Bought a plot outside Pune city limits, in areas like Mulshi, Maval, Haveli or Purandar? Then your building permission most likely comes from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), not PMC or PCMC. This guide explains who PMRDA covers, the online process, the documents you need, the stages from commencement to occupancy, and how to avoid the delays most plot owners face.
1. PMC, PCMC or PMRDA – which one applies to your plot?
| Authority | Where it applies |
|---|---|
| PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) | Inside Pune city limits, including the villages merged into PMC |
| PCMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) | Pimpri, Chinchwad, Akurdi, Nigdi, Wakad, Ravet and other PCMC areas |
| PMRDA | Hundreds of villages in the Pune Metropolitan Region outside PMC and PCMC – in parts of Haveli, Mulshi, Maval, Khed, Shirur, Purandar, Bhor, Velhe and Daund talukas |
The 7/12 extract and the village name usually tell you which authority applies. If your plot is inside city limits, read our PMC building permission guide instead.
2. How to apply: PMRDA’s online system
Since February 2025, PMRDA development permissions are processed online through Maharashtra’s Mahavastu portal, which follows the state Building Plan Management System (BPMS). Your licensed architect uploads the drawings and documents, the system screens the plans against the regulations, generates fee challans, and issues certificates digitally. You get SMS updates on your file status, so there is far less running between offices than before.
Applications must be filed by a registered architect or licensed engineer, who also signs the drawings and stays responsible for compliance during construction.
3. Documents you will need
- Ownership proof: latest 7/12 extract or property card, and the registered sale deed
- Land-use proof: NA order or conversion sanad, or zone certificate showing the plot is in a residential zone
- Measurement / demarcation map of the plot from the land records office
- Architectural drawings: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and area statement
- Structural drawings and a structural stability certificate
- Appointment letters of the architect and structural engineer
- Access proof: the road or approach to the plot as shown on the map
- Owner’s ID proof, site photographs and, where needed, NOCs (for example fire, highway or tree authority)
4. Step-by-step: from plan to occupancy
- Check the plot: zone, road width, setbacks and the built-up area allowed under the regulations.
- Design: plans and elevations that make full use of the permissible FSI and meet setback, parking and height rules.
- Online submission on the portal with drawings and documents.
- Scrutiny and site visit: PMRDA checks the plans and may raise queries.
- Pay fees and charges through the generated challans (scrutiny fee, development charges and other applicable charges).
- Commencement Certificate (CC): you can legally start construction only after this.
- Plinth checking: the plinth is verified against the approved plan.
- Occupancy Certificate (OC): issued after completion, once the building matches the sanctioned plan.
5. Which rules apply: UDCPR
Building permissions across Maharashtra, including the PMRDA region, are now governed mainly by the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR). UDCPR sets the FSI, setbacks, parking, height and other rules your design must follow, and includes simpler provisions for small residential plots. Because the rules are amended from time to time, your architect should check the latest version for your plot before the design is finalised.
6. Common reasons for delays and rejection
- 7/12 not updated, mismatched names or missing mutation entries
- No NA / land-use proof, or the plot is in a non-residential zone
- No legal access road, or road width less than the drawings show
- Setback, height or parking not as per regulations
- Plot boundaries on site not matching the measurement map
- Starting construction before the Commencement Certificate
7. Building without permission is risky
Unauthorised construction can attract notices, penalties and even demolition. It also makes it hard to get a home loan, sell the property or get electricity and water connections. Getting the permission right at the start costs far less than regularising later.
Frequently asked questions
How long does PMRDA building permission take?
It depends on how complete the file is and whether queries are raised. With clean documents and compliant drawings, the online system is much faster than the old manual process. Most delays come from land records and missing documents, so we check these before filing.
Can I apply for PMRDA permission myself?
The application has to be submitted through a registered architect or licensed engineer, who prepares and signs the drawings.
Do I need permission for a farmhouse or weekend home?
Yes. Farmhouses and weekend homes in the PMRDA region also need building permission, and the rules for agricultural-zone land are stricter. Check the zone before you buy or design.
Get your PMRDA permission and construction handled by one team
SB Square Projects LLP has been designing and building in and around Pune since 1995. We check your plot, design the house to make full use of the permissible area, file the PMRDA, PMC or PCMC application, and then build it with our turnkey construction team. See our bungalow architecture services and the bungalow construction cost guide to plan your budget.
📞 Call or WhatsApp: +91 92261 69243 for a free plot check, or contact us here.
Related: planning a warehouse or industrial shed? Read our warehouse construction cost and permissions guide for Pune.
Related: PCMC Building Permission in 2026: Process, Documents & Tips
Planning a project in Hinjewadi? See architect, interiors & construction in Hinjewadi, Pune.