Shop-cum-office plot: a commercial plot planned for a building with shops on the lower floors and offices above, common in planned sectors in Haryana and Punjab. The permitted floors, FAR and uses come from the plot's zoning plan.
How it works and what to check
SCO plots are allotted or auctioned by development authorities and also sold in private licensed colonies, especially around Gurugram, Mohali and Chandigarh. The buyer builds to the approved zoning, usually with the same façade as the rest of the row.
Before buying, check the zoning plan for permitted floors and uses, whether the colony licence and building plan cover the plot, and the payment schedule of any authority dues.
Common questions
Can I live in an SCO building?
Generally the upper floors are for offices, not homes. Check the uses the zoning plan allows.
Who approves an SCO building?
The development authority or town planning department that licensed the colony.