How to Get a House Plan (Naqsha) Approved by LDA in Lahore
LDA building plan approval in Lahore: the papers, the Rs 15 per sq ft fee, the 21 and 30 day deadlines and the online route through eBiz Punjab, read at LDA.
To get a house plan (naqsha) approved by LDA in Lahore, an architect draws and stamps the plan, you pay the scrutiny fee challan, and you apply with your ownership papers and CNIC. LDA's fee is Rs 15 per square foot of covered area. Its rules give it 21 days in an approved scheme and 30 days in a controlled area.
LDA's website sends you online for this. Its "Building Plan Approval" button opens eBiz Punjab, the Punjab government's online permits portal. We checked both on 1 October 2026, and read LDA's own FAQs and its Building and Zoning Regulations 2019.
You need an LDA approved naqsha before you build in Lahore
Within LDA's area, you must have a sanctioned building plan before any work starts, even digging. LDA's penalty for building before approval is Rs 5,000, plus Rs 120,000 per floor if work goes on after a notice.
That penalty sits in Appendix C of the regulations. It is not a small risk. A house built without approval can also be sealed, and the plan can be refused later for violations you have already poured in concrete.
Before you pay an architect, check who controls your plot. If it is in a private housing society, ask the society whether LDA or the society approves plans there. You can also check whether a housing society is approved before you buy.
LDA asks for these documents with a house plan
LDA's FAQ lists the papers for a building plan: your ownership certificate, a copy of your CNIC, copies of the building plan drawings with the A and B forms from an architect, and a copy of the physical possession certificate. Then you pay the fee challan.
- Ownership papers. The allotment or transfer letter, site plan or lease that shows the plot is yours. For land outside a scheme, your fard from the Punjab land record shows the owner.
- CNIC copy of the owner.
- Architect's drawings. Plans, sections and elevations of every floor, a site plan, a drainage plan and a landscape plan showing trees. A registered architect must stamp and sign them with his registration number.
- Possession certificate from LDA or the scheme.
- Undertaking on form BR-5 on Rs 500 stamp paper, promising to pay for any damage to neighbours or roads. You can buy it as an e-stamp paper.
- Paid fee challan, because the regulations say an incomplete file will not be accepted.
One small conflict. LDA's FAQ asks for 4 original copies of the drawings. The 2019 regulations say 5 copies, two of them on linen. Take 5 to be safe, or ask the One Window counter when you file.
LDA charges Rs 15 per square foot to approve a house plan
For a residential plan, LDA's published scrutiny fee is Rs 15 per square foot of total covered area, for a first or revised plan. The regulations say the rates are subject to revision, so the challan LDA issues is the final amount.
| Residential item | LDA rate |
|---|---|
| First or revised building plan | Rs 15 per sq ft of covered area |
| Addition or alteration plan | Rs 7.5 per sq ft |
| Reviving an old plan | Rs 5 per sq ft |
| Gate and boundary wall only | Rs 1,000 per marla |
| Malba (debris) charges | Rs 10 per sq ft |
| Copy of a plan | Rs 3,000 per sheet |
A worked example, on our own arithmetic: a house with 2,000 square feet of covered area pays Rs 30,000 in scrutiny fee. If malba charges apply too, add Rs 20,000. The architect's fee is separate and set by him, not LDA.
Apply for LDA building plan approval in five steps
Start online. LDA's homepage links its building plan approval button to eBiz Punjab, and LDA moved residential plans to online filing with online challans in August 2024, as reported at the time. The One Window Cell still handles the file.
- Hire a registered architect. He draws the plan to LDA's rules on setbacks, covered area and height, and fills in the A and B forms.
- Open the application. Use the Building Plan Approval button on lda.gop.pk, which opens eBiz Punjab, or go to LDA's One Window Cell.
- Get and pay the fee challan. LDA issues the building plan fee challan. Pay it at the bank or online.
- Submit the full file. Attach the paid challan, CNIC, ownership papers, possession certificate, drawings and the BR-5 undertaking.
- Track and collect. Check progress on the One Window App Status page on lda.gop.pk. Once sanctioned, display one approved copy at the site.
Who signs depends on the plot size. Up to 7 marla, an Assistant Director Town Planning approves the plan. From 7 marla to 1 kanal it is a Deputy Director, and above 1 kanal a Director.
LDA must decide a house plan within 21 or 30 days
Section 10.13 of the regulations says house plans are approved within 21 days in an approved scheme and 30 days in a controlled area. If LDA misses that date, you may start building after paying the scrutiny fee and giving an affidavit.
The affidavit says you will build strictly to the plan you submitted. Any existing violation must be settled with a penalty first. Use this right carefully. If the plan breaks a rule, you will still pay for it later.
If LDA refuses your plan, it must say which regulation you broke. You can appeal within 30 days, and the appeal body must decide within 30 days after a hearing. An approved plan lapses after three years, or at the end of the plot's building period, if you have not built.
Common questions
How much is the LDA naqsha fee for a house?
Rs 15 per square foot of total covered area, in LDA's published fee schedule. A 2,000 sq ft house pays about Rs 30,000, before any malba charges.
How long does LDA take to approve a house plan?
21 days in an approved scheme and 30 days in a controlled area, under section 10.13 of the 2019 regulations.
Can I apply for an LDA building plan online?
Yes. LDA's Building Plan Approval button opens eBiz Punjab. The One Window Cell still deals with the file and the challan.
Do I need an architect for an LDA naqsha?
Yes. The plan must carry the stamp, signature and registration number of a registered architect, with the A and B forms.
What happens if I build without an approved plan?
LDA can fine you Rs 5,000, plus Rs 120,000 per floor if you keep building after a notice. It can also seal the building.
How long is an approved LDA plan valid?
Three years, or to the end of the plot's building period if that comes first. After that a vacant plot needs a fresh approval and fee.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 1 October 2026. We read the LDA website, including its homepage links, its FAQ on building plan approval and its application requirements, and the LDA Building and Zoning Regulations 2019 as posted by LDA, for the documents, timelines, appeal, validity and Appendix C fees. The PDF's own header says it carries amendments up to 28 January 2020, and LDA says fees are subject to revision. The August 2024 move to online filing is as reported. We did not file a plan, so we could not test eBiz Punjab end to end or time an approval.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
