Revenue and Tourism Department officials have identified 652 unauthorised homestays and cottages in Kodaikanal. Show-cause notices have been issued to the owners, giving them two months to produce or secure the required approvals.
Officials warned that establishments failing to comply within the given period could be sealed.
Where were most violations found?
Most of the unauthorised properties were reportedly found in:
- Mannavanur
- Kavunji
- Poombarai
Several cottages were constructed on farmland and hill slopes, raising serious questions about land use, building safety and environmental impact.
What did officials find during the inspection?
Three joint teams from the Revenue and Tourism departments inspected accommodation properties across the Kodaikanal hills.
During the inspection, many owners claimed to have permits but could not produce valid approval documents. Officials also found that:
- Several cottages lacked planning or building approval.
- Some properties were developed without obtaining land-use conversion.
- Several units had no proper water pipeline connection.
- Improper sewage and waste disposal was noticed.
- Some residential buildings and farmland had been converted into commercial accommodation.
The inspections were conducted following complaints and directions from the Madras High Court concerning unauthorised tourism properties in Kodaikanal and the Nilgiris.
Does the two-month notice guarantee approval?
No. The two-month period is an opportunity for owners to produce existing documents or apply for missing approvals. It is not an automatic regularisation scheme.
A property may be able to obtain approval if it is legally constructed and only lacks a renewable licence or registration. However, approval may be difficult if the building:
- Stands in a zone where commercial accommodation is not permitted
- Was constructed on agricultural land without land-use conversion
- Violates hill-station building rules
- Has additional floors or cottages beyond the sanctioned plan
- Lacks proper road access, water supply or waste-management facilities
Such properties may face sealing even if they are earning regular tourism income.
What should the owners do now?
Owners who received notices should immediately submit their valid approvals and apply for any missing planning, building, land-use, safety and tourism permissions within the two-month deadline. They should also correct water and waste-disposal issues and respond formally to the show-cause notice to avoid sealing action.
A homestay listing is not proof of legality
Advertising a cottage on Airbnb, Google, Booking.com or another tourism platform does not make the property legal.
Similarly, possessing a Tourism Department registration, electricity connection, property-tax receipt or GST registration does not automatically prove that the land use and building construction are approved.
Under Tamil Nadu’s homestay guidelines, a genuine homestay normally requires the owner or promoter to live on the same property. A larger independent cottage or villa business may fall under a different accommodation category and require additional approvals.
What should buyers and tourism developers do?
Before buying, building or operating a hill property, verify its land use, approved building plan, road access and required planning, local-body and tourism permissions. Do not rely only on patta, tax receipts, online listings or rental income as proof of legality.
Anyone purchasing farmland, a cottage, villa, or income-generating homestay in Kodaikanal should verify that planning permission has been obtained from the Kodaikanal Local Planning Authority or DTCP, building permission has been secured from the relevant local body, and HACA, Forest, or Geology clearances have been received wherever applicable.
Verified.RealEstate’s Land Use Checker, Patta Analyzer, Boundary Survey, approval-document review and legal due diligence services can help identify such risks before purchasing or investing in a hill property.
Why this enforcement matters
The action against 652 properties sends a clear warning: tourism income cannot legalise an unapproved building.
Some owners may be able to correct minor licensing defects. But properties constructed against land-use rules, sanctioned plans or hill-area restrictions may not qualify for approval and could ultimately be sealed.
Disclaimer: The notices are part of an ongoing enforcement process. The final action against each property will depend on its location, land classification, approved plan and documents produced before the authorities.