AP Unveils Major Building Rule Reforms to Boost Real Estate Investment

The Andhra Pradesh Government has unveiled one of the most comprehensive overhauls of its building approval framework in recent years, introducing a series of reforms aimed at cutting bureaucratic delays, simplifying compliance, strengthening safety standards and attracting fresh investment to the state's rapidly expanding construction and real estate sectors.

The amendments to the Andhra Pradesh Building Rules, 2017, notified through G.O. Ms. No. 161 on July 29, are expected to improve the state's Ease of Doing Business by accelerating approvals, enhancing transparency and adopting a more technology-driven regulatory system. Announcing the reforms, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Ponguru Narayana said the changes would eliminate procedural bottlenecks while ensuring that safety standards remain uncompromised.

Among the key reforms, buildings measuring 24 metres or more, including the stilt floor, will now be classified as high-rise structures, with stricter safety norms applicable to such projects. The government has also introduced a phased Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) mechanism, allowing construction up to 24 metres before obtaining final fire clearance for upper floors, reducing delays without compromising compliance.

To ease financial pressure on developers, the City-Level Infrastructure Impact Fee can now be paid in six equal installments over three years instead of a one-time payment. Expired building permits can also be renewed, enabling stalled projects to resume, while non-commercial places of worship have been exempted from building permit fees.

The revised rules mandate EV charging infrastructure in commercial and residential developments with a built-up area of 5,000 square metres or more. Group housing projects with at least 100 dwelling units must also provide amenities such as crèches, clubhouses, shopping facilities and gyms.

According to S. Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, the state will adopt a risk-based regulatory framework supported by digital processing of applications and stronger post-approval monitoring. The government expects the reforms to shorten approval timelines, improve regulatory efficiency and create a more investor-friendly ecosystem to support Andhra Pradesh's long-term urban growth.