The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has clarified that housing societies applying under its Occupation Certificate (OC) amnesty scheme must possess key approvals linked to the original construction. The requirements include a valid Intimation of Disapproval (IOD), an approved building plan and a Commencement Certificate (CC), along with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the developer or original construction applicant.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) makes clear that the absence of an OC alone will not qualify a building for relief. Societies must establish that their buildings had the necessary permissions when they were constructed before seeking regularisation under the scheme.

If a society submits an application, the NOC must come from the owner or developer who submitted the development proposal or holds development rights. Where the developer or owner does not provide the document, the BMC will issue a notice under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888.

The civic body has also indicated that societies unable to produce an NOC or authorisation letter from a previous owner or developer could face procedural difficulties. The BMC has consequently written to the Maharashtra government seeking an amendment to the municipal law to address cases where the required party is unavailable or uncooperative.

The proposed scheme is intended to assist housing societies across Mumbai that lack valid OCs by allowing eligible applicants to obtain certificates after paying prescribed charges. The charges will depend on factors including the building’s type and size and the nature and extent of approvals or violations. The scheme will cover buildings occupied before November 17, 2016, with property tax receipts or electricity bills required to establish occupation before the cut-off date. Around 1,200,000 homeowners in nearly 25,000 residential buildings are currently estimated to be living without an OC.