The Government of Bihar on October 29, 2026, issued the Bihar Municipal (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, to further amend the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007.
The following has been amended, namely:
• The amendment introduces changes in municipal governance, administrative powers, advertisement regulation, building approvals and licensing procedures. It restricts the reconstitution or alteration of municipal boundaries to cases where the remaining tenure of the existing Municipality or local authority is six months or less. The Chief Councillor shall head the Empowered Standing Committee, in which the Municipality's executive powers shall vest, while the Chief Municipal Officer shall act as the Principal Executive Officer and exercise transfer, posting, and disciplinary powers over municipal staff appointed under Section 38. The State Government and District Magistrate may initiate municipal inspections and inquiries, subject to prescribed officer-rank requirements.
• The amendments also convert advertisement tax into an advertisement fee, expand regulation to cover advertisements and public displays, and introduce penalties of up to ₹5 lakh for specified operational and safety violations. Unauthorized advertisements attract penalties of two, three, or five times the unpaid fee, depending on the nature and gravity of the contravention, along with removal costs.
• The Act further provides for online and auto-approved building plans, empanelment of architects and technical personnel through a State Government register, online licensing and fee payment, and exemptions from separate permissions for approved mixed-use zones or buildings.
• It also revises non-residential licensing provisions, increases the specified licensing amount from ₹2,500 to ₹1 lakh, introduces delayed-payment penalties, and makes related changes to municipal tribunals and enforcement procedures.
[Notification No. - LG-01-34/2026/8865/Leg.-1]
