Gurgaon: A proposed system of self-certification has been put on hold. All approvals for building plans and occupation certificates (OCs) will continue under the existing rules, for now.The state will continue with the existing approval mechanism until the required digital infrastructure and administrative framework are put in place. Haryana govt has issued fresh implementation guidelines for the amendments made to the Haryana Building Code-2017, clarifying that several key provisions — introduced through the revised regulations notified on Dec 8, 2025 — will not come into force immediately.The directions, issued by additional chief secretary (town and country planning) Anurag Aggarwal, said that the proposed system of self-certification for low-risk residential buildings and third-party certification for high-risk buildings, including group housing projects, will be implemented only after a dedicated online portal is developed and supporting processes are completed.According to the order, the department will first create a digital platform through which all applications, approvals and OCs will be processed and maintained. The portal will also ensure that OCs issued for residential buildings as well as group housing towers are placed in the public domain on the website of the department of town and country planning (DTCP) immediately after issuance, allowing citizens and homebuyers to verify approvals online. Until the portal becomes operational, all building plan approvals and occupation certificates will continue to be processed under the existing provisions of the Haryana Building Code and prevailing departmental procedures.District town planner (planning) Praveen Chauhan told TOI, “The department has begun work on the portal that will support the revised framework. The headquarters has issued fresh guidelines regarding implementation of the Haryana Building Code amendments. A dedicated portal is being developed. High-risk buildings will receive OCs only through experienced architects empanelled for third-party certification. We are also working on making OCs for residential buildings and group housing towers available in the public domain immediately after they are issued. Until the new system becomes operational, all approvals and OCs will continue under the existing rules.”The govt has also clarified the implementation of the proposed self-certification framework. Under the revised mechanism, self-certification for low-risk residential buildings and third-party certification for high-risk structures will commence only after the necessary systems are established.For high-risk buildings, the order states that only architects with a minimum of five years’ professional experience will be eligible to undertake third-party certification. DTCP will prepare a panel of qualified architects and only empanelled professionals will be authorised to inspect projects and certify compliance before occupation certificates are issued.The guidelines also address the issue of additional floor area ratio (FAR). The govt has clarified that permission to utilise additional FAR will be granted only after the applicable charges are formally notified. Until then, applicants will not be permitted to claim the benefit of additional FAR under the amended provisions.Similarly, the order states that existing provisions of the National Building Code (NBC) will continue to apply until corresponding amendments are notified at the national level. The govt has warned that any construction carried out using additional FAR without an approved building plan during the interim period will be treated as a non-compoundable violation.In such cases, action may be initiated not only against the building owner but also against the architect and other technical professionals associated with the project. The order says that erring professionals may face blacklisting in addition to other disciplinary proceedings. Officials said the phased implementation is intended to ensure that the new regulatory framework becomes operational only after adequate technological systems and accountability mechanisms are in place.
