Also called: Sanctioned plan, Approved building plan, Building permission
The local body's approval of a building's drawings before construction: floors, height, setbacks, parking and use. A building should match its sanctioned plan.
How it works and what to check
The municipal corporation, development authority or panchayat (depending on where the plot is) checks the drawings against the zoning, FAR, setbacks and fire rules, and issues a sanction with a number and validity. Many cities now process this online.
Extra floors, covered balconies and shops in a residential plan are common deviations. They can lead to penalty, sealing or demolition, and trouble with loans and resale.
Ask the seller or builder for the sanctioned plan, compare it with the building, and check that the sanction was valid when the building went up.
Common questions
How do I check if a building plan is approved?
Ask for the sanction letter and the stamped plan, then confirm the sanction number with the issuing body, many of which have online lookups.
Is a builder floor's extra storey legal?
Only if the sanctioned plan allows that storey. An extra unsanctioned floor can be acted against.