J&K govt notifies uniform building permission fee across urban areas

Srinagar, Jul 31: In a significant reform aimed at streamlining the building permission process across Jammu and Kashmir, the Housing & Urban Development Department (HUDD) has notified a Uniform Building Permission Fee Schedule under the provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2021, vide government order number 157-JK(HUD) of 2026.
The new fee schedule has come into force with immediate effect and will be applicable across all Urban Local Bodies and Development Authorities in the Union Territory.
The notification introduces a single, standardized fee structure for building permissions, replacing the varying rates that were previously followed by different Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Municipal Committees and Development Authorities. The reform aims to bring uniformity, transparency, predictability and ease of doing business while ensuring a more consistent and citizen-friendly regulatory framework for urban development.
As per the new rates, the fee has been fixed at Rs 80 per sq. metre for residential buildings including housing colonies, Rs 150 for mixed-use buildings and Rs 270 for commercial, public/semi-public, industrial and other special category buildings. The religious buildings have been exempted. The additional charges include Malba Security of Rs 3,000 for residential and Rs 10,000 for all other categories. A compounding fee of 40% of the applicable permission fee will also be levied over and above the normal fee.
The uniform fee structure shall be applicable to all Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, Municipal Committees and Development Authorities across the Union Territory. The notified rates will also be integrated into the Online Building Permission System (OBPS)/Auto-DCR to ensure uniform processing of building permission applications.
The reform is expected to simplify the building permission process, eliminate disparities in fee structures across different organizations under HUDD and shall provide a more citizen-centric and business-friendly regulatory framework for urban development in Jammu and Kashmir.