Prior registration of real estate project with Real Estate Regulatory Authority
Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 deals with prior registration of real estate project with Real Estate Regulatory Authority. No promoter shall advertise, market, book, sell or offer for sale, or invite persons to purchase in any manner any plot, apartment or building, as the case may be, in any real estate project or part of it, in any planning area, without registering the real estate project with the Real Estate Regulat The Act came into force on 01 May 2016.
(1) No promoter shall advertise, market, book, sell or offer for sale, or invite persons to purchase in any manner any plot, apartment or building, as the case may be, in any real estate project or part of it, in any planning area, without registering the real estate project with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority established under this Act:
Provided that projects that are ongoing on the date of commencement of this Act and for which the completion certificate has not been issued, the promoter shall make an application to the Authority for registration of the said project within a period of three months from the date of commencement of this Act:
Provided further that if the Authority thinks necessary, in the interest of allottees, for projects which are developed beyond the planning area but with the requisite permission of the local authority, it may, by order, direct the promoter of such project to register with the Authority, and the provisions of this Act or the rules and regulations made thereunder, shall apply to such projects from that stage of registration.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), no registration of the real estate project shall be required—
(a) where the area of land proposed to be developed does not exceed five hundred square meters or the number of apartments proposed to be developed does not exceed eight inclusive of all phases:
Provided that, if the appropriate Government considers it necessary, it may, reduce the threshold below five hundred square meters or eight apartments, as the case may be, inclusive of all phases, for exemption from registration under this Act;
(b) where the promoter has received completion certificate for a real estate project prior to commencement of this Act;
(c) for the purpose of renovation or repair or re-development which does not involve marketing, advertising selling or new allotment of any apartment, plot or building, as the case may be, under the real estate project.
Explanation.—For the purpose of this section, where the real estate project is to be developed in phases, every such phase shall be considered a stand alone real estate project, and the promoter shall obtain registration under this Act for each phase separately.
Section 3, The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (Act 16 of 2016).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Mohammed Zain Khan v. Emnoy Properties India LLP & Ors.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Having regard to s.31, MahaRERA/Appellate Tribunal may refuse a complaint seeking punishment for contravention of s.3 under s.59 where the project is not registerable/registered under s.3; concurrent findings upheld. Allottee remedies for consideration/interest/compensation left open in other fora.
On this section: s.3 prior registration of real estate project — maintainability of complaint predicated on non-registration under s.3.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
3 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 3
What have the courts held on Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act?
Mohammed Zain Khan v. Emnoy Properties India LLP & Ors. (23 Apr 2024) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.3 prior registration of real estate project — maintainability of complaint predicated on non-registration under s.3.
How do I find court cases under Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 3, section 3 Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Mohammed Zain Khan v. Emnoy Properties India LLP & Ors. (23 Apr 2024).
What should I read with Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 3 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (General) Regulations, 2018 (2018), then Tamil Nadu Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Rules, 2017 2017 (2017).
When did Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act come into force?
Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, commonly called rera or rera registration, and cited as Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 3, came into force on 01 May 2016, having been enacted on 25 Mar 2016. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions2468 words
- 11. Functions and duties of promoter1027 words
- 4. Application for registration of real estate projects830 words
- 84. Power of appropriate Government to make rules727 words
- 19. Rights and duties of allottees544 words
- 14. Adherence to sanctioned plans and project specifications by the promoter533 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.