In a significant move to simplify regulatory compliance for small residential projects, the Karnataka government has announced that individual houses on plots measuring 30x40 feet (1,200 sq ft) within Greater Bengaluru Authority limits will no longer require an occupancy certificate (OC). The decision, applicable to ground-plus-two or stilt-plus-three floor constructions, aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for homeowners and promote timely completion of smaller projects.
The exemption follows concerns among citizens regarding mandatory OCs for residential units, which had been enforced following a top court directive. Previously, even small plots required an OC, leading to delays and additional compliance costs for homeowners. The government’s new directive seeks to address these challenges, ensuring faster project approvals and easing the burden of regulatory formalities.
According to officials, the exemption is limited to small residential properties and does not apply to high-rise buildings, commercial complexes, or mixed-use developments. These larger projects will continue to require occupancy certificates as per existing norms. The decision reflects a targeted approach to reduce red tape while maintaining safety and compliance standards for larger, more complex developments.
Niranjan Kaggere, reporting on the update, noted that the order empowers the government to exempt specific building types from mandatory OC requirements, giving authorities flexibility to address varying scales of construction. The move is expected to benefit thousands of homeowners in Bengaluru, especially those developing individual plots with limited footprint and moderate construction size.
The change is part of a broader effort by the state government to streamline building regulations and accelerate residential development across the city. By exempting smaller homes from OC requirements, the administration aims to create a more investor- and citizen-friendly environment for housing construction, while still ensuring regulatory oversight for larger projects.
Experts note that while the exemption reduces administrative hurdles for small homes, homeowners should continue to comply with building safety standards, municipal approvals, and fire safety norms. Proper documentation and adherence to planning permissions remain essential, even if an OC is no longer mandatory for qualifying properties.
The Karnataka government’s decision aligns with similar regulatory trends in other metropolitan regions, where authorities have sought to simplify approvals for small-scale residential construction while keeping larger developments under stricter supervision. This approach balances ease of construction for citizens with the need to maintain urban safety and planning standards.
The new directive is expected to encourage timely project completion, reduce cost overruns, and provide relief to individual homeowners navigating complex municipal regulations in Bengaluru. With thousands of small plots and individual homes being developed each year, the policy change is likely to have a noticeable impact on the city’s housing sector, particularly for first-time homeowners and small-scale developers.
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