Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government has withdrawn the requirement for property owners and developers to obtain a separate no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board, also known as Awas Vikas Parishad, before securing building plan approvals in areas covered by the revised order.
The decision removes a provision introduced through a government order in September 2010, under which property owners within a 500-metre radius of Housing Board schemes had to obtain an additional clearance before submitting building plans to the relevant development authority. The revised framework allows development authorities to process layout plans and building maps within their jurisdictions without insisting on this separate NOC.
The change is intended to simplify the approval process and reduce procedural hurdles for landowners and developers. However, it does not exempt construction projects from obtaining the necessary building plan approvals or complying with applicable building regulations.
What Has Changed in the Building Approval Process?
Under the earlier arrangement, property owners within 500 metres of designated Housing Board schemes had to secure an NOC from the Board before applying to the competent development authority for building plan approval.
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The revised order removes this additional clearance requirement, enabling the relevant authorities to process applications under their existing approval mechanisms.
Key changes include:
- Removal of the additional NOC: Applicants no longer need to obtain the separate Housing Board clearance covered by the revised order.
- Approval by development authorities: Authorities can process building plans and layout plans within their respective jurisdictions without insisting on this NOC.
- Reduced procedural steps: Property owners and developers can avoid an additional clearance stage in the affected areas.
- Existing regulations remain applicable: Building plan approval and compliance with other relevant legal and technical requirements continue to be necessary.
September 2010 Rule Withdrawn
The earlier requirement was introduced through a government order issued in September 2010. It applied to properties situated within a 500-metre radius of Housing Board schemes and required applicants to obtain the Board’s NOC before approaching the relevant development authority for construction approval.
In Lucknow, the rule affected property owners near schemes such as Vrindavan Yojana, Awadh Vihar, Indiranagar and Vikas Nagar.
Applicants in these areas had to obtain the additional clearance while seeking building plan approval from the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA). The revised framework removes this separate requirement for applications covered by the order.
Development Authorities Can Process Plans Within Their Jurisdictions
The revised arrangement allows development authorities to examine and approve building plans without requiring applicants to first obtain the specified NOC from the Housing Board.
Authorities such as the Lucknow Development Authority, Kanpur Development Authority and Agra Development Authority are among those cited in reports discussing the change.
The removal of the additional clearance is expected to simplify the process for property owners and developers whose applications previously fell under the 500-metre rule. The extent of the benefit will depend on the location of the property and the requirements applicable to the proposed construction.
Betterment Charges and Other Requirements Remain Relevant
The removal of the NOC requirement does not mean that all other charges or regulatory obligations have been abolished.
The revised framework distinguishes between the process of approving building plans and the collection of applicable betterment charges. The Housing Board retains responsibility for levying and recovering such charges within its schemes and the designated peripheral area, in accordance with the applicable provisions. Development authorities remain responsible for charges associated with their own projects.
Property owners must therefore continue to follow the applicable approval process and meet other statutory requirements. The change specifically removes the additional Housing Board NOC covered by the revised order.
Part of Uttar Pradesh’s Efforts to Simplify Building Regulations
The decision follows other state-level efforts to streamline construction-related procedures. In 2025, Uttar Pradesh introduced revised building construction and development bylaws intended to simplify building permissions and remove outdated or redundant provisions.
By withdrawing the additional NOC requirement, the state has reduced one procedural step for affected property owners and developers. The practical impact will depend on how the revised provisions are implemented by the relevant development authorities and how other applicable approval requirements are administered.
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