Finished construction is the start of a different check
If your building is nearing completion, the next conversation should address what has actually been built, how it compares with the approved plans, and which certification requirements apply. An earlier plan approval does not answer all of those questions.
This guide is for owners preparing that discussion. It explains the completion and occupation provisions reviewed in the July 2026 amendment and offers a practical way to organise your records. It does not assess an individual building or replace confirmation from the responsible professional and competent authority.
If construction has not started, begin with the plot zoning guide and the wider GMADA building approval process.
Completion and occupation: check both requirements
Completion certification concerns the completed building and its conformity with the applicable requirements. Occupation certification concerns occupation of the building. Do not assume that a document with one name automatically fulfils every requirement associated with the other.
The July amendment adds a specific provision: for non-RERA projects, an occupation certificate may be issued alongside the completion certificate by the same competent authority, subject to fulfilling the rules’ requirements. The wording is conditional; it does not make the two certificates interchangeable for every project. July Gazette, Rule 23(3) note, page 515.
For your project, establish its category, which authority is competent, and whether completion and occupation will be handled together or separately. Do not assume that this non-RERA provision describes the route for a RERA project.
Who can issue completion certification?
Rule 14(3-A), inserted by the July amendment, provides for completion certification through an empanelled architect for buildings up to 21 metres. The provision includes as-built completion plans, the relevant documents and NOCs, and compliance with the applicable rules and approved zoning plan. It also addresses modifications and applicable charges. July Gazette, pages 513–514.
The height statement is not enough to decide an individual case. The project’s conditions, the professional’s eligibility and the limits on what may be certified still matter. If the building falls outside that provision, confirm its applicable route rather than extending the same process to it.
Ajooni Jasleen Architects handles clients’ GMADA approvals. Contact the studio to discuss the assistance required and who would be responsible for the relevant submission or certification. This guide does not represent the studio as an empanelled certifier.
What if the building differs from the approved plans?
Identify differences before assuming that completion certification will resolve them. Changes can involve floor area, coverage, room arrangements, height, services or other aspects of the building; their treatment depends on the rules and the particular change.
Rule 14(3-B) allows specified compliant deviations to be addressed through the empanelled architect’s completion process, subject to its conditions and applicable compounding charges, where required. It expressly limits that power: the professional cannot use self-certification to approve excess FAR or ground coverage, violations of applicable requirements, or deviations reserved for examination by the competent authority. Those cases must be referred to and processed by that authority. July Gazette, page 514.
Referral is not a promise that a deviation will be accepted. Ask for a clear record of what differs, the provision governing it, and the action required before proceeding.
Prepare for a completion discussion
The list below is an owner preparation aid, not a complete statutory application checklist. Take what you already have and ask the responsible professional which additional records the applicable route requires.
| Prepare for the discussion | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Plot identity and the authority that handled the plans | Establishes which project and approval history are being discussed. |
| Sanctioned plans and any approved revisions | Provides the reference against which the completed work can be compared. |
| Available as-built drawings and a list of changes | Helps the professional identify differences that need assessment. |
| Available certificates, NOCs and relevant correspondence | Helps establish what has already been obtained and what remains outstanding. |
| Your current stage and intended occupation date | Makes the immediate questions clear without assuming certification will be completed by that date. |
At the end of the discussion, aim to have named responsibility for the next action: who checks the building, who confirms the route, who prepares the required records and who is eligible to certify or issue the relevant document. Agree the studio’s actual scope before commissioning that work.
Questions to resolve before relying on a timeline
- Is this a completion, occupation or combined request for this project category?
- Which professional and authority are responsible at each stage?
- Are the approved and as-built records available and consistent?
- Are any deviations, missing requirements or payments still to be addressed?
- Which current forms and submission arrangements apply?
The seven-day notice process discussed in the building-plan approval rules is not a universal completion deadline. This guide does not promise a fixed processing time or quote a project fee. Ask for the applicable process and outstanding requirements before relying on a date.
Common questions from owners
Can a completion certificate automatically cover occupation?
Do not assume so. The Rule 23 note permits the two to be issued together for qualifying non-RERA cases when the requirements are fulfilled. Confirm what your project needs and what has actually been issued.
Can an architect certify any change made during construction?
Not every change. The limits in Rule 14(3-B) matter, including the exclusions for excess FAR or coverage and other violations. A professional needs to assess the actual differences against the applicable requirements.
Does this guide provide every document needed to apply?
No. It helps you prepare for a project-specific discussion. Confirm the complete current filing requirements with the responsible professional or competent authority.
Discuss your built project
Tell the studio the locality, building type, current stage and whether approved plans or revisions are available. Ajooni Jasleen Architects handles clients’ GMADA approvals and can discuss the assistance your project needs.