-forth% of the total shopping area in a layout should be reserved for
such informal uses to cater to the needs of low income families.
 MIDDLE INCOME GROUP (MIG)
•For middle income group affordable
housing would mean a unit measuring from
600 to 1,200sqft .
•Priced between 12 lakh to 50 lakh.
•This includes a 2bhk setting which consists of
one hall, two bedrooms, one kitchen , and
toilet.
 MIDDLE INCOME GROUP
MIG – I Households are
defined as households
having an annual income
between Rs. 6,00,000
up to 12, 00,000

MIG- I
MIG

MIG – II Households
MIG-II are defined as
households having an
annual income
between Rs.12,00,000
up to 18,00,000
MIDDLE INCOME GROUP
SIZE OF DWELLING UNIT
•Super built-up area – 600-1200sq.ft
•Maximum carpet area – 861 sq.ft (80sq.m)
According to the revised schemes the carpet area of mig-I and
mig- II housing units under the cls scheme have been changed.
MIG- I – 970 sq.ft (90 sq. m.) changed to 1,300 sq.ft (120sq. m.)
MIG – II 1185 sq.ft (110 sq. m.) changed to 1615 sq.ft(150sq. m.)