Maharashtra to Roll Out Uniform Model Bye-Laws for CHS From October

The Maharashtra Government will introduce a uniform set of Model Bye-Laws for all cooperative housing societies in the state from October 2026, according to the Department of Cooperation, Marketing and Textiles. The revision affects more than 1.25 lakh registered housing societies and is now in its final drafting stage.

What is changing

A committee headed by Deputy Registrar Rajesh Lavhekar has drafted the revised bye-laws to align with the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (MCS) Act and regulations notified over the past year, including the MCS Amendment Rules, 2026. This is the first comprehensive revision since the Model Bye-Laws of 2014, which were framed before the rapid growth of high-rise towers and large integrated townships. The new framework will set uniform rules on maintenance charge calculation, tenant and leave-and-license documentation, non-occupancy charges, parking allotment, statutory annual audits, and overall financial governance. It will also lay down updated provisions on society objectives, membership eligibility, share capital, and fund and expenditure planning.

What this means for housing societies

• Once notified, societies will likely need to adopt the new Model Bye-Laws in place of their 2014-version bye-laws through a General Body resolution, as has been required with past bye-law revisions.
• Existing internal rules on parking, non-occupancy charges and tenant documentation may need to be reviewed and brought in line with the uniform format once released.
• Because the new bye-laws are being aligned with the MCS Amendment Rules, 2026, societies that have already updated fund contribution rates or spending limits under those rules should find the transition easier.

The Cooperation Department has not yet published the draft text of the finalised bye-laws or a formal notification date beyond the stated October 2026 target. Managing committees should watch for the official gazette notification on the Maharashtra Sahakar Vibhag website before amending their registered bye-laws, and budget time at the next General Body meeting to consider adoption once the final text is released.