What Is a Completion Certificate (CC)? Difference Between OC & CC

Srishti, Per Annum

26 Nov 2025 — 3 min read

When a real estate project reaches the final stages of construction, the most important indicators of its legality and safety are not the paint on the walls or the landscaping outside, it is the Completion Certificate (CC) and later, the Occupancy Certificate (OC). These two documents determine whether the building has been constructed as per the approved plans and whether it is fit for residents to move in.

While homebuyers often focus on possession dates and amenities, understanding the CC is essential because it forms the foundation for everything that comes afterward.

What Is a Completion Certificate (CC)?

A Completion Certificate is an official document issued by the local municipal authority or development authority after the construction of a building is completed. The CC certifies that the structure has been built strictly according to the sanctioned building plan, adhering to local bye-laws, zoning regulations, height restrictions, building setbacks, environmental norms and structural safety guidelines.

In simple terms, the CC confirms: “The builder has constructed the building lawfully and as approved on paper.”

The authority issues the CC only after a detailed inspection by engineers and town-planning officials. They check whether the number of floors, built-up area, common spaces, parking, lift shafts, fire safety provisions, and overall layout match the plans approved when the project began.

If the builder has made unauthorised changes extra floors, deviations from the layout, illegal extensions the CC is withheld until corrections are made.

Why the CC Matters for Homebuyers

A Completion Certificate is more than just a construction milestone; it is a legal safeguard.

A building that does not have a CC may be treated as unauthorised or “irregular construction” by the municipal authority. This means the city can impose penalties, deny further approvals, or refuse to issue tax records.

The CC is also important because:

It is a prerequisite for obtaining an Occupancy Certificate.
Banks prefer financing properties in projects that have received their CC.
It provides transparency about the legality of the building.
It is required for mutation, property tax assessment, and other formalities.

A CC is essential even in gated communities, high-rise projects and plotted developments where infrastructure works like roads, stormwater drains, electricity cabling and sewerage lines must be completed before the certificate is granted.

Why Builders Sometimes Don’t Get the CC

There are several reasons why a builder may fail to secure the CC:

Unauthorised changes to the building plan
Extra floors or deviations from the FSI/FAR limit
Failure to complete mandatory fire-safety installations
Non-payment of dues or development charges
Pending litigation or land disputes
Incomplete external development work

In such cases, the building remains legally incomplete, even if the builder markets it as “ready-to-move-in.”

Difference Between Completion Certificate (CC) and Occupancy Certificate (OC)

Criteria	Completion Certificate (CC)	Occupancy Certificate (OC)
Meaning	Confirms the building is constructed as per the sanctioned plan.	Confirms the building is safe and fit for occupation.
Issued By	Municipal or development authority after verifying construction compliance.	Municipal authority after checking habitability and safety norms.
When Issued?	After construction is completed.	After CC is issued and all services (water, sewage, fire safety) are inspected.
What It Checks	Height, built-up area, layout, setbacks, structural compliance, building norms.	Fire safety, water supply, sewage, power connection, access roads, safety standards.
Legal Purpose	Declares the structure legally complete.	Declares the building legally occupiable.
Link to Possession	Needed before applying for OC.	Ideally required before giving possession to buyers.
Impact on Utilities	No direct link to utility approvals.	Needed for permanent electricity and water connections in many cities.
Impact on Buyers	Guarantees legal construction but not habitability.	Ensures both legality and safety, protects buyers during resale or financing.
Required For	Tax assessment, future approvals, OC issuance.	Occupation, resale, home loans, municipal permissions.

Should You Buy a Property That Does Not Have a CC?

Buying a property without a Completion Certificate is risky. The absence of a CC suggests that the construction has deviations or pending legal issues. Even if the builder is pressuring for possession, buyers must insist on seeing the CC before moving in. Without a CC:

Future approvals may be denied.
Banks may refuse loans or refinancing.
Municipal authorities can impose penalties.
Insurance claims may be affected.
Resale becomes significantly harder.

A project without a CC often struggles with resale prices because buyers view it as legally incomplete.

How to Check a Completion Certificate

Most municipal corporations have moved to online systems. Buyers can verify the CC on:

The city’s municipal portal
The state RERA website
The town-planning department’s records
By requesting it directly from the builder or society

The CC is usually a multi-page document with reference numbers, approval dates, survey details, building specifications and the issuing authority’s stamp.