Occupancy and Completion Certificates: Why They Matter

Updated October 18, 2026

Most buyers check the price, the location and the RERA number. Fewer ask to see the occupancy certificate (OC) or completion certificate (CC). Yet these papers are what tell you that a building was built as sanctioned and is legally fit to live in.

This guide covers what the two certificates are, who issues them in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, how to check them, and what can go wrong without them. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules and portals change, so confirm details with the authority or a property lawyer before you pay.

OC and CC: what they are

Both certificates come at the end of construction. They are the authority’s confirmation that the building matches the sanctioned plan and can be used.

The names differ by state. A Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) sanction letter from January 2026 says a completion certificate must be obtained from the Authority before the building or part of it is occupied. The Haryana Building Code, 2017 uses the term occupation certificate, and it says nobody may occupy a new building or part of it until the competent authority has certified it as completed according to the permission granted.

In practice, buyers use “OC” and “CC” loosely. What matters is that the authority has issued a final certificate for the tower or building you are buying into.

Who issues them

Uttar Pradesh

The issuer is the development authority that sanctioned the plan. In Noida, that is the Noida Authority, whose functions include completion and occupancy certificates. In Ghaziabad, the GDA sanctions building plans and issues occupancy and completion certificates. In the GDA sanction letter, applications for occupancy are made through the UPOBPAS online portal.

Builders in Noida and Greater Noida take land on lease from the authorities. UP RERA’s legal advisor has said that when lease dues stay unpaid, the authorities do not issue OCs until the dues are cleared. This is a common reason a finished-looking society has no OC.

Haryana

Haryana works through the Haryana Building Code, 2017 and a “competent authority” that depends on the location. In Gurugram, the GMDA runs an e-Occupation Certificate service for land in the controlled area under GMDA where it has granted change of land use. Faridabad has a similar online application through the FMDA portal. For other areas, the state’s Urban Local Bodies department has an “Issuance of Occupation Certificate” service. HSVP sectors use HSVP’s own online building plan approval system, which also handles occupancy certificates.

To find the right authority for your project, check the sanctioned plan or the project page on the RERA website. Do not assume.

What an authority looks at before issuing

An OC is not just a site visit. Haryana’s checklist lists permissions such as fire department, pollution control board, airport authority, environment clearance and water and sewerage clearances, where applicable. A 2019 report on Noida’s online system said it would issue an OC quickly if all required certificates, including fire NOC, financial clearances and environmental NOC, were submitted.

In Haryana, builders can also seek a certificate for part of a building. So find out whether the OC covers your tower, or only another one in the same project.

How to check before you buy or pay

Ask for a copy of the certificate itself. Check the project name, tower or block, date, and the issuing authority. Under RERA Section 11(4)(b), the promoter is responsible for obtaining the certificate and making it available to allottees or their association. You should not have to chase it.
Confirm it on the authority’s records. For Noida, the authority launched a “Group Housing Builders Projects Information” section on its website that, in 2023, was reported to show OC and CC details, number of flats and pending dues for group housing projects. Website layouts change, so ask the authority’s office if you cannot find it. For Haryana, check the OC application status on the relevant portal (GMDA, FMDA, ULB or HSVP) or ask the town planning office.
Match the certificate to the unit. Confirm your tower and the sanctioned plan are covered, not just the “project”.
Look at the RERA project page. UP RERA project pages carry uploaded documents, including architect’s certificates on construction percentage that list the work still needed before an OC can be obtained. Haryana RERA has a similar project listing.
Check dues. In Noida and Greater Noida, unpaid authority dues are a recurring reason certificates are held back.

What happens if a society has no OC or CC

Registry (conveyance deed)

RERA links the title transfer to the OC. Under Section 17, where no local law sets a period, the promoter must execute the conveyance deed within three months of the OC being issued. Buyers, in turn, must take possession within two months of the OC.

Noida buyers have reported the practical side for years. A 2016 report described OC as mandatory before possession, with registration to transfer ownership impossible without it. A 2024 report found that, under the relief package for stalled projects, only about 3,350 of around 1.15 lakh flats awaiting registry had been registered. That figure is old, so check the current position for any project you are considering.

There have also been reports of proposals to allow registry without an OC. One 2023 article described a draft policy that was still at a draft stage. I could not confirm that any such policy is in force, so do not rely on it.

Home loans

In a December 2024 judgment on unauthorised construction, the Supreme Court said that banks and financial institutions cannot sanction loans against a building as security without verifying its completion or occupation certificate. Many lenders already ask for these papers. How each bank applies the judgment varies, so ask your lender early.

Electricity, water and sewerage

The same judgment said that electricity, water and sewerage connections should be given to buildings only after the certificate is produced. Bengaluru’s power utility began demanding an OC for new connections after that order. I did not find a verified update on how Delhi NCR utilities apply it, so ask your discom and water provider what they require in your area.

An older Supreme Court ruling, reported in 2021, found that a builder’s failure to obtain an OC is a deficiency in service. In that case, flat owners later had to pay higher rates for electricity and water connections.

Resale and legal exposure

A buyer who finds the OC missing may struggle to sell, to refinance, or to get an NOC from the authority. The Supreme Court has also said that authorities must act on violations of planning permission even after a completion certificate is issued. A certificate helps, but it is not an absolute shield.

A word on “deemed” OC

You may hear that a project has a “deemed” OC because the authority did not respond in time. In 2019, UP RERA reportedly notified that local bodies should issue an OC within seven days or the building would be treated as OC-approved. Reports on Noida have drawn a line between this and an actual OC, with around 50,000 to 1 lakh builder flats there said not to have an actual OC.

I could not confirm how this is treated today by banks, registrars and utilities. Do not accept “deemed” as a substitute. Ask for the issued certificate or written confirmation from the authority.

Questions to ask the builder

Has the OC or CC been issued? Can I see a copy, with its date and the authority’s reference number?
Does it cover my tower and floor, or only some towers in the project?
If it is not issued, when was it applied for, and what is the authority still waiting on?
Are all land and lease dues to the authority paid? Is there a no-dues certificate?
Are the fire NOC, environment clearance and other NOCs in place?
Does the sanctioned plan match what is built? Have there been any revisions or deviations?
When will the registry happen, and will the builder commit to this in writing?
Will the builder bear the cost if connections or lender approvals are delayed because the OC is missing?
Has any buyer in the project had trouble getting a loan, a registry or utility connections?

If you hear “it’s applied for, it’s just a formality”, ask for proof of the application and its current status. Then decide if you can wait. Do not take possession on a promise of the paperwork later.

Putting it into practice

If you are exploring ready-to-move homes, you can search all properties on ADiHomes and then run the checks above on each shortlisted project. Certificate status varies by project and tower, not just by locality.

For area context, our guides cover Greater Noida West, Raj Nagar Extension and Dwarka Expressway. These guides do not confirm any project’s certificate status. You will need to check that with the authority for each project.

Key takeaways

OC and CC show a building was built to plan and can be lawfully occupied.
In UP, the development authority issues them. In Haryana, the competent authority under the Haryana Building Code does, which varies by area.
Without them, registry, home loans and utility connections can be affected.
Verify the certificate yourself, and match it to your tower.
Treat “deemed” OC and promises of later paperwork with caution, and confirm anything that has changed recently.

Sources

Updated 18 October 2026. This article is general information, not legal or financial advice; check current rules and project details before you decide.