Andhra Pradesh Occupancy Certificate: New Automated OC Process and How to Apply

Andhra Pradesh has changed how Occupancy Certificates (OCs) are processed. Under G.O. Ms. No. 255, dated October 16, 2026, the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department has revised the Andhra Pradesh Development Permission Management System (APDPMS). The system will now compare a completed building with its sanctioned plan, calculate compounding fees for deviations within 10%, and generate mortgage-release documents alongside the OC where applicable.

According to reports on the order, OCs were earlier issued only after a physical site check in every case, even when the building closely matched the approved plan. Mortgage release meant a separate visit to the sub-registrar. The revised process is meant to cut both delays. Applicants must still comply with the building rules, and officials can still act on violations.

What has changed in Andhra Pradesh’s OC process?

An OC confirms that a completed building meets the requirements for occupation. The local authority issues it after the required checks.

The main change is an automated scrutiny engine within APDPMS. It examines details such as height, number of floors and other prescribed parameters, and compares them with the sanctioned plan and the applicable rules. The aim is to reduce manual verification and repeat visits to municipal offices.

The engine works from what the applicant enters, so the figures need to match both the sanctioned plan and the building as constructed. A mismatch may still lead to clarification or closer scrutiny. Processing time will depend on the application and on whether the building complies.

How does the 10% deviation provision work?

Where the difference between the approved plan and the actual construction stays within 10%, the system calculates the compounding fee and generates it automatically, according to a Constro Facilitator report on the order. That does not mean any violation can be regularised by paying a fee. How a deviation is treated depends on the building category, the nature of the violation and the rules that apply. Owners should confirm eligibility in the G.O. before assuming a deviation can be compounded.

What happens to mortgage-release documents?

Earlier, mortgage-release letters were generated online, but the system was not linked to the Registration and Stamps Department’s IGRS portal. Applicants or municipal and urban development authority staff therefore had to appear before the sub-registrar in person, according to REG News. Mortgage relinquishment was also handled as a step after the OC was issued, rather than as part of the OC proceedings.

Under the revised system, the mortgage release letter and relinquishment deed are generated along with the OC, wherever applicable. The two documents still do different jobs. The OC concerns whether the building can be occupied. The release document relates to the mortgage connected with the building approval. Applicants should confirm that both have been issued.

Can officials raise objections after an OC is issued?

Yes. Automation does not end official oversight. Town planning officials will examine applications after the OC is issued and investigate any violations, and they will have 15 days to raise objections, according to the Constro Facilitator. If none is raised in that period, the certificate is treated as approved under the new procedure.

The same report says violations will attract stringent action, and that licensed town planners may be held responsible where their role in the application or construction warrants it, according to a senior official. The reports do not explain what happens once an objection is raised, so the G.O. is the document to read for that stage.

How to apply for an Occupancy Certificate in Andhra Pradesh

Reports on G.O. Ms. No. 255 describes changes to scrutiny and documentation, not a new filing route. Applications continue through the APDPMS portal, which hosts the OC module. The steps below are general. Where the portal’s OC procedure differs, follow the portal.

1. Identify the authority. Check whether the property falls under a municipality, municipal corporation or urban development authority. That decides the process and any extra requirements.
2. Collect the documents. The municipal administration’s Citizen Charter lists an application, a copy of the building permission, photographs of the completed construction and a property tax payment receipt. Some properties may need more.
3. File online. Enter building details that match the sanctioned plan. If an architect, technical professional or developer files for the owner, keep a copy of the application and supporting papers.
4. Pay the fees. If the building differs from the sanctioned plan, the compounding fee is calculated by the system for eligible deviations within 10%.
5. Track the application. Keep the reference number and respond to any request for clarification.
6. Check what is issued. Verify the property details on the OC and, where applicable, confirm that the mortgage release letter and relinquishment deed have been generated.

The Citizen Charter lists a seven-day timeline for OC service. That is a published service standard, not a guarantee for every application.

What should homebuyers check before buying?

For a completed building, ask for the OC and compare the property with the sanctioned plan. Look at the permitted use, number of floors and any recorded deviations or conditions. For a newly issued OC, ask whether the 15-day objection period reported for the new procedure has passed.

An OC is one part of due diligence and does not settle ownership. Buyers should also review title documents, outstanding dues and encumbrances. AquireAcres’ property title verification checklist for India covers those checks.