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Building Permit is a mandatory documentation for constructing a building, before it begins.
Responsibility for granting permission generally lies with the local planning authorities. However the local authority depends on the location you choose to construct your building.
For municipalities, you should submit to Town planning department and for villages, you need to submit in Village Panchayat. You need to pay an amount as per the area you are constructing for approval.
Depending on the scope of your project and where it’s located, permissions can take time. Therefore, you should have some idea ahead of filing for permits and about the length of the process, which will allow you to identify a likely start date for your project.
A proper procedure to obtain building permit can avoids delay in getting approvals.
Following are the necessary steps involved in the process of obtaining a building permit:
1. Property Sketch/ Sanction Drawing
First of all, identify the plot where you plan to construct the building. In addition consult your architect and prepare a sketch that complies with the building rules according to the jurisdiction under which your property falls.
The sketch/sanction drawing should include the following details
- Site layout
- Building elevation
- Sections
- Site plan (plot width, setbacks, access road width)
- Floor plan (all floors)
- Roof or terrace plan
- Details of septic tank and soak pit
- Rain water harvesting
- Location plan
2. Application Form
An application for a building permit should also cite details like below:
- Site location
- Whether the property is for residential or commercial use
- An index of all drawings submitted
- Number of sheets
- Date
- Names of Draftsman & Reviewer
- Scale
- Location details including details of Village/Taluk/District
- Survey number and resurvey number of the property
- Ward number
- Extent (in arcs and cents)
- Proposed building area
- Plinth and carpet area of all floors
- Plinth and carpet area of the car porch
- Total area
- Coverage
- FAR (Floor Area Ratio is calculated as the ratio of the Total floor area on all floors to The Plot Area)
- Permit area
- Joinery schedule etc
3. Property Documents
List of documents for a Building Permit application are:
- Possession certificate (This is an online document)
- Latest land tax receipts
- Attested copy of the “Aadharam” or Title Deed
- Land sketch
- Plot sketch
- 3 copies of the Sanction drawing
- Copy of Architect’s or Licencee’s licence
- Online acknowledgment certificate issued by the local self governing body
4. Submission of hard copy of Building Permit application
Along with this acknowledgement certificate, the hard copies of various aforesaid drawings and documents should be made into a file and submitted to the local self-governing body office at the earliest.
Once the file containing these documents are submitted at the local self-governing body, the relevant original documents will be verified and you will be subsequently issued with a file number for your application.
Note: Online Submission and Tracking is also available.
5. Building Inspector’s site inspection and verification
The assigned building inspector will visit your property and verify the authenticity of the data provided via your application and later submit a detail report to the assistant engineer.
6. Verification by the Assistant Engineer
The AE will then conduct another round of verification and submit the report with his remarks to the assistant executive engineer.
7. Approval of the application
The assistant executive engineer has the liberty to approve or to reject the application. For larger buildings like shopping complexes and other commercial buildings, there will be more rigorous checks and would require further more approvals. The rules differ from type to type and classification of buildings.
8. Fee payment and the issue of Building Permit
Once the attestations are done and approval is given for the applications which full fills the criteria. The prescribed fees are then paid and will be issued with the requested building permit, normally it will be sent to your registered address.
So here it is, now you know what you should expect and what process you should follow for obtaining approval to construct your building. There may be slight variations state to state.
How has been your experience with approvals? Share your thoughts below.