Town survey (TS) numbers
last updated 2026-07-21
In urban Tamil Nadu, land is identified by a Town Survey (TS) number under the Town Survey Land Register, the urban equivalent of the rural survey and sub-division number. You need the correct TS or survey number to pull the encumbrance certificate, patta and FMB for the right parcel.
Rural vs urban identifiers
Rural land is identified by a survey number and sub-division. In surveyed towns and cities, the same role is played by the Town Survey (TS) number, recorded in the Town Survey Land Register — the urban land-record system. A single property may also carry an old survey number from before the town survey, which is why records sometimes ask for both.
Why the right number matters
Every record you pull is keyed to the survey identifier: the encumbrance certificate, the patta and the FMB sketch all need the correct TS or survey number to return the right parcel. Search with the wrong or outdated number and you either get nothing or, worse, records for the wrong plot. Sale notices and old deeds may quote an old survey number, so matching it to the current TS number is part of getting clean records.
How to find and use it
Urban land records, including those keyed to the TS number, are available through the Revenue Department's e-Services portal, using the district, taluk/town, village or ward and the survey details. Confirm the current identifier before you rely on any record — see the source below.
The auction angle
For an urban flat or plot at auction, the sale notice's survey details are your key to pulling the EC, patta and FMB independently. Getting the TS / survey number right is a small step that makes every other check reliable — the kind of groundwork AuctionScope helps you do quickly on a specific listing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a TS number in Tamil Nadu?
A Town Survey number — the identifier for a parcel of land in a surveyed town or city, recorded in the Town Survey Land Register. It is the urban equivalent of the rural survey and sub-division number.
Why do I need the correct survey or TS number?
Because the encumbrance certificate, patta and FMB are all keyed to it. The wrong or outdated number returns nothing, or records for the wrong plot, so matching old and current numbers matters.
Where can I look up urban land records?
Through the Revenue Department's e-Services portal, using the district, taluk/town, ward or village and the survey details. Confirm the current identifier before relying on a record.
Related terms
Sources
Rates, fees and procedures change — confirm the current position on the official portals below before you act.