The Bihar cabinet has approved new building rules that change how building maps are checked and approved in the state.
On Tuesday, the cabinet cleared the Bihar Building Byelaws 2026.
These rules replace the 2014 rules that were in place earlier.
The most important change is about time. If no decision is taken within 30 days, a building map is treated as approved.
This is called deemed approval.
Key points
- The Bihar cabinet approved the Bihar Building Byelaws 2026 on Tuesday.
- A building map is treated as approved if no decision is taken within 30 days.
- The level of checking depends on the height of the building.
- The rules remove the maximum height limit, subject to safety conditions.
How will the approval process change?
The new byelaws sort buildings into low, medium and high risk categories. The category depends on height.
Buildings up to 10 metres can get a construction permit on self-declaration.
This means the owner declares that the plan meets the rules.
Buildings between 10 and 24 metres need technical approval from an architect.
Taller buildings need approval from the municipal body.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Why does this matter for people in Bihar?
For many families, getting a building map approved can be a slow process.
A fixed time limit gives applicants a clearer idea of when they can expect a result.
The rules also remove the maximum height limit. Taller buildings are allowed, but safety conditions still apply.
The byelaws also give extra floor area for green buildings. This is a reward for buildings that follow green standards.
What happens next?
The available information does not say when the new byelaws will come into effect.
It also does not give details of how the self-declaration process will work in practice.
Until then, the 2014 rules remain the rules that the replacement is meant to change.
