RTI Application for Commencement Certificate

Use Application Format (if any) and Application Fee as per your State RTI Rules. Read the full guide on RTI Wiki: India's independent Right to Information reference.

Use Application Format (if any) and Application Fee as per your State RTI Rules

It is possible that the builder has not fulfilled all the statutory requirement to issue the Occupation Certificate. Therefore, file another RTI Application with a different date as per sample below:

When you plan to purchase a flat / bungalow in a housing scheme/project under construction, you must demand copy of Commencement Certificate to ensure that proper approvals for the project is obtained from Municipal / Development authority.

When you plan to purchase a flat / bungalow in a housing scheme constructed and ready for occupation, you must demand copy of Commencement Certificate, Completion Certificate and Occupation Certificate to ensure that all approvals/sanctions from Municipal or Development authority are obtained and available with the Builder.

Commencement Certificate and Completion Certificate are two vital documents pertaining to housing schemes / projects. A number of NOCs need to be obtained and submitted to Municipal / Developmental authorities by Builder / Developer. Some of these NOCs / Permissions are: a) Non-Agriculture (NA) permission, b) Tree Authority, c)Storm Water and Drain Department, d) Sewerage Department, e)Hydraulic Department, f) Environmental Department (concerned with debris management), g) Consent to Establish & Operate Sewerage treatment plant from Pollution Control Board, h) Ancient Monument Approval, i) Airports Authority of India, j) Traffic and Coordination Department, k) CFO (fire clearance), l) Railway clearance, m) Structural Plan Approval.

The Commencement Certificate is issued by Municipal / Development Authority only after submission of required permissions / NOCs by Developer / Builder. Therefore, Commencement Certificate authentically establishes that the Housing project / scheme has all necessary permissions, NOCs and approvals.

Another important document is Occupancy Certificate which allows the Builder / Developer to occupy the building but is not considered final document because the Builder still requires Certificate of Completion. The Building/Development company's architect must submit a formal letter stating that construction has been completed according to the standards set forth in the IOD and CC.

Completion Certificate is considered to be the ultimate document that the Builder / Developer requires to fully occupy the building and connect it to utilities i.e. Power Connection, Water Connection, Sewerage connection etc.

When to file RTI Application

In case the Builder / Developer / Vendor is not able to produce these 3 documents, you can file RTI Application to the concerned PIO of Municipal Corporation or Development Authority and seek certified copies of these documents.

• Guide for applicants. The procedure, fee, and appeal path.
• Template: first RTI application. A general-purpose first-application format.
• Template: first appeal. For drafting an appeal under Section 19(1).
• PIO reply after DPDP Rules, 2025. On how a Public Information Officer is to reply when personal information is involved.
• All sample RTI applications. The full index.

1. The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 19.
2. The Right to Information (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005, Central Government.
3. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, Section 44(3).

Last reviewed on: 19 April 2026: RTI Wiki editorial team.

Complete guide on how to commence an RTI application — structure, content, and common mistakes to avoid:

1. Step 1: What is a valid RTI application? (a) under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, a person who desires to obtain any information shall make a request in writing or through electronic means — to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the concerned public authority, (b) the application can be on plain paper — there is no prescribed format at the Central level — but some states have their own format — check the state rules, © the application can be in English, Hindi, or the official language of the area — the PIO cannot reject on language grounds, (d) the application must contain: (i) the name of the applicant, (ii) the address of the applicant, (iii) the information sought — clearly and specifically, (iv) the fee — as prescribed.
2. Step 2: How to identify the right PIO. (a) every public authority must designate PIOs — under Section 5(1) — for all administrative units — the list of PIOs should be available on the public authority's website — and at the office, (b) if the applicant does not know the PIO: the application can be submitted to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) — or the State Public Information Officer (SPIO) — who will forward it to the correct PIO — under Section 6(3), © if the information spans multiple public authorities: the PIO who receives the application will transfer it — under Section 6(3) — to the other PIOs — within 5 days — and the applicant will get the information from each PIO separately.
3. Step 3: What to include in the application. (a) the subject line — a brief description of the information sought (e.g., “Information regarding [subject] under the RTI Act, 2005”), (b) the applicant's details — name, full address, phone number, and email (for electronic communication), © the information sought — be specific: (i) ask for specific documents (e.g., “copy of the file noting on [file number]”), (ii) ask for specific data (e.g., “the number of [cases/applications] pending as on [date]”), (iii) ask for specific records (e.g., “the attendance register of [department] for [month/year]”), (iv) avoid vague queries (e.g., “all information about [department]” — this can be rejected as too broad), (d) the time period — specify the period for which the information is sought (e.g., “from January 2026 to June 2026”), (e) the format — specify the format (e.g., “certified copy” or “electronic copy” or “inspection of records”), (f) the fee — Rs 10 for Central government — IPO or court-fee stamp or online payment — check state rules for the fee, (g) the declaration — “I am a citizen of India” — the RTI Act is only for citizens — not for non-citizens.
4. Step 4: Common mistakes to avoid. (a) asking questions instead of seeking information — the RTI Act gives the right to information — not the right to ask questions — instead of “why was my application rejected?” — ask “provide the file notings on my application number [number] — including the reasons for rejection”, (b) seeking opinions or advice — the PIO is not required to give opinions — only to provide recorded information, © asking for too much information — a very broad request can be rejected as “disproportionately diverting the resources” — under Section 7(9) — keep the request focused and specific, (d) not specifying the time period — without a time period, the PIO may reject as too broad — or may provide information for an irrelevant period, (e) not paying the fee — the application is invalid without the fee — ensure the fee is paid in the prescribed manner, (f) not providing the address — the PIO needs the address to send the information — a missing address can lead to rejection, (g) not keeping a copy — always keep a copy of the application — and the proof of submission (receiving or postal receipt) — for the appeal.
5. Step 5: How to submit. (a) by hand — submit at the PIO's office — and get a receiving (with date, stamp, and signature), (b) by post — send by registered post — with the IPO/court-fee stamp — and keep the postal receipt, © online — through rtionline.gov.in (for Central government) — or the state's online RTI portal — pay the fee online — and get a registration number, (d) through the APIO — at the post office (designated APIOs — who forward to the PIO — under Section 5(5) — and the 30-day period starts from the date the APIO forwards to the PIO — which is 5 days from receipt).
6. Step 6: After submission. (a) the PIO must respond within 30 days (48 hours if the information concerns life or liberty — under Section 7(1)), (b) if the PIO does not respond: it is a deemed refusal — and the applicant can file a first appeal — within 30 days of the non-response (i.e., 30 days from the date the PIO was supposed to respond), © if the PIO responds with incomplete information: file a first appeal — citing the specific incomplete portions, (d) if the PIO rejects: check the exemption cited — and file a first appeal — if the exemption does not apply — or if severability was not applied, (e) track the status — on the online portal — or by contacting the PIO — with the registration number.
7. Step 7: Sample application template. To, The Public Information Officer, [Name of Public Authority], [Address]. Subject: Application under the RTI Act, 2005 — for information regarding [subject]. Sir/Madam, I, [name], a citizen of India, residing at [address], hereby request the following information under the RTI Act, 2005: 1. [Specific information sought — item 1]. 2. [Specific information sought — item 2]. 3. [Specific information sought — item 3]. The period for which the information is sought: [from date] to [date]. The format: [certified copy / electronic copy / inspection]. The fee of Rs 10 is enclosed (IPO number [number] / court-fee stamp / online payment receipt number [number]). Yours faithfully, [Name], [Address], [Phone], [Email]. Date: [date]. Example: An applicant filed RTI with the Municipal Corporation — asking for “the status of road repair work on [road name] — the approved budget — the contractor — the timeline — and the completion certificate” — the PIO responded within 30 days — providing the budget, the contractor name, the timeline — but not the completion certificate — the applicant filed a first appeal for the completion certificate — the FAA ordered the PIO to provide it — within 15 days.

See RTI Application Commencement and Find PIO.