Any construction or activity within the Coastal Regulation Zone — generally 500 m landward of the High Tide Line and along tidal water bodies — needs CRZ clearance under the CRZ Notification, 2019. We obtain the HTL/LTL demarcation and CRZ map from an authorised agency, prepare the application and take it through the State Coastal Zone Management Authority to the MoEFCC or State authority for clearance.
Legal basis: Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019 (S.O. 37(E) dated 18 January 2019) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; CRZ Notification, 2011 continues to apply where the State's Coastal Zone Management Plan is not yet approved under the 2019 framework
Who needs it
- Hotels, resorts, residential and commercial developments within 500 m of the High Tide Line or within 100 m / the width of tidal creeks and backwaters
- Ports, harbours, jetties, fishing landing centres, shipyards and desalination plants
- Pipelines, transmission lines, roads and bridges crossing CRZ areas
- Aquaculture, salt pans and hatcheries in CRZ-III and CRZ-IV areas
- Redevelopment or reconstruction of existing structures in CRZ-II urban areas
- Projects on islands and in the Andaman & Nicobar / Lakshadweep that fall under the Island Protection Zone framework
Common in:Manufacturing & Industrial UnitsReal Estate & Infrastructure
Documents required
- 1Form 1 (and EIA report where the project also needs EC) with a CRZ-specific project description
- 2HTL / LTL demarcation and CRZ map (1:4000 scale) from an agency authorised by MoEFCC, such as NCSCM or IRS Anna University
- 3Superimposition of the project layout on the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan
- 4Land ownership documents, survey numbers and village maps
- 5Rapid EIA / Marine EIA for CRZ-I and CRZ-IV activities as prescribed
- 6Disaster Management Report and risk assessment for the coastal site
- 7NOC from the local body / Town Planning authority and fisheries department where required
- 8Details of sewage, solid-waste and effluent management at the site
- 9Undertaking on No Development Zone compliance and FSI restrictions
Missing something? We help you obtain or regularise supporting documents before filing.
How we get it done
- 1
CRZ categorisation
Week 1–2We determine the CRZ category (I, II, IIIA, IIIB or IV) of each part of the site against the approved CZMP and advise on permissible activities and the No Development Zone.
- 2
HTL demarcation and CRZ map
Week 2–10An authorised agency surveys and demarcates the HTL/LTL and prepares the CRZ map with the project superimposed. This is the single most time-sensitive input and we commission it immediately.
- 3
Application to the SCZMA
Week 10–18The application, maps and studies are submitted to the State Coastal Zone Management Authority. We attend the SCZMA meeting and respond to clarifications sought.
- 4
Clearance by MoEFCC or State authority
Week 18–30On recommendation of the SCZMA, the proposal is placed before the MoEFCC EAC (CRZ) or the State authority. We present the project and follow up until the clearance letter is issued.
If you don’t comply
Unauthorised construction in the CRZ is a violation under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 attracting prosecution under Section 15, and the CZMAs and NGT have ordered demolition of unauthorised structures and restoration of coastal land at the violator's cost. Regularisation of CRZ violations is generally not available, which makes prior clearance essential.
Why MYDA Group
Specialists, not generalists
Environmental compliance is our only practice, so your file is handled by people who do this every day.
Fixed fee, written scope
You know the professional fee and the statutory fees before we start. No surprise add-ons.
Inspection and audit-ready
We prepare your site and team for the board visit or certification audit and attend it with you.
Lifetime reminders
Every condition, return and renewal goes into your compliance calendar with alerts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the No Development Zone under CRZ 2019?
In CRZ-III areas, the NDZ is 50 m from the HTL for CRZ-IIIA (densely populated rural areas with population density above 2,161 per sq km per the 2011 Census) and 200 m from the HTL for CRZ-IIIB. In CRZ-II urban areas, construction is permitted on the landward side of existing roads or authorised structures as per the local Town and Country Planning norms.
Who prepares the CRZ map and why does it matter so much?
Only agencies authorised by the MoEFCC, such as the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) and the Institute of Remote Sensing at Anna University, can demarcate the HTL/LTL and prepare CRZ maps. The map determines your CRZ category, the NDZ and the permissible footprint, so an incorrect or unauthorised map is the most common reason for rejection or litigation.
Does a CRZ project also need an Environmental Clearance?
If the project is also listed in the Schedule to the EIA Notification, 2006, it needs both EC and CRZ clearance; the two are processed together with the SCZMA recommendation forming part of the EC appraisal. Smaller projects, such as a resort below the EIA threshold, may need only CRZ clearance through the State authority.
Is the 2019 Notification in force in my state?
The CRZ Notification, 2019 applies in a state once its Coastal Zone Management Plan has been approved under the 2019 framework; until then the CRZ Notification, 2011 and the earlier CZMP continue to govern. Several coastal states have received approved CZMPs under 2019 and others are at various stages, so we confirm the position for your site before advising on permissibility.