Bought a plot in Pimpri Chinchwad, or planning to add a floor to your house in Wakad, Ravet or Nigdi? Before work starts, you need building permission from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Building without it, or differently from the approved plan, can lead to stop-work notices, penalties and problems later with the occupancy certificate. This guide explains how PCMC building permission works in 2026, what to prepare, the step-by-step process and how to avoid the usual delays.
1. Is your plot under PCMC or PMRDA?
This is the first thing to confirm. Plots inside the corporation limits, in areas such as Pimpri, Chinchwad, Akurdi, Nigdi, Bhosari, Wakad, Ravet and Pimple Saudagar, come under PCMC. Many villages just outside the city limits come under the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) instead, and plots inside Pune city come under PMC.
Boundaries can be confusing near the edges, so do not go by the area name alone. Check your 7/12 extract or property card, your property tax records and the zone/DP remarks for the plot. If your plot is in the PMRDA area, read our PMRDA building permission guide; for Pune city, see our PMC building permission guide.
2. Which rules apply in PCMC?
Building permissions in PCMC, as in most of Maharashtra, are governed mainly by the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR). These set the rules for FSI, marginal distances (setbacks), building height, parking, staircases, ventilation and more. Your architect designs within these limits for your specific plot.
UDCPR also has a simplified route for small residential plots: for plots up to 150 sq m and from 150 to 300 sq m, owners can start work after submitting the plans, documents and fees, with a licensed architect or engineer certifying that the design follows the rules, instead of waiting for a traditional sanction. The owner and the professional remain responsible if the building does not follow the submitted plan. Larger plots and projects using premium FSI or TDR go through regular scrutiny. These provisions and their conditions can change, so check the latest rules for your plot before you rely on them.
3. Documents to prepare
- Ownership proof – sale deed, 7/12 extract or property card, and mutation entries.
- Land use proof – non-agricultural (NA) order or proof that the plot is in a residential zone.
- Approved layout – if the plot is part of a layout or sub-division.
- Zone / DP remarks – for the plot.
- Measurement plan – from the land records office.
- Architectural drawings – site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and area statement as per UDCPR.
- Structural drawings – with a structural stability certificate from a licensed structural engineer.
- Appointment letters – of the architect, structural engineer and site supervisor.
- NOCs where applicable – for example tree, drainage or fire, depending on the project.
Most delays start with paperwork. Before applying, make sure the owner name, survey or plot number and area match across the sale deed, 7/12 extract and property card.
4. Step-by-step PCMC building permission process
| Step | What happens | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Plot check and design | Zoning, road width, setbacks, FSI and height are checked; the house is designed within these limits | Architect |
| 2. Online application | Drawings and documents are uploaded and scrutiny fees are paid | Architect / licensed engineer |
| 3. Scrutiny and site inspection | Drawings are checked against UDCPR; officials may visit the site | PCMC |
| 4. Queries | Objections, if any, are answered and drawings corrected | Architect |
| 5. Payment of charges | Development charges and any premium or other fees are paid | Owner |
| 6. Commencement Certificate (CC) | Legal permission to start construction; it has a validity period and can be renewed | PCMC |
| 7. Plinth checking | Building position at plinth level is checked against the approved plan | PCMC / architect |
| 8. Construction | Work strictly as per the approved drawings; changes need revised approval | Owner, contractor, supervisor |
| 9. Completion and Occupancy Certificate (OC) | Completion documents are submitted; once the OC is issued, the building can be legally occupied | Architect, engineer, PCMC |
Building permission applications are made online through the authority’s system, and the application is made through a registered architect, town planner or licensed engineer. Fees typically include scrutiny fees and development charges, plus premium FSI or TDR costs if you use additional built-up area. The exact amounts depend on your plot and built-up area, so ask for a project-specific working before you finalise the design.
5. Common reasons for delays in PCMC approvals
- Mismatch in ownership documents or plot area.
- Setbacks that do not match the road width and building height.
- FSI or height beyond what the plot allows.
- Missing NOCs, structural certificates or appointment letters.
- Parking, staircase or ventilation not meeting UDCPR.
- Starting work before the Commencement Certificate, or building differently from the approved plan.
Planning a home in PCMC? Our bungalow plans and elevation guide explains how to design within these rules, and our bungalow construction cost guide helps you plan the budget. Final costs always need a site-specific estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need PCMC permission to add a floor to my existing house?
Yes. Adding a floor or extending your house needs building permission. Your architect first checks whether the remaining FSI, height and setbacks allow it, and a structural engineer checks whether the existing structure can safely take the extra load.
What is the difference between the CC and the OC?
The Commencement Certificate (CC) is the permission to start construction as per the approved plans. The Occupancy Certificate (OC) is issued after completion, once the building is checked against the approved plans, and allows you to legally occupy it.
Can I start work as soon as I apply?
Only where the simplified route for small plots applies, and only after the plans, documents and fees have been submitted as required. In all other cases, wait for the Commencement Certificate. Check the latest rules for your plot.
Get help with your PCMC building permission
SB Square Projects LLP has been working in Pune since 1995 on architecture, construction, building permissions and government works. Our in-house architects and engineers can study your plot, design within UDCPR, prepare the drawings, handle the application and follow-up, and take the project through plinth checking and the occupancy certificate. If you wish, we can also build it with turnkey construction.
See our bungalow architect services in Pune and our government and infrastructure projects. Share your plot details and we will visit the site and tell you what is possible.
📞 WhatsApp: +91 92261 69243 for a free site visit and estimate, or contact us here.
Sources: Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), Govt. of Maharashtra – sanctioned text; Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation; PMRDA – Development Permission. Rules, fees and procedures change; always check the latest regulations for your plot.
Planning a project in Wakad? See architect, interiors & construction in Wakad, Pune.