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Getting approvals to begin construction is a cumbersome process in India. Commencing a housing project without necessary approvals is illegal and the constructed part is illegal and can be demolished by the governing authorities. Therefore, it is critical that a home builder ensures that all necessary permissions and approvals are secured by the relevant authorities before he/she begins the construction. Different approvals are to be taken from different authorities for the project approval. The process not only differs from state to state but also from city to city.

The process of getting these approvals from various governing authorities and departments can be tiresome. We have listed down the various approvals that you will need before you can begin your home construction.

Keep reading to learn more.

Land Title: This is the first approval you will need to have in place. Before starting the construction of your home, you must get a clear title for your plot or land. You should be in the know of the chain of holdings, transfers over the years and disputes, if any, on the ownership of the land.

Land clearance: On account of urbanization, agricultural land is sometimes converted into nonagricultural land, which can be further used for constructing a house. In such scenarios, you will need to get approval from the authority concerned in your geographical zone to convert the agricultural land to non-agricultural. Generally, the concerned authority is the local body and the State Ministry of Urban Development. The plan for the land use is to be notified by the State Ministry of Urban Development after it is approved by the local body.

Zonal Clearance: Once you have the land title and land clearance documents in place, you will need to take zoning approval from the local authorities. The revenue department will provide you with the ownership certificate under the provisions of the Local Body Acts. After which, the state town planning performs a check regarding city development with the planning board and forwards the proposals to other concerned authorities for any other NOCs that may be needed for your construction project.

Plan approval – Before you can start constructing your house, you must submit your master construction plans to the local governing bodies. The master plan is a graphical representation of what your home will look like after construction. This plan should comply with the building laws.

Layout approval - After you receive approval for your plan, you also need to get your layout approved, before starting the construction. Any construction on an unapproved layout is treated as unlawful and you can be penalised by the Municipal Corporations governing your area.

Intimation of disapproval – IOD or Intimation of Disapproval outlines the conditions that you will need to comply with during different phases of your home construction. These phases generally are –

• Before construction outset

• During the construction

• After completion of construction

Commencement certificate – Simply speaking, a commencement certificate is permission from the local development authority to kick start the construction. It is worth mentioning that you cannot lay the foundation stone of your house or build boundaries in absence of the commencement certificate.

Service and utility installation – You also will need approval from your local municipal body for electricity, gas and water services installation. You should comply with the building laws for sanction and approval of amenities.

Application for approvals for the construction of a house may require you to seek assistance from professionals who can guide you better in how things work and further check out whether you have submitted all the documents or not.

We at JSW One Homes are here to support you as your dedicated partner at every step of your home construction journey. Contact us today to learn more about how your association with us can save you from the petty hassles with your construction project.