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Plan approval
in Bangalore.

Which authority applies to your plot, what goes into the application, and the avoidable reasons applications come back.

Plan approval is the stage clients find most opaque, partly because the process changes and partly because nobody explains it in plain language. This is the shape of it. It is a general guide and not legal advice — the current rules, formats and fees must be confirmed for your plot at the time you apply.

Which authority applies to you

That depends on where the plot sits. Inside the corporation limits the sanction generally comes from BBMP; in planned layouts and in areas under the development authority it generally comes from BDA; outside those, other local authorities apply. Neighbouring plots can fall under different jurisdictions, so the first step is establishing which body governs yours, not assuming.

What actually shapes your house

Four numbers decide most of the design before anything is drawn: coverage, how much of the plot may be built on; FAR, the total built area permitted relative to plot area; setbacks, how far the building must stand from each boundary; and height, which is tied to the width of the road you face.

They change with plot size and road width — which is why a design copied from a friend's house on a different street may be unbuildable on yours.

Documents usually required

  • Proof of ownership and the current tax receipt
  • The approved layout plan or khata, as applicable
  • A survey or measurement sketch of the plot
  • The architectural drawing set in the authority's format
  • Structural details and the relevant professional certifications
  • Prescribed fees and any applicable deposits

Where applications get delayed

Rarely for interesting reasons. A mismatch between the plot dimensions in the documents and on the ground. Drawings not in the required format or scale. A setback taken from the wrong reference. Missing ownership paperwork. Road width assumed rather than verified. Each is avoidable and each costs weeks.

This is why we design to the applicable limits from the first sketch rather than designing freely and trimming later.

Who does what

The architect prepares the drawing set in the required format and to the applicable rules. A liaison consultant typically files and follows up the application. The owner provides ownership and revenue documents. No one involved controls the timeline, and any professional who promises you a sanction date is promising something that is not theirs to give.

Questions

Frequently asked

How long does plan approval take in Bangalore?
It varies with the authority, the completeness of the application and the current load. A complete, correctly formatted application moves considerably faster than one that comes back for clarification, which is the part you can control.
Can I start construction before sanction?
No. Unapproved construction risks penalties and demolition, and it creates problems with home loans and at resale.
Do I need an architect for the approval drawings?
The application requires drawings prepared and certified by qualified professionals as prescribed. In practice this means an architect, with a structural engineer for the structural certification.
What if my plot is on a narrow road?
Road width affects permissible height and sometimes setbacks, so it changes what can be built. It is one of the first things to verify — before purchase, ideally.
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