Building without an approved plan can mean fines, sealing or trouble when you sell. The approval set is the formal version of your design, drawn to the authority's format and checked against its bylaws. A registered architect usually prepares it and follows it through approval.
What's included
| Item | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Site plan | Plot boundaries, setbacks, road widths, orientation |
| Floor plans | Every storey, roof and basement, fully dimensioned |
| Sections and elevations | Floor heights, overall building height, front elevation |
| Structural details | Foundations, columns, beams and slabs, with stability certificate where required |
| Services layouts | Water supply and sewerage lines |
| Schedules | Doors and windows |
| Boundary wall section | Height and construction detail |
| Forms and undertakings | Authority-specific forms prepared for your signature |
When you need it
- Before starting any new house or building
- Before adding a floor, extending rooms or changing structure
- When rebuilding after demolition
- For regularising or revising a plan where deviations are compoundable
Step-by-step process
- Confirm the rules – your architect checks the authority (LDA, DHA, cantonment or private society) and current bylaws for your plot.
- Gather ownership documents – allotment or transfer letter, site plan, CNIC copies.
- Prepare drawings – to the authority's format and sheet layout.
- Structural input – a structural engineer prepares and certifies the design where required.
- Pay dues and submit – scrutiny fee and any authority dues.
- Respond to objections – the architect revises drawings if the authority raises points.
- Receive sanction – keep certified copies on site.
- Build to the plan and apply for completion – once construction is finished.
What LDA and DHA ask for
LDA: Approval requires the listed documents plus a scrutiny fee, and residential applications have a 45-day decision timeline. Structure stability drawings or calculations are required above 38 feet. For multi-storey and public-assembly buildings, construction cannot start until structural drawings are approved. The regulations also list a traffic impact assessment for non-residential buildings on plots of 4 kanals or more or of 5 storeys or more (LDA Building and Zoning Regulations). In 2025, LDA moved commercial map approvals to a single stage and ended apartment map approvals on 10 marla and 1 kanal plots (Pakistan Observer, Apr 2025).
DHA Lahore: Plans must be signed by an architect registered with PCATP and with DHA. The submission package includes the original drawing plus seven ammonia prints, allotment or transfer letter, site plan, CNIC copies, the paid dues challan, the architect's stability certificate with Forms A and B, and stamp-paper undertakings attested by an Oath Commissioner. Multi-storey residential plans need a stability certificate from a registered structural engineer. Approved drawings are valid for two years, and the building should be completed within one and a half years of approval. Any addition, alteration or renovation needs prior approval, and structural changes need a revised drawing (DHA Construction Regulations).
Private societies: Each has its own format and fee schedule. Ask the society office for its current checklist.
Completion certificate
LDA issues a completion certificate when work follows the sanctioned plan; deviations must be compoundable and settled in writing. DHA asks for two copies of the approved drawing, front elevation photos and the fee, normally issues within 20 days if there are no violations, and expects the certificate within three years of approval to avoid monthly fines. Sources as above.
What affects the cost
The architect's fee for approval drawings is usually a lump sum or per square foot of covered area, separate from authority fees. Factors:
- Authority and its submission format
- Covered area, storeys and basement
- Structural certification needed
- Number of objection rounds and follow-up visits
- Whether design and working drawings are bundled
Authority fees are set by each authority; get the current schedule from them rather than from an agent.
Questions to ask
- Are you registered with PCATP and enlisted with this authority?
- Who will sign the structural stability certificate?
- Is follow-up on objections included, and how many rounds?
- Will the drawings match exactly what the contractor builds?
- Who pays and submits the authority fees?
Red flags
- Offers to get a plan "passed" that breaks setbacks or height limits
- Agents asking for cash "speed money"
- Drawings unsigned or signed by someone not registered
- Starting construction "while the approval is in process"
FAQs
How long does approval take? LDA's regulations set a 45-day decision timeline for residential applications. DHA and societies have their own timelines; delays usually come from objections.
Can I change the design after approval? Minor non-structural changes may only need approval; structural changes need a revised drawing in DHA.
Does my plan expire? In DHA, an approved drawing is valid for two years; after that, fresh approval is needed.
Do I need a completion certificate? Yes, it confirms the building matches the sanction and is often needed for utilities and sale.
This page is general information; confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before you act.