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How to Check a Sanctioned Building Plan in Delhi — Complete Guide 2026

A Sanctioned Building Plan is MCD or NDMC's formal approval that construction follows Delhi's building bylaws and Master Plan. If the actual structure deviates from that plan, MCD can revoke the approval and issue a demolition notice. This guide covers the OBPS process, the 31-day deemed sanction rule, and what to check before buying any built property in Delhi.

Quick Reference
Also calledSanctioned Building Plan; OBPS Approval
Issued byMCD for most of Delhi; NDMC for Lutyens Zone; DDA for DDA colonies
Valid forPermanent; tied to specific approved drawings
CostConfirm current sanction fee with MCD at eodb.mcd.gov.in.
Time takenUp to 30 days; deemed sanction on Day 31 if MCD does not respond
Online portaleodb.mcd.gov.in / mcdonline.nic.in
notePlots up to 105 sq.m need no sanction under UBBL 2016. Every plot above that needs MCD or NDMC approval before construction starts.
1

What Is a Sanctioned Building Plan in Delhi?

Definition

A Sanctioned Building Plan is the approval issued by MCD, NDMC, or DDA confirming that construction drawings comply with the Unified Building Bye-Laws for Delhi 2016 (UBBL 2016), the Master Plan for Delhi 2021 (MPD-2021), and the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. It is the legal record of exactly what is permitted to be built on a specific plot.

Think of the sanctioned plan as the government's promise: this much, this high, this far from the boundary. The moment construction goes beyond that, the excess is unauthorised. Not informally unauthorised. Actually illegal, with MCD empowered under Section 338 of the DMC Act to revoke the sanction entirely and serve a demolition notice. That has happened. Real orders, real structures, real demolitions.

Most buyers look at the building and decide. Few look at the plan first. That sequencing costs people money. You inspect a structure with three floors, the plan shows two, that third floor was never approved. You have just agreed to buy a violation. After purchase, fixing it is your problem. Either pay for regularisation, which is not guaranteed, or absorb the demolition risk indefinitely.

State-specific note: Delhi now issues digitally signed sanction letters and occupancy-cum-completion certificates through the OBPS system. A seller who cannot show both documents has a structure that was never formally closed by MCD.
2

How to Get a Building Plan Sanctioned in Delhi: Step-by-Step

MCD building plan applications go through eodb.mcd.gov.in using the Online Building Plan Sanction (OBPS) system. NDMC handles its own zone. You need an empanelled architect to file the application. Have the sale deed and plot details ready.

Online method (recommended)

1
Register as owner on eodb
mcd.gov.in Create an owner account on the OBPS portal. Select an empanelled architect, engineer, or supervisor from the portal's list. The application is filed through the architect's login.
2
Submit drawings and documents The architect uploads site plan, floor plans, elevations, structural drawings, and the Common Application Form
The form automatically routes NOC requests to Delhi Fire Service, Delhi Jal Board, DMRC, and other agencies where required.
3
Wait out the NOC and MCD review window NOC agencies have 16 days
No response by Day 16 equals a deemed NOC. MCD then has 15 working days to process the plan. Total: 31 days. If MCD stays silent through all of that, deemed sanction is granted automatically.
Check application status at eodb.mcd.gov.in under Plan Status. Do not assume silence means approval before Day 31.
4
Download the digitally signed sanction letter After approval, download the signed sanction letter and approved plan set from the portal
Keep both permanently. They are required at plinth level inspection and when applying for the occupancy-cum-completion certificate.

Offline method (Sub-Registrar Office)

1
Confirm the correct zonal office MCD covers most of Delhi
NDMC covers Lutyens Zone and New Delhi area. Go to the zonal office with jurisdiction over your plot's location, not the nearest one.
2
File through an empanelled architect Applications cannot be filed by the owner alone
An empanelled architect, engineer, or supervisor must sign and submit the drawings with the application form.
3
Respond to inspection MCD may inspect the site
Moderate and high-risk buildings require a plinth level inspection before construction can continue above the plinth. Be present or arrange a representative.
4
Collect the sanctioned plan Pick up the stamped plan from the zonal office after approval
Also request the OBPS portal reference number so you can track and download the digital copy.
Even offline applications feed into the OBPS system. The digital copy is the authoritative version.
3

What Does a Sanctioned Building Plan Contain in Delhi?

A complete sanctioned building plan set carries these components, check each against the actual property before any purchase.

Field Table Property Details What to Check
Sanction letterMCD or NDMC's written approval orderMust be digitally signed and dated before construction began
Site planPlot location, setbacks, and accessWalk the site and verify actual setbacks match the drawings
Floor plansApproved layout for each floorCount floors in the plan, then count the actual floors in the structure
FAR and coveragePermissible Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and ground coverage under MPD-2021Any construction beyond approved FAR is a violation
Occupancy-cum-completion certificateIssued when construction is certified complete as per the planNo certificate means the construction was never formally closed
NOC recordsApprovals from fire, water, DMRC, and other agenciesMissing NOCs mean the approval is incomplete and may be challenged
Good sign: Digitally signed sanction letter matches the plot number on the sale deed, floor count in drawings equals the actual structure, occupancy-cum-completion certificate exists, and the MCD booking list shows no notice against the plot.
4

Common Issues With Building Plans in Delhi

Four issues cause most building plan problems in Delhi property deals.

No sanctioned plan at all Some structures in Delhi were built without filing for any sanction
No drawing, no approval, no record. MCD can seal or demolish on court order. Banks refuse these properties. They are unsellable to any informed buyer.
Fix: Check MCD's Booking/Unbooking list at mcdonline.nic.in before making any offer. A booked property is a problem that belongs to whoever owns it at the time of action.
Structure does not match the plan An extra floor, a basement converted to residential use, setbacks eaten up by extensions, sellers price these as part of the property
Legally, the deviated portions are violations. MCD has revoked sanctions and issued demolition notices for exactly this.
Fix: Take the sanctioned plan drawings to the site. Measure. Count. Do not buy a mismatch.
No occupancy-cum-completion certificate A sanction covers the permission to build
The occupancy certificate confirms the building was completed as per that permission. Without it, the construction cycle is technically open. Banks treat this as unfinished business.
Fix: Ask the seller for the occupancy-cum-completion certificate directly. If it does not exist, find out why before proceeding.
Extra floor added after sanction, no amended plan Two-floor sanction, three floors built
The third floor was never covered by any approval. Sellers present it as "built up area" and price it accordingly. You are paying for something you cannot legally own as approved space.
Fix: Count floors in the drawings. If the structure has more floors than the plan, that gap must be regularised. Get written clarity from MCD on the path to regularisation before you commit.
5

Why a Sanctioned Building Plan Matters for Land Buyers in Delhi

This document is the difference between buying a legal structure and buying a liability.

📋
Legal proof of what is approved Without a sanctioned plan, MCD treats the entire structure as unauthorised until the owner proves otherwise
That burden sits with the owner, meaning you, after purchase.
⚠
Mismatch equals demolition risk Delhi's sealing and demolition history is long
Structures with plan deviations have been demolished. Buying one does not shield you. The risk follows the property, not the previous owner.
🏦
Banks will not lend without it A clear sanctioned plan plus an occupancy certificate is a basic loan requirement
No lender will finance a property that is missing either. Resale has the same barrier: the next buyer's bank will ask the same questions.
🔍
Delhi-specific: MCD can revoke plans it already granted Section 338 of the DMC Act gives MCD this power explicitly
Orders have been passed. A sanctioned plan in hand is not the end of risk. If construction deviated, that sanction can still be pulled.
Red flag: If a seller says a floor was "constructed with permission" but cannot produce an amended sanctioned plan covering that floor, treat the floor as unauthorised. Verbal permission from a municipal officer is worth nothing in law.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check and get a Building Plan sanctioned in Delhi via MCD in 2026?
Register on eodb.mcd.gov.in, appoint an empanelled architect, and submit drawings through the OBPS system. NOC agencies respond within 16 days. MCD reviews in 15 working days after that. If MCD still hasn't responded by Day 31, deemed sanction applies automatically.
What is deemed sanction in a Delhi MCD building plan?
When MCD does not respond to an OBPS application within 31 days of filing, the law treats the sanction as automatically granted. A digitally signed deemed sanction letter is issued. This does not override UBBL 2016 compliance, the drawings must still meet bylaw requirements.
Can MCD revoke a building plan it already sanctioned in Delhi?
Yes, under Section 338 of the DMC Act. Revocations have been issued in Delhi for fraudulent submissions and for construction that deviated from the approved drawings. A revoked sanction is followed by a demolition notice. Having a sanctioned plan does not permanently protect you if construction violated the drawings.
Does the actual structure need to match the sanctioned plan in Delhi?
Exactly. Every floor, every setback, every basement use must match what was approved. Anything built beyond the sanctioned plan is a legal violation. MCD can issue a demolition notice for the deviated portion. Walk the property against the plan drawings before buying.
Which authority sanctions building plans in Delhi, MCD or NDMC?
MCD handles most of Delhi. NDMC covers the Lutyens Zone and New Delhi area. DDA-allotted colony plots go through DDA. Before applying, confirm which authority has jurisdiction over your specific plot to avoid filing at the wrong office.

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