Updated for 2026 · Finding and verifying a survey number for land in Tamil Nadu.
- The survey number is the key to every other land record.
- Fastest source: the existing patta or previous deed.
- Always capture the subdivision (e.g. 123/2B), not just the parent number.
- Search needs district, taluk and village as well.
- The VAO can identify it locally when records are unclear.
Why the survey number governs everything
Land in Tamil Nadu is indexed by survey number within a revenue village. Every record you will need is retrieved using it: the patta and chitta, the A-Register, the FMB sketch, the guideline value and the encumbrance certificate. Get the number wrong and every search returns either nothing or, worse, somebody else's land.
That second outcome is the dangerous one. A search that returns clean records for the wrong parcel looks exactly like good news. It is worth pausing over: the reassurance you get from a clean EC is only as reliable as the survey number you typed into it.
Where to find it
| Source | How reliable |
|---|---|
| Existing patta / chitta | Best — states survey number and subdivision directly |
| Previous sale deed | Very reliable, and gives boundaries too |
| Land records portal | Good — search by district, taluk, village |
| Village administrative officer | Best when records are unclear or old |
| Property tax receipt | Sometimes carries it, for built property |
How to search online
2. Select the district, then the taluk, then the village.
3. Enter the survey number and subdivision if you have it, or browse the village listing.
4. Confirm the holder name and extent against what you expect.
5. Cross-check the shape against the FMB sketch before relying on it.
Survey numbers are repeatedly split as land is divided among heirs and buyers. A parent number such as 123 may today contain a dozen subdivisions — 123/1, 123/2A, 123/2B and so on — each a separate parcel with a different owner. Searching only the parent number returns the wrong extent and possibly the wrong person. Always record and search the full number including the subdivision, and where a parcel has been recently split, check the parent number too so you can see the history. See patta subdivision for how these splits are created.
When the number does not match
Mismatches are common and not always sinister. The village may have been renamed or reorganised. The parcel may have been subdivided since the deed was written, so the old number no longer exists on its own. Records may be partially digitised for that taluk. Or the number in the advertisement may simply be wrong.
Work through it in order: check the patta, then the previous deed, then the portal, then the VAO. If the extent shown against a number differs materially from what is being sold to you, treat that as a stop signal rather than a clerical detail, and resolve it before any money changes hands. Our guide to the land area converter helps here, since the record will express extent in hectares and ares while the seller quotes cents or grounds.
Using it properly once you have it
With a confirmed survey number you can complete a proper check in an afternoon: pull the patta and chitta to see who holds it, the A-Register to see how it is classified, the FMB to see its shape and extent, and a 30-year encumbrance certificate to see what has been registered against it. Then use the guideline value and our stamp duty calculator to work out what registering it will cost. That sequence, in that order, is what a careful buyer actually does.
Town survey numbers — how cities differ
One distinction catches people moving between rural and urban property. In villages, land is identified by a survey number within a revenue village. In surveyed towns and cities, the same land is identified by a Town Survey (TS) number, recorded against a ward and block rather than a village.
So an urban property may be described as something like "Ward 5, Block 12, TS No. 34/2" instead of a plain survey number. Both systems do the same job, but they are searched differently: for urban property you will usually need the ward and block alongside the TS number, and searching a village-style survey number will simply return nothing. If a Chennai or municipal property returns no records on a straightforward survey number search, this is very often the reason. Ask the seller or the local office which system the parcel falls under before concluding that the records are missing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a survey number in Tamil Nadu?
It is the identifier the revenue department assigns to a parcel of land within a revenue village, and it is the key used to retrieve every other land record.
How do I find the survey number of a property?
From the existing patta or the previous sale deed, which both state it. Otherwise search the Tamil Nadu land records portal by district, taluk and village, or ask the village administrative officer.
What does 123/2B mean?
It is a subdivision of parent survey number 123. Subdivisions are created when land is split among heirs or buyers, and each is a separate parcel.
Why does my search return no records?
Usually a wrong or incomplete number, the wrong village or taluk, a recent subdivision, or incomplete digitisation for that area.
What if the extent does not match what I am buying?
Treat it as a stop signal. Verify against the patta and FMB and resolve the difference before paying an advance, since it may indicate an unrecorded subdivision or an encroachment.
About ComplyKraft. Built by Dinesh Kumar S in Chennai — B.Sc. Mathematics, M.Sc. IT. Plain-language guides to Tamil Nadu government services and schemes.
Disclaimer: Informational guide, updated 2026. This is not official government communication. Land record availability and village boundaries are administered by the Tamil Nadu Revenue Department — confirm with the taluk office or village administrative officer.