BBMP: Non-residential properties to be charged annually instead of annually

Solid Waste: User fee implemented 

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The BBMP has revised the order that had issued the solid waste management user fee (WUF) for non-residential properties to be charged annually.

The April 5 order had stated that a monthly fee ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹35 lakh would be charged for non-residential buildings. It has been revised and announced as an annual fee.

The BBMP Solid Waste Management By-law was notified in 2024, which announced the amount of cess and user fee to be charged by whom. Senior officials including BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath claimed that the BBMP has implemented a lower fee after five years. 

As per the by-law, there is a user fee of ₹200 per month for all residential buildings. According to the user fee implemented by the BBMP, those with buildings up to 600 square feet have been charged ₹10 per month, and ₹50 per month for buildings between 601 square feet and 1,000 square feet. Officials say that this will not be a big burden on the poor. For residential buildings the swm user fee is ₹10 to ₹400.

If you live in your own building and rent out the houses above or below, that building has been determined as non-residential (mixed-use property). Thus, a maximum of 60 percent of the property tax will have to be paid as user fee. If the building is completely rented out, a maximum of 30 percent of the property tax will have to be paid.

A user fee per square foot has been fixed for hotels, lodges, and star hotels, and a maximum limit of 60 percent of the property tax has been fixed for these buildings as well. BBMP officials explained that buildings in this category that have waste treatment units are not allowed to pay user fees.

SWM user fee: ₹720 per year for a 30 ft x 40 ft plot

There was no solid waste cess for vacant plots till the financial year 2024-25. Cess and user charges have been levied from 2025-26. The owner of a vacant plot has to pay a user charge of 60 paise per sq ft annually.

The waste management user charge for a 1,200 sq ft (30 ft x 40 ft) plot is ₹720 per year. However, as per the Solid Waste Management (SWM) By-law, 20 paise per sq ft per month was fixed. Accordingly, ₹240 per month was to be paid, which is ₹2,880 per year. As per the user charge implemented by BBMP, ₹720 will have to be paid. Since both cess and user charges were not there earlier, this time, the property tax will increase by 20 to 200 percent.

Spitting on the road: ₹1,000 fine

As per the BBMP SWM bye-law, littering on the road or in public areas can be punished with a fine of ₹1,000. If the same act is done again, a fine of ₹2,000 can be imposed for each subsequent offence.

If household waste is not segregated, anyone, including officials, who collect mixed waste, can be fined ₹2,000. For subsequent cases, a fine of ₹3,000 is imposed.

If small commercial buildings give waste to unauthorized persons, a fine of ₹5,000 can be imposed for the first time, ₹10,000 for large commercial buildings, and ₹15,000 for bulk waste generators.

Waste Management User Fee as per BBMP SWM Bye-Law

Category; Fee (Monthly Fee)

All types of residential; ₹200

For commercial and institutional waste generators

For waste generators up to 5 kg per day; ₹500

For waste generators up to 10 kg per day; ₹1,400

For waste generators up to 25 kg per day; ₹3,500

For waste generators up to 50 kg per day; ₹7,000

For waste generators up to 100 kg per day; ₹14,000

Vacant site; 20 paise per sq ft per month