CHANDIGARH, Dec 18 — The Punjab government has notified new unified building bylaws permitting stilt-plus-four floors in all newly developed residential areas across urban Punjab, a move aimed at reshaping housing construction and paving the way for floor-wise ownership under the Apartment Act.
The bylaws, cleared by the state Cabinet on Oct. 28, allow plots up to 200 square yards to be developed on roads with a minimum width of 30 feet. For plots larger than 200 square yards, the minimum road width has been fixed at 40 feet.
“In newly planned urban estates and licensed colonies, stilt-plus-four floors will now be permissible,” a senior housing department official said. “The intent is to create a uniform framework and expand housing options without straining existing neighborhoods.”
In already planned and older urban areas, construction will be restricted to stilt-plus-three floors. The maximum permissible building height in such areas has been increased from 11 meters to 13 meters, according to the notification.
Officials said the revised norms would facilitate the implementation of the Apartment Act in Punjab, enabling buyers to purchase individual floors in residential buildings. At present, subdivision of residential plots is not allowed in the state.
The government had initially proposed allowing stilt-plus-four floors across all urban areas. However, after feedback from stakeholders, the provision was limited to new developments to avoid overburdening civic infrastructure.
Town planners and architects have criticized the move, warning it could lead to congestion and unplanned densification. “Without parallel upgrades in roads, parking and utilities, these bylaws could create long-term urban stress,” an architect said.
The changes are expected to have a major impact on housing development in cities such as Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
Read more: Punjab invites public input on unified building bylaws
