The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on October 12, 2026, issued the Draft Dehradun Cantonment Building Bye- Laws, 2026.
The prescribed building bye-laws establish procedures for obtaining building plan sanctions from the Competent Authority for the erection, re-erection, addition or alteration of buildings. Applications must generally be submitted online through the e-Chhawani portal via a registered architect or engineer, along with ownership or legal rights documents, identity proof, affidavit and indemnity bond. Applicants must pay the prescribed application fees, development charges, labour cess and other applicable charges before sanction. Residential and commercial buildings below 200 square metres may qualify for a refund of development charges upon installing rooftop solar systems and/or rainwater harvesting facilities, subject to the Board’s prescribed conditions.
The bye-laws specify grounds for approval or rejection of building plans, validity and revalidation procedures, and provisions for revocation of sanctions in cases of misrepresentation or deviations from approved plans. Applicants must notify the authorities before commencing construction and submit a completion notice within 30 days of completion for issuance of the completion-cum-occupancy certificate. The regulations also prescribe zoning requirements for Zone I and Zone II, including Floor Space Index (FSI), plot sizes, building heights, ground coverage, number of storeys, setbacks, parking and ventilation standards. Additional requirements include obtaining Archaeological Survey of India or Civil Aviation Authority clearances, where applicable, and compliance with rooftop solar and rainwater harvesting requirements for plots exceeding 200 square metres. Unauthorized construction may be considered for compounding, subject to applicable legal provisions and approval by the competent authority.
The public has been invited to submit objections and suggestions within 30 days from the date the relevant Gazette of India copies are made available to the public. Submissions may be sent in writing to the Cantonment Board, Dehradun, or by email to [email protected]. The draft is also available at the Cantonment Board office and on its official website.
[Notification No. S.R.O. 73(E)]
