Not many know that a compound wall can be constructed only by following certain laws and guidelines in Kerala. As per section 12 of KPBR/ KMBR Act, 2019, permission should be sought from the secretary of the concerned local self-government institution before constructing a compound wall. However, it must be noted that this is not applicable to all kinds of walls. Permission is required only if the wall or fence is constructed close to a public road, public place or a public water body. It means that permission is not needed to build a compound wall between two private plots. However, the gate or door on this wall shouldn’t open to the public road.
Here's how you could get the permit
The person who intends to construct a compound wall should write an application in his/her own hand, paste a court fee stamp of a stipulated amount and submit at the concerned local self-government institute. The application can also be a typed one.
Documents (copies of ownership deed, carter deed, revenue-tax receipts) that prove your ownership should be submitted along with the application. Besides, the site plan of the plot too should be given.
The details of all the roads (length and width) that share border with the plot or lead to the plot should be included in the site plan. The application fee is Rs 10 in panchayats and municipalities and Rs 15 in corporations. Besides, Rs 3 should be paid as permit fee for every metre of the length of the compound wall in panchayats and municipalities. It would be Rs 4 in corporations.
Usually, the permit would be granted in less than fifteen days. In case the wall stands in road junctions, then bell-mouth should be left as per the following guidelines:
In roads that have a width of less than 12 metres, the wall at least be 3 metres long to both sides from the corner. If the road is between 12 and 21 metres wide, then the wall should be 4.5 metres long to both sides.
It should be 6 metres for roads that are more than 21 metres wide. If the road that shares the border is less than 5 metres wide, then there is no need for bell-mouth. After the construction is over, the applicant must inform it in writing to the secretary of the concerned local self-government institute.