East Bengaluru buyer answers

What are OC and CC, and why do they matter when buying in Bangalore?

By , acre&key · Published · Updated

Direct answer: CC can mean two things: a commencement certificate, permission to start construction, or a completion certificate, confirmation that the building was completed as per the approved plans. OC is the occupancy certificate, permission to occupy the building. For a ready flat, the OC is the key document.

Disclosure: acre&key’s advice is free to buyers; we are an authorised sales partner for some projects and may be paid by the developer.

Verify with your lawyer: This page is general guidance on occupancy and completion certificates under RERA and local law, not legal advice. Before you take possession or buy a resale flat, have your own property lawyer review the OC or CC for your specific tower.

What the RERA Act says

The Act defines all three:

  • Commencement certificate (section 2(m)): permission from the competent authority to begin development.
  • Completion certificate (section 2(q)): a certificate from the competent authority that the project has been developed according to the sanctioned plan, layout plan and specifications.
  • Occupancy certificate (section 2(zf)): a certificate from the competent authority permitting occupation of the building, with provision for civic infrastructure such as water, sanitation and electricity.

When each one comes up?

Stage Document What to check
Before you book under construction Commencement certificate On the Karnataka RERA page with approvals
Near completion Completion certificate Covers your tower and phase
Before possession Occupancy certificate Issued for your building
Resale OC Exists for the building you're buying in

Why the OC matters so much

Possession. Under section 19(10) of the RERA Act, you're expected to take possession within two months of the OC being issued. Taking possession before an OC exists is a risk.

Utilities. Permanent water, sewage and power connections usually depend on the OC.

Khata. Unit khatas typically follow the OC.

Loans. Banks look for an OC, especially on resale.

Resale. Buyers and their lawyers will ask for it.

GST. Under the CGST Act, there's no GST on a flat if the entire price is paid after the completion certificate is issued or after first occupation, whichever is earlier. So the timing of completion matters to your cost too.

Partial OCs

Large projects are sometimes completed in phases, with OCs issued tower by tower. Check that the OC covers the specific tower you're buying in, not just "the project."

What should a consultancy do about it?

  • Check the commencement certificate and approvals on the RERA page before you book.
  • For ready flats, ask for the OC and check it names the right building.
  • For resale, ask the seller for the OC, and don't take "it's coming" as an answer without your lawyer's view.
  • Flag any flat being sold as "ready" without an OC.

Flats without an OC

Some buildings in Bangalore are occupied without an OC. That doesn't always mean you can't buy, but it's a serious risk: utilities, khata, loans and resale can all be harder, and the building may have deviations from the plan. Talk to your lawyer before going ahead.

What's the legal difference between an OC and a CC?

The Act uses both terms and defines them broadly, "by whatever name called". The Ministry's RERA FAQs, which Karnataka RERA hosts on its portal, put the difference simply. An occupancy certificate relates to occupying the apartment or building: it has provision for civic infrastructure such as water, sanitation and electricity, and it's habitable. A completion certificate relates to the whole project: it certifies that the project was developed according to the sanctioned plan, layout plan and specifications.

The same FAQ notes that where a state issues a single certificate covering both, that's enough for the Act. So don't get stuck on the name on the paper. Ask what it certifies and who issued it.

Whose job is it to get them?

The promoter's. Section 11(4)(b) makes the promoter responsible for obtaining the completion certificate, the occupancy certificate or both, as applicable, from the competent authority under local laws, and for making it available to allottees individually or to the association. You shouldn't have to chase the authority yourself. If the developer can't show you the certificate, that's their gap to fill, not yours.

What clocks start once the OC is issued?

Three timelines in the Act run from the OC, and it pays to know them before handover:

  • You take possession. Section 19(10) requires you to take physical possession within two months of the OC for your unit.
  • Conveyance. Section 17(1) requires the promoter to execute a registered conveyance deed in your favour and hand over the common areas to the association, within the period set by local law. Where there's no local law on it, the proviso sets three months from the date of the OC.
  • Documents to the association. Section 17(2) makes the promoter hand over the necessary documents and plans, including for common areas, to the association after the OC and handover.

And the defect window is counted from handover, not from the OC. Section 14(3) gives you five years from possession to report structural or workmanship defects, which the promoter must fix free within 30 days.

What if you're offered "possession" without an OC?

Treat it as a red flag, not a favour. Without an OC, the building hasn't been certified as habitable under local law. The Act's possession and conveyance timelines are tied to the OC, and your lender and the registering office may raise their own questions. Ask the promoter in writing for the OC number, the date and the issuing authority, and check it with your lawyer before you take keys or pay the final instalment.

Checks to do before possession or purchase

  1. Ask for the OC (and completion certificate) for your specific tower.
  2. Check the issuing authority and date.
  3. Match the building details with your agreement.
  4. Ask your lawyer to review it.
  5. Confirm utilities are permanently connected.

See how to check a project on the Karnataka RERA website, what to check in the builder's sale agreement before signing and documents to verify before a token.

Frequently asked questions

Is CC the same as OC?

No. The commencement certificate is issued before construction, the completion certificate after it, and the OC permits occupation.

Who issues the OC in Bangalore?

The competent authority for the area. In the city corporation area, that's under GBA; elsewhere it depends on the planning authority. Ask your lawyer.

Can I get a home loan without an OC?

For under-construction flats, banks lend in stages before the OC. For ready or resale flats, many banks expect it.

Can I register a flat without an OC?

Registration may still happen, but that doesn't fix the OC problem. Get legal advice.

What if the builder delays the OC?

Ask in writing for the timeline. If possession is held up, your RERA remedies may apply.

How long after the OC must I take possession?

Section 19(10) says within two months of the occupancy certificate for your unit.

When must the builder register my conveyance deed?

Within the time set by local law; if there isn't one, section 17(1) sets three months from the date of the OC.

References

  1. Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, official text hosted by Karnataka RERA (sections 11, 14, 17 and 19). https://rera.karnataka.gov.in/resources/staticpage/Real_Estate_Act.pdf, accessed 15 Oct 2026.
  2. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, RERA FAQs (hosted by Karnataka RERA), Q16–17. https://rera.karnataka.gov.in/resources/staticpage/FAQ.pdf, accessed 15 Oct 2026.
  3. Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, full text PDF (PRS Legislative Research). https://prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/acts_parliament/2016/the-real-estate-%28regulation-and-development%29-act,-2016.pdf, accessed 15 Oct 2026.
  4. Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority, official portal (project status, agent status, complaints). https://rera.karnataka.gov.in, accessed 14 Oct 2026.
  5. Greater Bengaluru Authority (successor to BBMP), official site. https://bbmp.gov.in/, accessed 14 Oct 2026.
  6. CGST Act, 2017, Schedule II para 5(b), CBIC tax information portal. https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/content/html/tax_repository/gst/acts/2017_CGST_act/active/chapter21/scheduleii_v1.00.html, accessed 15 Oct 2026.
  7. BESCOM, official site. https://bescom.karnataka.gov.in, accessed 15 Oct 2026.

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