Fire NOC in Himachal Pradesh: Form A, section 15-A and the 2019 list
Updated By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Himachal Pradesh needs a fire NOC on the building plans of every building above 15 m, every industrial unit and every trade using explosive or highly inflammable substances, under section 15-A of the HP Fire Fighting Services Act, 1984. A 2019 notification goes further: hotels and guest houses over 12 m, shops and institutions over 9 m, and every school and assembly building must take fire precautions.
You apply online on Form A through the Emerging Himachal single window. A fire station officer inspects, the Fire Prevention Officer in Shimla checks the report, and the Chief Fire Officer decides within 30 days. There is no fee. The Act sets no validity; a Shimla NOC issued in January 2024 ran 2 years.
Free, on WhatsApp. Or set a renewal reminder
Himachal Pradesh fire NOC at a glance
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh, Barnes Court, near Raj Bhavan, Shimla 171002 | Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| The fire Act | HP Fire Fighting Services Act, 1984 (Act 30 of 1984), amended by Act 16 of 2000; 21 sections | Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| Where the NOC duty sits | Section 15-A: building plans of buildings above 15 m, industrial units, and trades with explosive or highly inflammable substances | Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| The wider list | Home Department notification of 23 July 2019 under section 9(1): 17 classes of premises and 20 precautions | HP Home notification |
| Hotels and guest houses | Listed when more than 12 m high or ground plus 3 upper storeys, mezzanine included | HP Home notification |
| How to apply | Form A online through the Emerging Himachal single window; offline applications refused since 16 October 2017 | HP Fire Services |
| Who signs | The Chief Fire Officer, HP, after a fire station inspection (Form B) and scrutiny by the Fire Prevention Officer, Shimla | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Fee | Nil: "No fee is charged for Fire license/ NOC" | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Time limit | 30 days, under the HP Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011 | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Validity | Not set in the Act; a Shimla NOC was issued for 2 years, 23 January 2024 to 22 January 2026 | HP Fire NOC copy |
| Documents | Approved drawings, proof of ownership or tenancy, the previous NOC for renewal, and test papers for every extinguisher | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Standard applied | National Building Code of India, Part 4, 2016, as the department's 2023-24 report states | HP Fire annual report |
| NOCs issued in 2023-24 | 2,597, to educational institutions, commercial establishments and industrial units | HP Fire annual report |
| Homestays | Up to 6 rooms and 12 beds, with basic fire equipment, under the Home Stay Rules of 25 June 2025 | HP Home Stay Rules |
| Heaviest owner penalty in the Act | Obstructing fire-fighting or withholding information: up to 1 year, a fine up to ₹5,000, or both (section 11) | Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
Himachal fire NOC, its renewal and homestay registration compared
| Option | New fire NOC | Fire NOC renewal | Homestay registration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | HP Fire Fighting Services Act 1984, section 15-A, and the 2019 notification | The same Act | HP Home Stay Rules 2025 under the HP Tourism Development and Registration Act 2002 | Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| Where you apply | Form A on the Emerging Himachal single window | Form A on the same portal | The Tourism Department's e-Services portal, Annexure I | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Documents | Approved drawings, tenure proof, extinguisher test papers | The same, plus a copy of the previous NOC | 7: application, inspection report, jamabandi and tatima, section 29 affidavit, Form C undertaking, register, bill book | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Who inspects | The fire station in-charge, reporting on Form B | The fire station in-charge | The District or Assistant Tourism Development Officer, or Inspector (Hotels) | Emerging Himachal single window |
| Fee | Nil | Nil | ₹3,000 to ₹18,000 a year, by category and area | HP Home Stay Rules |
| Time | 30 days | 30 days | 60 days, then deemed accepted if complete | HP Home Stay Rules |
| Validity | Not set in the Act; 2 years on the 2024 Shimla NOC | 2 years on the same certificate | 1 or 3 years | HP Fire NOC copy |
| Fire requirement | The precautions the inspecting officer directs, from the 20 in the 2019 list | Equipment kept running, staff trained, a drill every 3 months | Basic fire equipment | HP Home notification |
How to get a fire NOC in Himachal Pradesh, step by step
Find your line
Check section 15-A (above 15 m, industrial units, explosive or highly inflammable trades) and the 17 classes of the 2019 notification: a hotel over 12 m, a shop over 9 m, a school or a coaching centre of 20 students is listed.
Collect the papers
Approved drawings, proof that the premises are owned, rented or leased, and for every extinguisher a hydraulic pressure test report, proof of the manufacturing year and, for CO2 units, the explosive certificate, with a register of location, refilling date and serial number.
Register and file Form A
Register on the Emerging Himachal single window with an email address and a mobile number and fill Form A. Paper applications have not been entertained since 16 October 2017.
Host the station inspection
The application lands with the in-charge of your fire station, who prints it and inspects. If the fire and life safety measures are satisfactory, he reports on Form B to the Fire Prevention Officer at Fire Headquarters, Shimla.
Wait for the Chief Fire Officer
The Fire Prevention Officer puts the case to the Chief Fire Officer, HP, who approves or rejects it. The department's own norm is 30 days from receipt.
Download and read the conditions
Download the digitally signed NOC from the portal. The 2024 certificate Flamekite read binds the holder to train staff, keep equipment running, drill every 3 months and keep good housekeeping.
Renew before it runs out
Apply again on Form A with a copy of the previous NOC before the end date printed on it.
Section 15-A of Himachal's fire Act, word for word
One section, added in 2000, is the whole statutory basis of the Himachal fire NOC.
Word for word
15-A. No Objection Certificate. All building plans in respect of buildings of above 15 metres of height, industrial units and commercial establishments dealing with or using explosive and highly inflammable substances shall require "No Objection Certificate" from the Director of Fire Services or Chief Fire Officer, as the case may be, on the basis of recommendations of Divisional Fire Officer or Station Fire Officer concerned.
Three things follow. The NOC attaches to building plans, so it belongs before construction, not after. The height line is above 15 m; a building of exactly 15 m falls under the first class of the 2019 notification, which reads 15 metres and above. And the section names who signs, but sets no fee, no form and no period of validity: those come from the department's checklist and from practice.
The 17 classes in Himachal Pradesh's 2019 fire notification
Notification No. Home-F(A)3-1/2019-I of 23 July 2019 tells the owners and occupiers of 17 classes of premises to take fire precautions. Its lines are lower than section 15-A for hotels, shops and institutions.
| Height, size or use that brings it in | Storey test in the notification | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Any building HP Home notification | 15 m and above | None given |
| 2. Pandal HP Home notification | Seating for more than 500 persons, or more than 500 m² covered | Not applicable |
| 3. Residential, other than hotels and guest houses HP Home notification | More than 15 m | Or ground plus 4 upper storeys, mezzanine included |
| 4. Hotel or guest house HP Home notification | More than 12 m | Or ground plus 3 upper storeys, mezzanine included |
| 5. Educational building HP Home notification | All | Any height |
| 6. Institutional building HP Home notification | More than 9 m | Or ground plus 2 upper storeys, mezzanine included |
| 7. Assembly building HP Home notification | All | Any height |
| 8. Business building HP Home notification | More than 15 m | Or ground plus 4 upper storeys, mezzanine included |
| 9. Mercantile building HP Home notification | More than 9 m | Or ground plus 2 upper storeys, mezzanine included |
| 10. Industrial building HP Home notification | More than 250 m² covered on all floors | Not applicable |
| 11. Storage building HP Home notification | More than 250 m² covered on all floors | Not applicable |
| 12. Hazardous building HP Home notification | More than 100 m² covered on all floors | Not applicable |
| 13. Underground structure HP Home notification | All | Not applicable |
| 14. Commercial kitchen HP Home notification | All, such as the hostels of educational institutions | Not applicable |
| 15. Slum area so defined by a local authority HP Home notification | More than 1,000 m² covered or more than 25 sheds | Not applicable |
| 16. Hostel and coaching centre HP Home notification | Used by 20 or more students | Not applicable |
| 17. Real estate project HP Home notification | Every project registered under the RERA Act | Not applicable |
Read against the scanned English text and its Hindi version, which give the same lines. The notification names the classes and 20 precautions; it does not pair a precaution with a class, and it does not itself say that every class needs a NOC. Where one building has several owners or occupiers, they share the measures the inspecting Fire Officer directs in proportion to the area each holds.
Does your Shimla hotel, Manali homestay or Baddi factory need a fire NOC?
Find the line that fits. Each answer gives the Himachal instrument that decides it.
If Any building above 15 m, in Shimla, Solan or anywhere in the state
Yes. Section 15-A requires a NOC on its building plans from the Director of Fire Services or the Chief Fire Officer. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
If A hotel or guest house more than 12 m high, or ground plus 3 upper storeys
It is class 4 of the 2019 notification, so the owner must take the precautions the inspecting officer directs, whether or not it reaches section 15-A's 15 m. HP Home notification
If A homestay of up to 6 rooms and 12 beds in the owner's house
The Home Stay Rules 2025 ask for basic fire equipment, and none of the 7 registration documents is a fire NOC. A homestay in a building above 15 m is still caught by section 15-A. HP Home Stay Rules
If A factory, godown or solvent store in Baddi, Nalagarh or Parwanoo
Industrial and storage buildings over 250 m² of covered area, and hazardous buildings over 100 m², are listed classes in the 2019 notification. HP Home notification
If A school, college, hostel or coaching centre
All educational buildings are a class, and so are hostels and coaching centres used by 20 or more students. HP Home notification
If A shop or showroom in a bazaar
Mercantile buildings more than 9 m high, or ground plus 2 upper storeys, are a class; a smaller shop is not on the list. HP Home notification
If A marriage pandal or a mela tent
A pandal seating more than 500 persons, or covering more than 500 m², is a class of its own. Do I need a fire NOC? HP Home notification
If Premises that already hold a NOC
Renew on the same portal with a copy of the previous NOC; the 2024 Shimla certificate Flamekite read ran 2 years. Validity, all states HP Fire NOC copy
The 20 precautions an HP fire officer can direct under the 2019 notification
Column 3 of the notification lists them in this order. Its Explanation speaks of the measures "as per the directions of the inspecting Fire Officer", so the officer chooses those that fit the building.
- 1. Access to the building HP Home notification
- 2. Number, width, type and arrangement of exits HP Home notification
- 3. Protection of exits by fire check doors or pressurisation HP Home notification
- 4. Compartmentation HP Home notification
- 5. A smoke management system HP Home notification
- 6. Fire extinguishers HP Home notification
- 7. First-aid hose reels HP Home notification
- 8. Automatic fire detection and alarm HP Home notification
- 9. A manually operated electrical fire alarm HP Home notification
- 10. A public address system HP Home notification
- 11. Automatic sprinklers HP Home notification
- 12. Internal hydrants and yard hydrants HP Home notification
- 13. Pumping arrangements HP Home notification
- 14. Captive water storage for fire fighting HP Home notification
- 15. Exit signage HP Home notification
- 16. Lifts HP Home notification
- 17. Standby power supply HP Home notification
- 18. A refuge area HP Home notification
- 19. A fire control room HP Home notification
- 20. Special fire protection systems for special risks HP Home notification
Who handles a Himachal fire NOC: fire station to Chief Fire Officer in 30 days
The department's procedure moves every application through the same 4 desks, whatever the district.
1. The applicant, online
Registers on the single window with an email address and mobile number, and fills Form A. Emerging Himachal single window
2. The fire station in-charge
Sees the application on his login, prints it and inspects the premises. Emerging Himachal single window
3. Form B report
If the fire and life safety measures are satisfactory, the in-charge reports on Form B to the Fire Prevention Officer, Fire Headquarters, Shimla. Emerging Himachal single window
4. The Fire Prevention Officer
An officer of Divisional Fire Officer rank in the Fire Prevention Wing at the Directorate scrutinises every NOC case. HP Fire annual report
5. The Chief Fire Officer: 30 days
Issues or refuses the NOC within 30 days of receipt, on the recommendation of the Divisional Fire Officer, Station Officer or station in-charge. HP Fire annual report
6. Download
The applicant downloads the approved NOC or the rejection from the portal, or prints it. Emerging Himachal single window
7. One real file
An institute near Shimla applied on 30 November 2023, was inspected by the in-charge of Fire Station Kotkhai on 10 January 2024 and got its NOC on 23 January 2024: 54 days. HP Fire NOC copy
Himachal Pradesh fire NOC fee: nil, and the tourism fees beside it
The Fire Services charge nothing for a NOC or its renewal. The money a Himachal homestay or hotel owner pays goes to the Tourism Department, for registration.
As published
- Fire NOC, newNil"No fee is charged for Fire license/ NOC" Emerging Himachal single window
- Fire NOC, renewalNilThe same checklist; the extra document is a copy of the previous NOC Emerging Himachal single window
- Homestay registration, Diamond (room rate over ₹10,000 a day)₹18,000 / ₹12,000 / ₹10,000 a yearMunicipal corporation / TCP, SADA or nagar panchayat / gram panchayat HP Home Stay Rules
- Homestay registration, Gold (₹3,000 to ₹10,000 a day)₹12,000 / ₹8,000 / ₹6,000 a yearRenewal fee the same as registration HP Home Stay Rules
- Homestay registration, Silver (under ₹3,000 a day)₹8,000 / ₹5,000 / ₹3,000 a year HP Home Stay Rules
- Homestay discounts10% for 3 years paid at once5% more for a woman owner; half fees in the Pangi sub-division of Chamba HP Home Stay Rules
- Hotel (tourism unit) registration, draft of 28 January 2026Rooms x half the room rent for 1 dayAt 100% occupancy; renewal at 100% of the registration fee, every 2 years instead of 3 HP Tourism draft rules
Fire lines from the Department of Fire Services checklist; homestay lines from rule 7 of the Home Stay Rules 2025; the hotel line is a draft published for objections, not yet in force as far as Flamekite could find. Every state's fire NOC rates are on the fire NOC fees page.
Ten Himachal instruments behind a fire NOC in 2026
A 1984 Act, one amendment, one notification and a run of orders and rules from other departments.
Act 30 of 1984
HP Fire Fighting Services Act, 1984
Assented 3 December 1984, published 2 February 1985. Section 9 lets the Government notify risky premises and the precautions they must take. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
Act 16 of 2000
HP Fire Fighting Services (Amendment) Act, 2000
Inserted section 15-A on the NOC, section 11-A on companies and sections 12-A to 12-C on prosecution, and raised the section 11 penalty to 1 year or ₹5,000. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
4 August 2005
HP Fire Fighting Services Uniform Rules, 2005
The only rules under the Act on the department's notifications list; no rules on the NOC itself are listed. HP Fire Services
Rules of 1979
HP Cinemas (Regulation) Rules, 1979
Fire precautions for cinemas: fire-resisting material, stairways, exits, seating and extinguishing appliances. HP Fire annual report
Act of 2011
HP Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011
Sets the 30-day time limit for the fire NOC service. Emerging Himachal single window
HOM(FS)(HQ)-3-258
Online order of 16 October 2017
Issue and renewal of NOCs and Site Inspection Reports go online; offline applications are not to be entertained. HP Fire Services
Home-F(A)3-1/2019-I
Section 9 notification of 23 July 2019
17 classes of premises, from hotels over 12 m to RERA projects, and 20 precautions. HP Home notification
TSM-F(10)-10/2003-VI
HP Home Stay Rules, 2025
Notified 25 June 2025: up to 6 rooms and 12 beds, basic fire equipment, CCTV in common areas; repeals the 2008 Home Stay Scheme. HP Home Stay Rules
Act 15 of 2002
HP Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002
Registers hotels, restaurants and travel agents; the Tourism Department's hotel list asks for a Pollution Control Board NOC and a TCP completion report, not a fire NOC. HP Tourism forms
SP 7:2016
National Building Code 2016, Part 4
The standard the department names for NOCs. BIS withdrew NBC 2016 on 30 April 2026 and established SP 7:2026 in its place. Gazette of India
Worked Himachal fire NOC cases from Mall Road Shimla to Baddi
Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.
Flamekite's reading of section 15-A, the 2019 notification and the Home Stay Rules for 6 premises.
Case 1
A ground plus 3 hotel in Manali
Hotel, 4 floors, about 13 m, 30 rooms.
What applies Over 12 m and ground plus 3: class 4 of the 2019 notification, so the precautions the inspecting officer directs apply. At 13 m it is under section 15-A's line for building plans. HP Home notification
Case 2
A 6-room homestay near Kasol
Owner's house in Kullu district, 6 double rooms, 12 beds, Silver category, gram panchayat area.
What applies Within the rules' cap of 6 rooms and 12 beds. Basic fire equipment is mandatory and registration costs ₹3,000 a year; no fire NOC is on the document list. HP Home Stay Rules
Case 3
A 20 m apartment block in Solan
Residential, ground plus 6, registered under RERA.
What applies Above 15 m, so section 15-A requires a fire NOC on its building plans before construction. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
Case 4
A 1,200 m² pharma unit in Baddi
Industrial, single storey, with a 150 m² solvent store.
What applies An industrial building over 250 m² and a hazardous store over 100 m², both listed classes in the 2019 notification. HP Home notification
Case 5
A coaching centre in Hamirpur
40 students on 2 floors of a commercial building.
What applies Class 16: hostels and coaching centres used by 20 or more students. HP Home notification
Case 6
A 2-storey shop in a Dharamshala bazaar
Mercantile, ground plus 1, about 7 m.
What applies Under the mercantile line of more than 9 m or ground plus 2 upper storeys, and outside the list unless it holds a hazardous store over 100 m². HP Home notification
Himachal fire stations for Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Solan and Baddi
Office numbers where the department's telephone list and its 2023-24 report print the same digits.
Department of Fire Services, Directorate Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
Director of Fire Services and Chief Fire Officer; fire-hp@nic.in; office hours 10:00 to 17:00
- Address
- Barnes Court, near Raj Bhavan, Shimla 171002
- Phone
- 0177-2629945
- Website
- himachal.nic.in/fire
Fire Station, Mall Road, Shimla HP Fire telephone list
fs-mall-hp@gov.in
- Phone
- 0177-2652939
Fire Station, Tilak Nagar, Shimla HP Fire telephone list
- Phone
- 0177-2830664
Fire Station, Manali HP Fire telephone list
fs-manali@gov.in
- Phone
- 01902-252222
Fire Station, Dharamshala HP Fire telephone list
fs-dharamshala@gov.in
- Phone
- 01892-224992
Fire Station, Solan HP Fire telephone list
fs-solan@gov.in
- Phone
- 01792-223888
Fire Station, Baddi HP Fire telephone list
fs-baddi@gov.in
- Phone
- 01795-245352
Fire Station, Parwanoo HP Fire telephone list
- Phone
- 01792-233223
Fire Station, Mandi HP Fire telephone list
fs-mandi@gov.in
- Phone
- 01905-222900
Himachal's fire service and fire NOCs in numbers
The scale behind the regime, from the Fire Services' 2023-24 report and the Tourism Department's December 2025 count.
2,597
Fire NOCs issued in 2023-24 HP Fire annual report
22
Fire stations, with 13 sub fire stations and 45 fire posts HP Fire annual report
482
Vacant posts of 1,219 sanctioned technical posts, 31 March 2024 HP Fire annual report
2,213
Fire calls in 2023-24, with 543 rescue calls HP Fire annual report
5,163
Registered hotels and guest houses, December 2025 HP Tourism statistics
5,855
Registered homestays, December 2025, 1,401 of them in Kullu district HP Tourism statistics
Penalties under Himachal's Fire Fighting Services Act, from ₹500 to 1 year
The Act punishes obstruction and false alarms, not the absence of a NOC. On the terms of a 2024 certificate, a holder's practical risk is a NOC treated as cancelled.
| Offence | Penalty | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Wilfully obstructing fire-fighting, or not giving an officer information on the building, water or access | Up to 1 year, a fine up to ₹5,000, or both (3 months or ₹500 until 2000) | Section 11, as amended by Act 16 of 2000, read with section 14 Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| Knowingly giving a false report of a fire | Simple imprisonment up to 2 months, a fine up to ₹500, or both | Section 12 Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| A member of the service violating duty or deserting | Up to 3 months, a fine up to 3 months' pay, or both | Section 10 Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| Not removing goods that risk fire after a direction | The goods may be seized, detained or removed after a hearing | Section 9(2) Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| An offence by a company or firm | The company and every person in charge of its business are deemed guilty | Section 11-A Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| Who can prosecute | Only on a complaint by the Chief Fire Officer or an officer he authorises, before a Judicial Magistrate 1st class or higher | Sections 12-A and 12-B Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh |
| Fire equipment not kept in running condition | The NOC is treated as cancelled | Condition 2 of the 2024 Shimla NOC HP Fire NOC copy |
| Running a homestay against the Home Stay Rules | Penal action under the Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002 | Home Stay Rules 2025, rule 11(2) HP Home Stay Rules |
Amounts as amended by the HP Fire Fighting Services (Amendment) Act, 2000. The Act sets no separate penalty for running premises without a NOC.
Himachal fire law and fire NOC, 1972 to 2026
Himachal's NOC rests on a 1984 Act and a 2000 amendment; most of the procedure arrived after 2017.
1972
The fire services are provincialised; until then municipal committees and corporations ran them. HP Fire annual report
3 December 1984
The HP Fire Fighting Services Act receives assent; it is published on 2 February 1985. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
27 May 2000
The Amendment Act receives assent, inserting the section 15-A NOC; it is published on 30 May 2000. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
4 August 2005
The HP Fire Fighting Services Uniform Rules are notified. HP Fire Services
16 October 2017
NOC and Site Inspection Report applications go online only. HP Fire Services
23 July 2019
The section 9 notification lists 17 classes of premises and 20 precautions. HP Home notification
23 August 2024
The department announces online NOC applications through the Emerging Himachal single window. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
24 September 2024
A town planning amendment allowing 13 to 20 storey buildings is notified; the High Court later stays it (news reports). The Tribunenews report
25 June 2025
The Home Stay Rules replace the 2008 Home Stay Scheme. HP Home Stay Rules
28 January 2026
Draft tourism trade rules propose hotel registration renewals every 2 years. HP Tourism draft rules
2 February 2026
The homestay portal opens; the Chief Minister says renewals must not stall over fire NOCs (news report). News Arena Indianews report
30 April 2026
BIS withdraws NBC 2016, the code the department names for NOCs. Gazette of India
Himachal homestay, hotel and high-rise fire NOC news, 2023 to 2026
From news reports, not yet an official source.
Six reports. Flamekite found no official order behind the February 2026 provisional registrations, nor behind the revised standards reported in July 2026.
12 April 2023
Relaying the Hindustan Times on a CAG report: only 55 of 2,806 government schools and none of 99 major government hospitals held fire NOCs, and 257 of 938 operational fire posts were vacant. IFSJnews report
12 December 2024
The Tribune reported that the High Court had stayed the town planning notification of 24 September 2024 allowing 13 to 20 storey buildings, and summoned the State Town Planner. The Tribunenews report
14 April 2025
The Tribune reported from Kasauli that tourism units renew their fire NOCs every two years, and that hoteliers in old buildings struggle with the water tanks, alarms, sprinklers and exits NBC 2016 asks for. The Tribunenews report
22 August 2025
The Tribune reported the Chief Minister telling the Assembly that the government would consider relaxing the NOC condition for fire equipment in homestays run in old heritage buildings, after the Manali MLA raised it. The Tribunenews report
2 February 2026
News Arena reported that the Chief Minister launched homestay.hp.gov.in and directed that homestay renewals not be stalled over fire NOCs, with provisional registrations in the meantime. News Arena Indianews report
16 July 2026
Amar Ujala reported from Kelang that the Lahaul Hoteliers Association sought relief for cold-desert areas from revised fire NOC standards the department now applies to new registrations and renewals. Amar Ujalanews report
Himachal fire NOC mistakes that stall a hotel or homestay renewal
Seven traps from the Himachal Act, the 2019 notification and the department's papers, each with the fix.
If Taking a paper application to the fire station
Offline applications have not been entertained since 16 October 2017. File Form A online. HP Fire Services
If Treating a 13 m hotel as outside the rules because section 15-A says above 15 m
Hotels and guest houses over 12 m, or ground plus 3, are class 4 of the 2019 notification. HP Home notification
If Sending extinguishers without test papers
The checklist wants a hydraulic pressure test report for every extinguisher, a manufacturing-year certificate for old ones and explosive certificates for CO2 units. Emerging Himachal single window
If Expecting the NOC within days
The limit is 30 days; one 2023 application took 54 days from filing to a signed NOC. Apply well before an opening or a registration deadline. HP Fire NOC copy
If Assuming the tourism registration covers fire safety
The Tourism Department's hotel list asks for a Pollution Control Board NOC and a TCP completion report, not a fire NOC; the fire duty comes from the Fire Act and the 2019 notification. HP Tourism forms
If Adding rooms to a registered homestay without telling Tourism
Any change in the number of rooms must be notified first and needs fresh registration; past 6 rooms or 12 beds it is no longer a homestay. HP Home Stay Rules
If Letting the certificate's end date pass
The 2024 Shimla NOC was issued for 2 years, to 22 January 2026. Diary the date and renew with a copy of the old NOC before it. HP Fire NOC copy
Keeping a Himachal fire NOC in force between inspections
The conditions printed on a 2024 Himachal NOC, with the checklist's records and the Act's duty to inform.
Do
- Train every person working on the premises to operate the fire equipment installed (condition 1). HP Fire NOC copy
- Keep the equipment in perfect running condition; failing that, the certificate is treated as cancelled (condition 2). HP Fire NOC copy
- Run a mock drill under the fire safety plan at least once every 3 months and keep a written record for the fire services (condition 3). HP Fire NOC copy
- Keep an extinguisher register: location, manufacturing date, refilling date, explosive or serial number, make and HPT date. Emerging Himachal single window
- Consult the local Fire Officer before an annual function with temporary structures or pandals. HP Fire NOC copy
Don’t
- Don't let housekeeping slip: good housekeeping is condition 4 of the certificate. HP Fire NOC copy
- Don't refuse a fire officer details of the building, water supply or access: neglect is punishable with up to 1 year under section 11. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
- Don't leave a shared building's measures to one owner: the 2019 notification splits them by the area each owner or occupier holds. HP Home notification
Five myths about the fire licence in Himachal Pradesh
You may have read
A Himachal fire NOC must be renewed every year.
Myth
What the sources say
The Act sets no term, and the 2024 Shimla certificate Flamekite read was issued for 2 years. HP Fire NOC copy
You may have read
You can still apply on paper at the nearest fire station.
Myth
What the sources say
Applications have been online only since the Chief Fire Officer's order of 16 October 2017. HP Fire Services
You may have read
The fire department charges a NOC fee in Himachal.
Myth
What the sources say
Its checklist says no fee is charged for the fire licence or NOC. Emerging Himachal single window
You may have read
Only buildings above 15 m have fire duties.
Myth
What the sources say
The 2019 notification reaches hotels over 12 m, shops and institutions over 9 m, every school and assembly building, and coaching centres of 20 students. HP Home notification
You may have read
Every homestay needs a fire NOC to register.
Myth
What the sources say
The Home Stay Rules 2025 require basic fire equipment; a fire NOC is not among the 7 registration documents. HP Home Stay Rules
Himachal fire NOC terms, from Form A to HPT report
The 10 terms a Himachal applicant meets on the portal, on the certificate and in the rules.
- Form A
- The online application for a fire NOC on the single window. Emerging Himachal single window
- Form B
- The fire station in-charge's inspection report to the Fire Prevention Officer. Emerging Himachal single window
- Fire Prevention Officer
- The Divisional Fire Officer-rank officer of the Fire Prevention Wing at the Shimla Directorate who scrutinises NOC cases. HP Fire annual report
- Chief Fire Officer, HP
- The officer who approves or rejects the NOC and signs it digitally. HP Fire NOC copy
- HPT report
- The hydraulic pressure test report the checklist asks for on every extinguisher. Emerging Himachal single window
- SIR
- Site Inspection Report, applied for online with the NOC since 2017. HP Fire Services
- SWCS
- The Single Window Clearance System of the Directorate of Industries, Emerging Himachal, which issues the NOC. HP Fire NOC copy
- Fire post
- The smallest fire unit, headed by a Leading Fireman; 45 in 2023-24. HP Fire annual report
- Prescribed authority
- The District or Assistant Tourism Development Officer who registers homestays. HP Home Stay Rules
- Bonafide Himachali
- A person with a permanent home in Himachal, or 20 years' residence, given preference for homestay registration. HP Home Stay Rules
Himachal fire NOC online: Emerging Himachal and the Fire Services site
Every Himachal fire NOC is filed on the single window; the Act, notifications and contacts sit on the department's site.
Apply
Emerging Himachal single window
Register, file Form A for a new NOC or a renewal, track it and download the signed NOC. Emerging Himachal single window
emerginghimachal.hp.gov.inDepartment
Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
Acts and rules, notifications, the 2023-24 report and the Contact Us telephone list. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
himachal.nic.in/fireChecklist
Fire NOC checklist and procedure
4 document groups, 8 steps, no fee and the 30-day limit. Emerging Himachal single window
emerginghimachal.hp.gov.in//themes/backend/uploads/kya/Fire_Checklist%20and%20procedure.pdfLaw
Acts and Rules page
The 1984 Act and the 2000 amendment, section 15-A included. Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh
himachal.nic.in/fire/Content/MenuContent?qs=h%2Fyhm1mKjnALyb1l6EG%2BHA%3D%3DHomestays
HP Tourism notifications
The Home Stay Rules 2025 and the tourism trade rules; homestays register on the Tourism e-Services portal. HP Home Stay Rules
himachaltourism.gov.in/notifications
What Flamekite could not confirm about fire NOC in Himachal Pradesh
Seven points no official Himachal source we read settles, as of 24 October 2026.
How long a Himachal fire NOC lasts by law. The Act is silent; the one certificate Flamekite read ran 2 years, and The Tribune reported 2-year renewals for tourism units in April 2025.
Whether every one of the 17 classes in the 2019 notification needs a NOC, or only the precautions. The notification lists precautions; section 15-A names three kinds of premises; the department's 2023-24 report adds educational institutions.
Whether a homestay of up to 6 rooms needs a fire NOC. The Home Stay Rules 2025 list none, yet the Chief Minister spoke in August 2025 of a mandatory NOC condition and in February 2026 ordered provisional registrations; no written order was found.
What the revised fire NOC standards reported from Lahaul in July 2026 are. No circular was found on the department's site.
Whether NOC rules exist under section 20 of the Act. Only the 2005 Uniform Rules are listed.
The official height and storey limits for Shimla, Manali and Dharamshala. The Town and Country Planning Department's site refused every request on 24 October 2026; the Shimla Development Plan 2041, cleared by the Supreme Court in January 2024, and the 2024 amendment stayed by the High Court were read only in news reports.
The text of the Public Service Guarantee notification behind the 30-day limit, and the CAG report of 2023. The first link returns no document; the second was found only in press accounts.
Questions about fire NOC in Himachal Pradesh
Is fire NOC mandatory in Himachal Pradesh?
- Yes, for the building plans of every building above 15 m, every industrial unit and every establishment dealing with explosive or highly inflammable substances, under section 15-A of the HP Fire Fighting Services Act. A 2019 notification also makes hotels over 12 m, shops and institutions over 9 m, schools, assembly buildings and 13 other classes take fire precautions.
Who issues fire NOC in Shimla?
- The Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh, at Barnes Court, Shimla, not the municipal corporation. The in-charge of your fire station inspects, the Fire Prevention Officer checks the report and the Chief Fire Officer, HP signs the NOC.
Does a hotel in Himachal need a fire NOC?
- A hotel above 15 m needs one under section 15-A. Hotels and guest houses over 12 m, or ground plus 3 upper storeys, are also a listed class in the 2019 notification and must take the precautions the inspecting officer directs. The Tourism Department's own registration list does not ask for a fire NOC.
Does a homestay in Himachal need a fire NOC?
- The Home Stay Rules 2025 require basic fire equipment in a homestay of up to 6 rooms and 12 beds, and a fire NOC is not one of the 7 registration documents. In February 2026 the Chief Minister reportedly told the Tourism Department not to stall renewals over fire NOCs.
How much is the fire NOC fee in Himachal Pradesh?
- Nothing. The Department of Fire Services' checklist says no fee is charged for the fire licence or NOC, and the same holds for renewal. Homestay and hotel registration fees are paid to the Tourism Department, not to the fire service.
How long is a fire NOC valid in Himachal Pradesh?
- The Act does not say. A NOC issued by the Chief Fire Officer on 23 January 2024 to an institute near Shimla was valid for 2 years, to 22 January 2026, on condition that staff were trained, equipment kept running and drills held every 3 months.
How many days does Himachal take to issue a fire NOC?
- 30 days, under the HP Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011, and the department's own norm is 30 days from receipt. One application filed on 30 November 2023 was inspected on 10 January 2024 and signed on 23 January 2024.
Can I apply for a Himachal fire NOC offline?
- No. The Chief Fire Officer's order of 16 October 2017 moved NOC and renewal applications online and told stations not to entertain offline ones. Apply on Form A through the Emerging Himachal single window.
Keep reading
- Fire NOC in India: the complete guideWho needs a fire NOC, how to apply, and the rules in every state.
- Fire NOC checkerAnswer a few questions to see whether your Himachal premises need a NOC.
- Fire NOC renewal date toolWork out when a 2-year Himachal NOC falls due.
- Fire NOC fees by stateHimachal's nil fee beside every other state's rates.
- Fire NOC validity by stateHimachal's unwritten term against the rest of India.
- Documents for a fire NOCHimachal's extinguisher test papers beside other states' lists.
- Apply for a fire NOC onlineEmerging Himachal and every other state's fire portal.
- Fire NOC in PunjabHimachal's western neighbour: Provisional and Final Fire Safety Certificates.
Keep exploring
Fire NOC in other North Indian states
More in Fire NOC guide
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources
- Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: Acts and Rules: HP Fire Fighting Services Act, 1984 with the 2000 amendment (section 15-A) (opens in a new tab)
- Emerging Himachal single window: Fire NOC checklist and procedure (Form A) (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: HP Fire Services home page (Barnes Court, Shimla) (opens in a new tab)
- Himachal Pradesh Fire Services (NOC copy hosted by ABVGIET, Shimla): Fire NOC for an institutional building in Shimla, valid 23 January 2024 to 22 January 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Himachal Pradesh, Department of Home (copy hosted by the Department of Fire Services): Notification No. Home-F(A)3-1/2019-I, 23 July 2019, under section 9(1) of the HP Fire Fighting Services Act, 1984: 17 classes of premises and 20 fire precautions, English and Hindi texts (opens in a new tab)
- Directorate of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: Order No. HOM(FS)(HQ)-3-258/NOC Online, 16 October 2017: online submission of applications for issue and renewal of NOC and Site Inspection Report; offline applications not to be entertained (opens in a new tab)
Show all 23 sourcesShow fewer
- Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: Annual Administrative Report 2023-24 (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024): 2,597 fire NOCs issued, NOC within 30 days, 22 fire stations, 13 sub fire stations, 45 fire posts, staff, calls, fleet and directory of officers (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: Organization page (last updated 4 July 2025): provincialised 1972, Act of 1984 amended 2000, Uniform Rules 2005, Fire Prevention Wing, list of fire stations and fire posts (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: Notifications list (last updated 4 July 2025): the 2019 section 9 notification, the 2017 online order and the HP Fire Fighting Services Uniform Rules, 2005 (4 August 2005) (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire Services, Himachal Pradesh: Telephone list of fire stations, sub fire stations and fire posts (linked from the Contact Us page, last updated 26 August 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Himachal Pradesh, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation (copy hosted by HP Tourism): Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025: notification No. TSM-F(10)-10/2003-VI, 25 June 2025, with Annexures I to III and Forms A to C (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Himachal Pradesh: Application forms and document lists for registration of tourism units, travel agents, guides, restaurants and adventure operators under the HP Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002 (opens in a new tab)
- Government of Himachal Pradesh, Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation (copy hosted by HP Tourism): Draft HP Tourism Development and Registration of Tourism Trade (Amendment) Rules, 2025, notification No. TSM-A(3)-2/2025, 28 January 2026: renewal every 2 years instead of 3 (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Himachal Pradesh: Statistics of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, home stay units and bed capacity by district, December 2019 to December 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Gazette of India (Bureau of Indian Standards notification): Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part III Sec 4, No. 299, 30 April 2026: SP 7:2026 established, SP 7:2016 withdrawn (Ref HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS (1529)) (opens in a new tab)
- The Tribune: TCP dept to allow up to 20-storey structures, but doubts raised on practicability of move (29 September 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Outlook: Supreme Court clears path for Shimla Development Plan 2041 against stay imposed by NGT (12 January 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- News Arena India: HP govt rolls out homestay registration portal (2 February 2026): renewals not to be stalled over fire NOCs; provisional registration (opens in a new tab)
- International Fire and Safety Journal (relaying the Hindustan Times): Himachal Pradesh schools and hospitals face fire safety lapses (12 April 2023): CAG findings on fire NOCs (opens in a new tab)
- The Tribune: High-rise buildings: HC summons town planner (12 December 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- The Tribune: Hoteliers seek relaxation in fire norms, cite space, money crunch (14 April 2025): tourism units renew fire NOCs every two years (opens in a new tab)
- The Tribune: Will consider relaxing NOC condition for fire-fighting equipment in homestays: Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu (22 August 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Amar Ujala: Demand for relief in fire NOC norms; hoteliers submit memorandum (Kelang, 16 July 2026), in Hindi (opens in a new tab)