The Karnataka government on Wednesday, April 1, published a draft notification proposing amendments to building bye-laws within the jurisdiction of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), allowing regularisation of deviations of up to 15% from sanctioned plans.
The draft proposes amending the Building Bye-Laws, 2003, by increasing the permissible deviation limit from the existing 5% to 15%, with such violations to be regularised upon payment of a penalty. Citizens have been invited to submit objections and suggestions to the respective municipal corporations within 30 days of the notification’s publication, or until April 30.
A GBA release noted that high land costs and spatial constraints have led many property owners to make changes such as reduced setbacks, increased floor area, or additional floors beyond the sanctioned plan.
The five city corporations in Bengaluru have jointly proposed the change, along with a provision to levy penalties based on a percentage of the guidance value of the plot for regularising deviations within permissible limits. The move has been described by the GBA as a “people-friendly decision”, though it also indicates a potential revenue-generating mechanism.
For several years, Bengaluru followed strict regulations under which any construction deviating by more than 5% from the approved plan was considered unauthorised. As a result, many property owners faced difficulties in obtaining Occupancy Certificates. Without these certificates, homeowners often struggled to secure water and electricity connections, access bank loans, or sell their properties.
According to the April 1 draft, the amendments seek to address these issues by allowing greater flexibility in regularising deviations. The notification has been published by all five city corporations, and the public has been asked to submit feedback to the respective commissioners. The draft is also available on the GBA website.
Officials said the proposed revision comes with conditions. Buildings must comply with safety requirements, including structural stability, ventilation and access. The draft also allows commissioners to approve such cases where demolition is not feasible without affecting the structure.
The move is expected to provide relief to over three lakh homeowners in the city who have been unable to regularise properties due to minor deviations exceeding the earlier limit.
This article was written by a student intern working with TNM.