The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced amendments to the Unified Building Bye-Laws (UBBL) 2021 under the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970, and Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000. These changes aim to enhance Ease of Doing Business, streamline development controls, and digitize approvals. The reforms are set to improve compliance in Urban Local Bodies and development authorities in the Union Territory.
The amendments simplify land use regulations, consolidate sub-categories into four primary uses, and permit Affordable Group Housing in Industrial zones to encourage inclusive land utilization. Setback norms have been rationalized, and the Commercial Floor Area Ratio (FAR) has been increased up to 400 (subject to norms), boosting development potential. Additionally, the minimum Right of Way requirement for specific commercial and industrial activities has been reduced from 12 to 6 meters to support economic growth, especially in smaller urban areas.
The government has also launched the Auto Scrutiny Based Building Permission and Change of Land Use portal with Auto-DCR technology. This digital platform offers a rule-based and time-bound system for processing building permissions across all Urban Local Bodies and development authorities in the Union Territory. The portal automatically scrutinizes online building plans against UBBL provisions, Master Plans, Zonal Plans, and relevant development controls, ensuring transparency and consistent interpretation of regulations.
The new framework integrates Change of Land Use with Building Permission, reducing processing times from 60-90 days to 30 days. It enables self-certification and auto-approval for low-risk buildings, empowering registered architects and engineers to certify compliance with building norms. The system promotes transparency, uniform interpretation of regulations, and eliminates subjectivity. Furthermore, the Auto Scrutiny Portal facilitates online fee calculation, digital payments, real-time application tracking, downloadable approvals, and a digital record repository, enhancing efficiency and convenience for applicants.
