The Urban Affairs Department, Govt. of Meghalaya on November 03, 2026, issued the Meghalaya Building (Third Amendment) Byelaws, 2025, further to amend the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2021.
The following has been amended, namely:
• The amendment relaxes norms relating to septic tanks by permitting their location beneath parking and setback areas subject to specified minimum setbacks, with stricter safeguards where plots are adjacent to water bodies. For industrial plots (≥3000 sq.m.), the earlier ground coverage restriction has been removed, and 50% of setbacks may be used for open parking.
• Residential setback provisions have been rationalized by reducing rear setbacks for certain plot sizes and permitting reduced setbacks (subject to conditions) for medium-sized plots, while special norms are prescribed for plots below 1000 sq ft. Fire safety access requirements have been clearly defined, mandating a minimum 4.5 m access along part of the building perimeter, and 50% of setbacks are now allowed for open parking without obstructing emergency movement.
• New setback norms have been prescribed for high-rise buildings above 27 metres, and a separate regulatory framework has been introduced for Central Business Districts (CBD) and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Corridors, allowing higher FAR (including premium FAR through TDR/payment), NIL ground coverage caps, and specified height limits.
• Special provisions for small residential plots have been expanded to include commercial, industrial, storage, and mixed-use plots with liberalized FAR, NIL ground coverage limits, and reduced setbacks.
• Overall, the amendment aims to simplify compliance under OBPS, encourage vertical growth, and facilitate urban development in Meghalaya.
[Notification no. - UAU.73/2016/Pt.III(A)/70]
