Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a move aimed at simplifying building permit approvals and boosting the real estate sector, the Andhra Pradesh government has issued new guidelines under the Self-Certification Scheme. The Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across the state will now be responsible for granting building permissions, replacing the existing authority of Urban Development Authorities (UDAs), except in areas governed by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA).

The government has also introduced legislative changes to allow property owners to self-certify their building plans for plots measuring up to 300 square meters. The new framework provides owners, architects, engineers, and town planners with the ability to directly apply for approvals through an online platform. Licensed technical personnel will now have the authority to verify and upload building plans, further expediting the approval process.

As part of its “Speed of Doing Business” initiative, the government has relaxed certain building permit regulations for non-high-rise residential buildings. The Online Building Permission System (OBPS) has been updated to allow applicants and licensed technical personnel to upload self-certified plans directly. The Municipal and Town Planning Acts have been amended accordingly, ensuring a streamlined approval process.

The self-certification scheme is expected to significantly reduce bureaucratic delays, promote investment in real estate, and encourage faster housing development in urban areas. While the self-certification model aims to simplify approvals, certain restrictions have been put in place, where the scheme applies only to buildings constructed within approved layouts and only layouts approved under the 2008 and 2020 Layout Regularization Schemes (LRS) are eligible.

The Department of Municipal Administration & Urban Development, led by Principal Secretary Suresh Kumar, has issued the necessary guidelines and warned that violations in the online building permit system will result in stringent penalties for property owners.