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The Andhra Pradesh Government has introduced Common Zoning Regulations (CZR) –2025, a new framework that rationalises land-use categories from 16 to 9, ensuring clarity for developers and citizens, while protecting eco-sensitive zones. The newly formed nine comprehensive zones are — Residential Zone (R), Commercial Zone (C), Public & Semi-public Zone (PS), Industrial Zone (I), Recreational Zone (RE), Transportation Zone (T), Mixed Use Zone (M), Agriculture Use Zone (A), Development Restricted / Protected Use Zone (SA/PR). “The CZR represents a paradigm shift in urban governance,” said S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, on Wednesday while announcing the government’s reform to unify zoning norms across the State. The department published the new regulations through G.O. Ms. No.216. The regulations mark the first-ever uniform zoning framework for all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Urban Development Authorities (UDAs), replacing multiple inconsistent master plans that had long caused ambiguity and procedural delays. “By integrating all local planning norms under a unified framework, the State has not only simplified compliance but also aligned zoning practices with national benchmarks like the Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines and the Ease-of-Doing Business principles,” Mr. Suresh Kumar said, adding that the reform would greatly enhance investor confidence and streamline approvals. Accessible through the Online Building Permission System (OBPS), the CZRs promise faster clearances, reduced discretion, and a transparent, technology-driven process, ushering in a new era of sustainable, investor-friendly urban growth in Andhra Pradesh, he added.
