Summary
- A building plan is a collection of scaled drawings such as floor plans, elevations, sections and structural details that are used to guide the design, approval and construction of a home.
- There are four fundamentals to reading a house plan: scale, orientation, standard symbols and dimension lines.
- A building plan must be sanctioned before the construction of a building can legally begin in India. The local municipal corporation or the development authority (BBMP or BDA, Bengaluru) must approve a building plan before construction can legally begin.
A building plan is a set of scaled drawings that shows how your home will be laid out and built. It covers the floor plan, elevations, sections and structural details, and it's the document your architect, structural engineer and local approving authority all work from.
In this guide, you'll learn what's inside a building plan, how to read one, how it's created, and how to get it sanctioned.
What Is a Building Plan?
A building plan is the blueprint for a construction project. It's also known as a house plan, home plan or house plan drawing, and all four are essentially the same set of drawings: scaled layouts that illustrate room dimensions, building features and the building's position on the plot. The plan serves three purposes. It assists you and your contractor to work out the cost and the amount of cement, steel and other materials needed. It is the document that your local authority will look at before giving legal approval. It's what your site team constructs, wall by wall, when construction begins. If any of these functions are omitted, the plan ceases to be effective.
Types of Drawings in a Building Plan
A standard building plan contains 6 primary drawings, each of which addresses a different aspect of the design. These drawings are sometimes referred to as a blueprint or plan set, but depending on the stage of the project, your architect may give you some of these drawings individually.
Residential floor plan with labeled rooms and dimensions
| Drawing / Plan | What It Shows | Who Mainly Uses It |
|---|---|---|
| Floor plan | The layout of the rooms, their dimensions, doors and windows, from above. | Everyone |
| Site / plot plan | Draw boundary, setbacks, building footprint. | Owner, approving authority |
| Elevation | The exterior appearance of each facade of the building. | Owner, architect |
| Section | A vertical cut that displays heights from the floor to the ceiling. | Architect, engineer |
| Structural drawing | The footings, columns, beams, slab and reinforcement. | Structural engineer, contractor |
| Services (MEP) | Electrical, plumbing and drainage layouts. | Site tradespeople |
Planning your home layout? Explore our guide to Home Layout Maps to understand how different layouts can shape your home's space, movement, and functionality.
How to Read a House Plan
Most house plans cover four things:
- Scale: Drawings are drawn to scale, such as 1:100, which means that 1 unit on the drawing represents 100 units on the ground. On a drawing, a wall is 3cm long; in real life it is 3 metres long.
- Orientation: Check the north arrow at a corner of the plan. It depicts how the sun moves throughout the day and how your architect has placed rooms with Vastu, if it is important for your family. Vastu is not a technical guarantee; it is a cultural tradition, so use it as a guide and seek advice from an expert for important decisions.
- Symbols: There are a couple of symbols that are repeated on nearly every plan: the quarter-circle arc for a door's swing, the lines for windows, the stepped arrow for the direction of a staircase, and the icons for fixtures such as a WC, basin or sink.
- Dimensions: Numbers on walls and rooms, typically in millimetres or feet, provide precise measurements. A door and window schedule is a list of all the sizes of the openings in a single location. Floors are labeled as ground floor, first floor. So you always know which floor you're on.
The best habit to get into is to walk through the plan room by room, as if you were coming in through the front door. This converts paper lines into a mental model of the real house. Planning your home as per Vastu? Read our Home Design and Vastu guide to understand how thoughtful design and Vastu principles can shape a balanced, comfortable home.
How a Building Plan Is Created, Step by Step
- The Brief and the Requirements: Number of rooms, budget, plot size, family needs and, if applicable, Vastu preference. This should be discussed with your architect prior to any sketches.
- Site Study: Plot size, plot orientation, soil conditions, setbacks, local regulations (FAR and height restrictions).
- Concept Layout: A very basic floor plan is used to divide the public areas (living room) from the private areas (bedrooms), usually with some feedback iterations.
- Detailed Drawings: Once the layout is determined, your architect will prepare detailed drawings by the appropriate engineers, including floor plans, elevations, sections, structural and services drawings.
How to Get Your Building Plan Approved?
To get a building plan approved in India, you must submit the plan and required documents to the local municipal corporation, development authority, or other designated planning authority. The process generally involves these steps:
| Step | What Happens | Typical Documents / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hire a Licensed Professional | An architect or licensed engineer prepares the building plan according to local rules. | Building drawings, site plan, structural drawings, local building bye-laws |
| 2. Prepare Documents | Gather the documents required for the approval application. | Ownership documents, identity proof, site plan, property documents, NOCs if applicable |
| 3. Submit the Plan | Submit the building plan and documents to the relevant municipal corporation or development authority. | Application form, building plan, supporting documents; online submission may be available |
| 4. Pay Fees | Pay applicable scrutiny, development, and building permit fees. | Fee amount varies by location, plot size, and project type |
| 5. Address Queries | The authority reviews the plan and may request changes or additional documents. | Revised drawings, clarifications, or additional approvals, if required |
| 6. Receive Approval | Once the plan meets applicable requirements, the authority issues the sanctioned building plan or building permit. | Approved/sanctioned plan and permit |
| 7. Start Construction | Construction begins according to the approved plan and applicable regulations. | Keep the sanctioned plan and permit available during construction; major changes may require approval |
Not sure which home style suits your needs? Explore Types of Houses in India to compare common house designs, layouts, and features before planning your new home.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A plan that has been approved will safeguard your investment and your legal right to build. There are a few common mistakes that cause most delays and disputes, so be aware of them before breaking ground.
- Construction prior to plan sanction: Construction may begin prior to the plan being sanctioned by the municipality, which can lead to fines, work-stop orders and/or demolition of non-compliant structures.
- Ignoring setback and FAR limits: When the setback and FAR limits are ignored, it results in unauthorized construction. Such violations can result in utility shut-off, legal red flags and future resale problems.
- Skipping structural drawings: "building by eye" without a certified structural engineer's blueprint is a huge risk to safety, and the building can settle and be damaged by earthquakes.
- Failure to take care of north alignment: If the blueprint is not aligned with true north, it will be more difficult to optimize the natural light, ventilation and traditional Vastu layout planning, which will result in higher energy costs over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a building plan approved in India?
You hire a licensed architect or engineer to create sanction drawings, and submit them along with your ownership paperwork to your local municipal corporation or development authority. They review the plan against setback, FAR and by-law limits prior to sanctioning.
What documents are needed for building plan approval?
You'll typically need a sale deed, khata, tax-paid receipt, encumbrance certificate and survey sketch, along with the sanction drawings. Specific requirements differ from city to city and authority to authority, so please check the current list before applying.
What is the difference between a floor plan and an elevation?
A floor plan is a plan view that depicts the layout of rooms, dimensions, doors and windows. The exterior side of the building is depicted on an elevation.
How long does building plan sanction take?
Building plan sanction can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the local authority, property type, plan complexity, document completeness, and whether revisions or additional approvals are required.
Can I draw my own house plan or do I need an architect?
You may be able to prepare a basic house plan yourself, but approval requirements vary by location. For sanction, many authorities require drawings to be prepared or certified by a registered architect, engineer, or other authorized professional.
What are setback and FAR in a building plan?
Setback is the required open space that must be maintained around your building from the plot boundary. FAR or FSI is the ratio of built-up area to plot size.
Plan Your Home With Confidence
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