Big relief for homeowners: Karnataka waives OC for small buildings in Bengaluru

Govt exempts ground+2 or stilt+3 houses on plots up to 1,200 sq ft from Occupancy Certificate requirement

The Karnataka government has officially exempted small residential buildings from the mandatory Occupancy Certificate (OC) requirement, bringing major relief to thousands of homeowners in Bengaluru. As per the new order, houses built on plots up to 1,200 sq ft with a maximum of ground+2 floors or stilt+3 floors will no longer need an OC to access basic services like power and water supply.

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The decision comes after a Supreme Court ruling in December 2024 made OCs compulsory for electricity, water, and sanitation connections, leaving lakhs of property owners stranded. According to estimates, over one lakh applications are pending with Bescom for power supply alone, with many families unable to occupy their legally built homes.

Government data shows that nearly 4,000 new small-plot houses are constructed annually in Bengaluru. Officials admitted that physically inspecting each of these for OC approvals was a manpower strain. Hence, under Section 241(7) of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, the exemption was formalized.

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This relief, however, does not resolve the long-standing B-Khata property deadlock, since OCs are not issued for such sites despite owners building as per sanctioned plans. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had discussed the issue in July, assuring citizens that broader reforms would follow.

The exemption will also work in sync with Nambike Nakshe, the automated approval software that clears small-plot building plans online, ensuring faster, simpler compliance for middle-class homeowners.

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For now, Bengaluru residents building on small plots finally have clarity and relief, but the bigger question of B-Khata regularisation remains unanswered.