Gurugram, Dec. 30 -- The Haryana government has amended key provisions of the Haryana Building Code (HBC), 2017, significantly liberalising floor area ratio (FAR) norms, simplifying occupation certificate procedures and removing select regulatory requirements, officials said, adding the initiative aims to improve ease of doing business and accelerate real estate and industrial development. The amendments, notified by the town and country planning department in the first week of December, are aimed at faster project execution, reduced compliance burden and greater flexibility for developers across commercial, industrial, hospitality and institutional sectors, officials said. One of the most significant changes allows unrestricted FAR and height for a wide range of commercial buildings. This includes shopping malls, multiplexes, departmental stores, integrated commercial complexes, offices, hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, and guest houses. This liberalisation is subject to compliance with fire safety and parking norms. The amended code mandates that any additional or purchasable FAR can only be utilised after full compliance with parking, fire safety, structural safety, and ventilation norms. For industrial units, the government has permitted enhanced purchasable FAR beyond existing limits. General industries can now purchase FAR beyond 150%, apparel and footwear units beyond 250%, and data centres up to 500%, on payment of prescribed charges. "On an average industrial or commercial plot, the amendments can translate into 30-60% additional built-up area, and in specialised sectors like IT parks or data centres, the upside is even higher," said Viren Mehta, founder and director of ElitePro Infra. He added, "If executed with strict enforcement of fire, structural and parking norms, this can drive vertical growth, reduce urban sprawl and accelerate redevelopment of ageing assets." The amendments extend relief to existing buildings. Projects approved before June 30, 2016, are now eligible to avail additional FAR for industrial, commercial, resort, and institutional uses on payment of proportionate infrastructure and external development charges. Furthermore, educational and institutional buildings approved before this cut-off date can avail a 50% FAR increase without additional charges if permission was granted after June 30, 2016. To address project delays, the government has strengthened third-party and self-certification mechanisms for issuing occupation certificates (OC). High-risk buildings will now receive OCs through empanelled third-party architects and engineers within defined timelines. Low-risk buildings, including plotted residential properties and select industrial units, will be eligible for OCs subject to minimum construction thresholds. Meanwhile, for special buildings like malls, IT parks, and high-rises, mandatory fire safety clearances are required before OCs are granted. "These reforms are designed to balance safety with speed. The intent is to remove unnecessary bottlenecks while ensuring compliance with fire, structural and environmental norms," a senior town planning official said. To enhance transparency, Haryana will launch a public online e-register for all building plan approvals and occupation certificates. This system will be integrated into the existing Online Building Plan Approval System portal. The rollout will be phased, with full public access to searchable records of approvals and certificates expected by early 2026. In another key change, the requirement of environmental clearance exemption for GRIHA-certified buildings has been removed. The revised provisions have come into immediate effect and will be incorporated into the Haryana Building Code, 2017, as confirmed by AK Singh, additional chief secretary to the Government of Haryana, Town and Country Planning Department, in the notification letter. Developers welcomed the reforms, stating they will improve land-use efficiency and cut delays. "The amended FAR norms give developers flexibility to optimise land use and build vertically. Effective enforcement of parking and fire safety norms will be key," said Rajjath Goel, Managing Director of MRG Group. Robin Mangla, president of M3M India, said, "Liberalised FAR norms and simpler occupation certificate processes will speed up project completion and reduce possession delays, while lower compliance burdens will improve planning efficiency, project quality and pricing competitiveness." Uddhav Poddar, CMD of Bhumika Group, noted, "Liberalised FAR and the e-register improve transparency, cut approval bottlenecks and align development with real demand. We expect shorter lead-times for commercial and mixed-use projects." Manish Agarwal, MD of Satya Group and president of Haryana CREDAI, added, "These amendments reduce procedural friction and send a strong confidence signal to investors. Immediate implementation will accelerate construction, boost housing supply and support economic growth." Dhruv Sharma, managing director of 32nd Avenue, concluded, "The changes will allow higher-density commercial development without expanding land footprints. Faster occupation certificates will reduce costs, improve leasing efficiency and strengthen NCR's commercial ecosystem."...