UP Eases Building Plan Approvals by Scrapping NOC Rule

The Uttar Pradesh government has scrapped the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board, also known as Avas Vikas Parishad, for building-plan approvals.

The decision aims to reduce administrative hurdles, paperwork, costs and delays for property owners and real estate developers across the state.

What Was the Earlier Housing Board NOC Rule?

A government order issued in September 2010 required property owners within 500 metres of Housing Board schemes to obtain an NOC before submitting building plans to the relevant development authority.

This additional clearance applied to properties located near designated Housing Board developments.

In Lucknow, for example, owners around Vrindavan Yojana, Awadh Vihar, Indiranagar and Vikas Nagar had to secure the additional approval when applying to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA).

The requirement added another procedural step to the building-plan approval process.

How the New Building-Plan Approval Rule Works

Under the revised provisions, development authorities can examine and approve layout plans and building maps within their respective jurisdictions without insisting on a separate Housing Board NOC.

Authorities such as the LDA, Kanpur Development Authority and Agra Development Authority can continue processing applications under their existing jurisdictions.

The change removes the additional clearance requirement but does not eliminate the need for building-plan approval. Applicants must still comply with applicable building regulations and other statutory requirements.

Why Uttar Pradesh Removed the NOC Requirement

The decision forms part of the state's wider effort to simplify building regulations and support urban development.

In July 2025, Uttar Pradesh introduced the Uttar Pradesh Building Construction and Development Byelaws, removing more than two dozen rules and guidelines considered obsolete or redundant.

The latest change continues this effort by removing a procedural requirement the government considers unnecessary. The stated objective is to make approvals more efficient and improve ease of doing business in the real estate sector.

How Betterment Charges Will Be Collected

Although the separate NOC is no longer required, the responsibility for collecting betterment charges remains linked to the authority responsible for the relevant scheme or project.

• Housing Board schemes: The Uttar Pradesh Awas Evam Vikas Parishad will levy and recover applicable betterment charges on land within its schemes and the surrounding 500-metre peripheral zone, in accordance with the applicable law.
• Development authority projects: The respective development authorities will continue collecting betterment charges associated with their own projects.

This arrangement separates the collection of applicable charges from the building-plan approval process.

Also Read: UP RERA Registers 217 Projects Worth Rs 46,795 Cr

Which Areas Could Benefit From the Change?

Property owners and developers around Housing Board schemes across Uttar Pradesh could benefit from the revised provisions.

In Lucknow, the areas highlighted include Vrindavan Yojana, Awadh Vihar, Indiranagar and Vikas Nagar. Projects in Ghaziabad's Vasundhara and Siddharth Vihar have also been identified as potential beneficiaries.

Removing the additional NOC may shorten approval timelines and reduce paperwork for developers and landowners.

Homebuyers could also benefit if fewer procedural delays help projects progress more efficiently. However, the actual impact will depend on the approval process and applicable requirements for each project.

Also Read: UP CM Launches ₹12,000 Crore Housing Projects in Lucknow

Key Takeaways

• Uttar Pradesh has withdrawn the Housing Board NOC requirement for building-plan approvals.
• The earlier rule applied within 500 metres of Housing Board schemes.
• Development authorities will continue examining building plans within their jurisdictions.
• Applicable betterment charges, building regulations and statutory requirements remain in force.

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