Is a fire NOC mandatory for a hostel?

It depends on the state and the building. Most states require one from 15 m, Delhi over 15 m or 5 storeys, Karnataka from 21 m, Kerala over 1,000 m² or 15 m, and Himachal Pradesh lists hostels used by 20 or more students at any height. Below the line, fire equipment is still required: Maharashtra's Schedule-I sets it under 15 m too.

What is the fire safety norm for hostels in the NBC?

Hostels are dormitories: A-3 in NBC 2016 and A-II in NBCS 2026. Rooms sleeping more than 10 need two exits in different directions, stairs must be at least 1.25 m wide, and the protection table runs from extinguishers and a hose reel to wet risers and detection as height and area grow.

How often should a hostel hold a fire drill?

UGC's 2015 guidelines ask colleges for a mock fire drill at least once a semester. Goa's fire service asks for drills every quarter, with night drills in hostels.

Do PG accommodations follow the same fire NOC rules as hostels?

Not always. NBCS 2026 puts lodging and rooming houses in A-I, apart from dormitories, and some orders treat PGs separately: Chandigarh charges PG buildings as Group A lodging, and Punjab's fee letter names hostels and PGs together.

Does a women's hostel in Tamil Nadu need a licence?

Yes. The Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, 2014 bars any hostel or lodging house for women or children from running without the Collector's licence. Running without one carries up to 2 years and a fine up to Rs 50,000.

What is the fire NOC fee for a hostel?

Only a few schedules name hostels. Punjab charges Rs 20,000 for hostels and PGs up to 15 m on plots under 1 acre; Meghalaya Rs 3 per m² for A3 dormitories; Chandigarh Rs 14 per m² with a Rs 6,615 minimum. Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh charge no portal fee.

Do coaching hostels in Kota need a fire NOC?

In Rajasthan any building taller than 15 m needs a permanent fire NOC before its occupancy certificate. The coaching Bill of 2025 defined a hostel as accommodation for 10 or more paying students; the enacted Coaching Centres Act 16 of 2025 requires a Fire and Building Safety Certificate for coaching buildings, but no commencement notification was found by 25 October 2026.

Fire NOC 29 min read

Fire NOC for a hostel: when it is needed, what the codes ask and what it costs

Updated October 2026By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on 25 October 2026

Quick answer

A hostel is a dormitory in the fire codes: occupancy A-3 in NBC 2016 and A-II in NBCS 2026, which names school, college, student and other hostels. Whether it needs a fire NOC depends on your state's line: 15 m in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, over 15 m or 5 storeys in Delhi, 21 m in Karnataka, over 1,000 m² or 15 m in Kerala, and 20 students in Himachal Pradesh, whatever the height.

Below the line a hostel still owes fire equipment. Maharashtra's Schedule-I sets extinguishers, a hose reel and a 5,000 litre terrace tank even under 15 m; Tamil Nadu licenses every women's and children's hostel through the Collector and bars blocked stairs and stored kerosene. NBCS 2026 wants two exits from any room sleeping more than 10, and UGC asks colleges for a fire drill every semester.

Hostel class in NBCS 2026: A-II; Dormitories; A-3 in NBC 2016; The terms
Himachal hostel line: 20 students; Class 16 of the 2019 notification; In numbers
Two exits needed above: 10 persons; In one sleeping room, NBCS 2026; The clause
Punjab fee, hostel up to 15 m: Rs 20,000; Lump sum, plot under 1 acre; Fee lines

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Fire NOC for a hostel at a glance: 10 facts

How the fire codes and state laws treat a hostel, each fact with the instrument behind it. Last verified 25 October 2026.
What	The rule	Source
Occupancy in NBCS 2026	A-II Dormitories: "school and college dormitories, students, and other hostels and military barracks"	BIS, SP 7:2026
Occupancy in NBC 2016	A-3 Dormitories: school and college dormitories, hostels and military barracks	BIS, NBC 2016 Part 4
A hostel on a school campus	The residential portion of a school or institution is classed A-II, not educational	BIS, SP 7:2026
Lowest named hostel line	Himachal Pradesh: "Hostel and coaching centres used for not less than 20 students" (class 16, 23 July 2019)	HP Home notification
Most common height line	15 m: flats, hostels and dormitories 15 m and above in Gujarat; over 15 m in Uttar Pradesh	Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Sleeping rooms	More than 10 persons in a room: two separate exit accesses in different directions (NBCS 2026, 6.1.1.2)	BIS, SP 7:2026
Hostel stairs	At least 1.25 m wide for A-I, A-II and A-III residential buildings	BIS, SP 7:2026
Hostel-specific law	Tamil Nadu Act 18 of 2014: no hostel or home for women and children runs without the Collector's licence	TN Hostels Act 2014
Drills in colleges	UGC 2015: a fire mock drill at least once a semester	UGC guidelines 2015
National code status	NBC 2016 was withdrawn on 30 April 2026; NBCS 2026 is voluntary, and only Assam had written it into its fire law by 24 October 2026	Assam Act XIII of 2026

Hostel fire NOC lines in 18 states and UTs: height, area or students

When a hostel crosses each state's fire NOC or fire-safety line, in the instrument's words where it names hostels or dormitories. Where it does not, the row says which residential line Flamekite reads a hostel into. Checked 25 October 2026.
Option	When a hostel is caught	Other hostel rule in the same instrument	Instrument	Source
Himachal Pradesh	Hostels and coaching centres used by 20 or more students (class 16); building plans above 15 m need the NOC (s.15-A)	Commercial kitchens such as the hostels of educational institutions are class 14	Notification of 23 July 2019 under s.9; Act of 1984, s.15-A	HP Home notification
Gujarat	Flats, hostels and dormitories 15 m and above	Bands of 15 to 35 m, 35 to 45 m, 45 to 60 m and under 100 m	Fire Regulations 2023, Third Schedule, Table 1	Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Delhi	Residential buildings over 15 m or 5 storeys; hostels are not named, so Flamekite reads them into this row	Hotels and guest houses have their own line, over 12 m or 4 storeys	DFS Rules 2010, Rule 27 as amended	DFS
Uttar Pradesh	More than 15 m	Schedule VI files apartments and dormitories (A3, A4) together: the district signs up to 60 m	Act 16 of 2022, s.26(3); Rules 2024	UP Act 16 of 2022
Bihar	15 m or more, any use	Educational buildings from 9 m	Fire Service Rules 2021, rule 15(a)	Bihar Rules 2021
Maharashtra	Every height band: Schedule-I sets minimum installations for dormitories (A-3) below 15 m too	Talk-back and public address from 24 m for A-3	Act of 2006, Schedule-I substituted in 2023	MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
Karnataka	21 m or more, any occupancy; Seva Sindhu still lists above 15 m	None for hostels	Fire Force Act, s.13(3) as amended in 2023	Government of Karnataka
Telangana	No dormitory row; the nearest residential rows are lodging and apartments above 18 m	The 24 m line of 7 October 2026 is for residential apartments only: "No change for other occupancy types"	Circulars of 5 March 2016 and Rc.No.3455/MSB/2026	TGFD circular 3455
Kerala	A2 lodging, hostels and dormitories over 1,000 m² or over 15 m	300 to 1,000 m² up to 15 m: an Appendix L self-declaration with a copy to the fire station	Municipality Building Rules, rule 5(4)	KMBR amendment 2025
Tamil Nadu	Over 18.3 m: the Director's NOC; up to 18.3 m the District Officer	Women's and children's hostels need the Collector's licence under the 2014 Act	Fire Service Act 1985; TNFRS procedure; Act 18 of 2014	Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services
Rajasthan	Taller than 15 m, any use: permanent fire NOC before the occupancy certificate	Coaching centres for more than 50 students need a fire NOC	Model Building Regulations 2025 as amended by the UDH order of 29 May 2026	Urban Development and Housing Department, Rajasthan
Punjab	No height line published	The fee letter names hostels and PGs up to 15 m: Rs 20,000 lump sum on plots under 1 acre	Fee letter 41343 of 8 October 2021	Local Govt Punjab
Jharkhand	15.0 m and above (bye-laws)	Hotels, hostels and lodges of 50 rooms and above must appoint a Fire Safety Officer	Act 9 of 2024, s.29(b)	Government of Jharkhand
Assam	Any building of 15 m or more is high risk	Under 15 m, lodges and dormitories of more than 15 rooms are moderate risk, up to 15 rooms low	Act LIII of 2025, Schedule I	Assam Act LIII of 2025
Uttarakhand	Dormitories above 12 m and above 500 m² need fire-safety plan permission	Homes from 12 m	Act of 2016 as amended in 2022, s.18	Uttarakhand Gazette 2022
Andhra Pradesh	A hostel with more than 500 m² on any one floor; any building of 24 m or more	Residential apartments are left out of the floor-area clause by name	Fire Service Act 1999, s.13(1) as amended in 2026	Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
West Bengal	14.5 m or more	Zonal Technical Expert Committees handle hostels up to 35 m since 9 December 2025	Order 1591 of 2025	WB F&ES order 1591
Lakshadweep	Over 15 m; educational buildings over 500 m²	A Fire Safety Officer for hostels for 200 or more	Rules 2026, Schedule II	Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary Vol. LXII No. 42, 3 September 2026

Getting a hostel's fire NOC in 7 steps

Record the hostel as a dormitory, not a school
Fix the occupancy as A-3 (NBC 2016) or A-II (NBCS 2026). A hostel block on a campus is still A-II; the classrooms beside it are educational and may have a lower line.
Measure height, floor area and student count
Test the building against your state's row above: Himachal counts 20 students, Kerala 1,000 m² of all floors, Andhra Pradesh 500 m² on one floor, most states 15 m.
Check the hostel licence that sits beside the NOC
In Tamil Nadu a women's or children's hostel needs the Collector's licence; in Rajasthan a coaching centre's hostel falls under the coaching Bill once it is law. Neither replaces the fire NOC.
Fit the systems for the height band and the exits for the rooms
Extinguishers and a hose reel at every height in Maharashtra; a down-comer and manual alarm from 15 m; two exits from any room sleeping more than 10; stairs of at least 1.25 m.
File on the state portal with drawings and papers
Upload the fire drawings, ownership or lease proof and the agency's certificate. The full lists are on the documents page; the fee comes from your state's schedule.
Pass the inspection and display the certificate
The fire officer checks the exits, stairs, kitchen separation and equipment. Keep the certificate and the approved plans on the premises.
Drill every semester and diary the renewal
UGC asks colleges for a fire drill at least once a semester. Renewal runs by state: 5 years for residential buildings in Uttar Pradesh, and 5 years in Delhi until 20 May 2027.

Hostel, dormitory and lodging: the occupancy words fire officers use

The class a fire officer records decides which line and which table apply. These 8 terms come from the codes and the 2 state laws that define a hostel.

A-II Dormitories (NBCS 2026): Group sleeping accommodation for people not of one family, in one room or closely associated rooms under single management: school and college dormitories, student and other hostels, military barracks. BIS, SP 7:2026
A-3 Dormitories (NBC 2016): The same class under the withdrawn 2016 code, which most existing hostels were approved under. BIS, NBC 2016 Part 4
Residential portion of a school: NBCS 2026 clause 3.1.3: residential accommodation in a school or institution is classed A-II, separately from the educational building. BIS, SP 7:2026
A-I Lodging and rooming houses: Separate sleeping rooms without cooking for individuals: inns, clubs, motels, guest houses. Over 20 persons in one building is A-I or A-III. Paying guest buildings usually sit here, not with hostels. BIS, SP 7:2026
Hostel (Tamil Nadu, s.2(e)): "Hostel" or "lodging house" means a building in which accommodation is provided for women or children or both, with or without boarding. TN Hostels Act 2014
Hostel (Rajasthan coaching Bill, s.2(h)): Residential accommodation provided by a coaching centre or a person, society, trust or company to 10 or more students on payment. Rajasthan Assembly
A3 Dormitories, hostels, barracks (Meghalaya): Meghalaya's fee annexure splits the class at 20 persons for the renewal fee. Meghalaya F&ES
Occupant load, residential: 12.5 m² per person of net floor area, the figure used to size a hostel's exits (NBCS 2026 Table 2). BIS, SP 7:2026

NBCS 2026 on hostel sleeping rooms: two exits above 10 persons

The 2026 national standard adds one rule of its own for dormitories, on top of the lodging-house rules it borrows.

Word for word

b) All sleeping rooms having occupancy of more than 10 persons should have two separate and distinct exit access in different directions.

Clause 6.1.1.2, Subdivision A-II, SP 7:2026 National Building Construction Standards, Part F: Fire and Life Safety, Bureau of Indian Standards BIS, SP 7:2026

Clause 6.1.1.2(a) applies the A-I rules to hostels as well: no chain bolts, limited-opening sliding locks or burglar locks that do not release quickly; bathroom locks that open from outside without a special key; no sole escape route through a non-residential part of the building; and two separate exits, one discharging directly outside, on any floor of 500 m². A dormitory of 12 beds behind one door fails the clause. NBCS 2026 is voluntary until your state adopts it, but fire officers and auditors already read it.

Fire systems a hostel needs by height: NBC 2016 Table 7 and Maharashtra Schedule-I

NBC 2016 and Maharashtra's Schedule-I of 2023 put dormitories (A-3) in the same rows as apartments. These are the minimum installations for each height band, read off the page images.

	Hose and risers	Alarm and detection	Water storage	Pumps
Below 15 m MH Act 2023 Schedule-I	Extinguishers and a first-aid hose reel	Not required	Terrace tank 5,000 litres, doubled with a basement over 200 m²	Terrace pump 450 l/min
15 m to 35 m MH Act 2023 Schedule-I	Hose reel and a down-comer	Manual fire alarm; talk-back and public address from 24 m	Terrace tank 25,000 litres	Terrace pump 900 l/min
Above 35 m to 45 m NBC 2016, Part 4	Hose reel and a wet riser	Manual fire alarm	Underground 75,000 litres, terrace 5,000 litres	Electric and diesel pumps of 2,280 l/min and a 180 l/min jockey
Above 45 m to 60 m NBC 2016, Part 4	Wet riser and yard hydrant	Manual fire alarm	Underground 1,50,000 litres, terrace 10,000 litres	2 electric pumps, a diesel standby and 2 jockeys
Above 60 m NBC 2016, Part 4	Wet riser and yard hydrant	Manual alarm and automatic detection	Underground 2,00,000 litres, terrace 10,000 litres	Pumps of 2,850 l/min

Maharashtra adds sprinklers in any basement over 200 m², and above 45 m sprinklers the whole building, rooms included (Notes 4 and 15(b)). Section 3 of the 2006 Act applies Schedule-I below 15 m too, so a 3-storey hostel in Pune still needs extinguishers, a hose reel and a terrace tank. Every band needs extinguishers.

NBCS 2026 hostel protection levels by floor area: self-certify, HL-1 or HL-2

NBCS 2026 Table 7A grades a dormitory by its area as well as its height. A small hostel may be self-certified; a large one adds a down-comer and automatic detection.

Up to 500 m² and 24 m
Self-certification
Where both conditions are met, "self-certification by a certified and State approved building professional should be treated acceptable". BIS, SP 7:2026
501 to 1,000 m²
HL-1
Fire extinguishers and a first-aid hose reel. No down-comer, riser, hydrant, sprinkler, detection or public address. BIS, SP 7:2026
1,001 m² and above
HL-2
Extinguishers, hose reel and a down-comer, with automatic fire detection and alarm that includes an LPG or PNG gas detector. BIS, SP 7:2026
Hostel mess kitchens
120-minute separation
All live cooking areas in hostels, whatever the fuel, "should be 120 min fire rated segregated from other areas" (clause 4.5.3.6). BIS, SP 7:2026
15 m and above
Green exit signs
No point more than 30 m from a visible exit sign; the rule does not apply to A-II buildings below 15 m (clause 3.5.6.4). BIS, SP 7:2026

Hostel fire safety checklist for owners and wardens: 12 items

These 12 points come from NBCS 2026, the Tamil Nadu Hostels Act and the UGC guidelines. A fire officer inspecting a hostel looks for each of them.

Fire extinguishers and a first-aid hose reel, which Schedule-I requires for dormitories in every height band, kept in working order. MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
Emergency lighting that works, maintained with the rest of the lighting (Tamil Nadu s.14(1)(e)). TN Hostels Act 2014
Two separate exit accesses, in different directions, from every room sleeping more than 10. BIS, SP 7:2026
Stairs at least 1.25 m wide, with nothing kept on any flight, passage or other means of escape. BIS, SP 7:2026
No chain bolts or burglar locks on exit doors; bathroom locks that open from outside without a special key. BIS, SP 7:2026
No kerosene, petrol, spirit or other flammable stock inside the hostel (Tamil Nadu s.14(2)(a)). TN Hostels Act 2014
The mess kitchen separated from the rest of the building by 120-minute fire-rated construction. BIS, SP 7:2026
No stove or heater under the stairs or at their foot; kitchen exhaust taken outside through a non-combustible duct. BIS, SP 7:2026
Students sleep only in rooms licensed as bedrooms, at the number the licence allows (Tamil Nadu s.14(3) and (4)). TN Hostels Act 2014
Detection and warning: smoke alarms or detection devices and a procedure for controlling a fire (UGC 2015). UGC guidelines 2015
Students and staff trained on the firefighting equipment, with a mock fire drill at least once a semester. UGC guidelines 2015
The building approved by the competent authority for hostel use, and the fire certificate on the premises (Tamil Nadu s.15(1)). TN Hostels Act 2014

Campus, coaching and working women's hostels: the extra rulebooks

Three kinds of hostel carry a second set of rules beside the fire NOC: college hostels under UGC, women's and children's hostels in Tamil Nadu, and coaching hostels in Rajasthan and Delhi.

UGC's Guidelines on Safety of Students on and off Campuses of Higher Educational Institutions (April 2015) ask every college and university for a fire safety system: detection, warning, and standard operating procedures to control a fire, which "may include sprinkler systems or other fire extinguishing systems, fire detection devices, stand-alone smoke alarms" and fire doors and walls. Students and staff are to be trained on the equipment, and "mock drills for fire situation should be undertaken at least once in a semester". The guidelines are UGC's advice to institutions; the fire NOC itself still comes from the state.

Tamil Nadu is the one state Flamekite found with an Act for hostels as such. The Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, 2014 bars anyone from running a hostel or lodging house for women or children without the Collector's licence (section 4). The hostel must be in a building approved by the competent authority (section 15), keep emergency lighting and adequate fire extinguishers (section 14), and keep stairs and passages clear of obstruction. The Amendment Act 37 of 2024 moves the licence online, raises the fee cap from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 and the term from 3 to 10 years, from a date the State notifies. Flamekite did not find that notification.

Coaching hostels sit under coaching law. Rajasthan's Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, as the Select Committee reported it, defines a hostel as residential accommodation for 10 or more paying students and makes the coaching building "obtain a Fire and Building Safety Certificate from the local body concerned". It was enacted as Act 16 of 2025 (assent 23 September 2025; s.10(b) keeps the Fire and Building Safety Certificate), but no commencement notification was found. In Delhi the High Court's order of 14 December 2023 refused to relax the fire directions for coaching centres, and the Supreme Court, describing fire NOCs as mandatory for all coaching centres, dismissed the challenge on 5 August 2024 with Rs 1,00,000 costs. Neither order is about hostels as such; a Delhi hostel falls under the residential line of Rule 27.

Large hostels also need a Fire Safety Officer in 2 places: Jharkhand's Act of 2024 names hotels, hostels and lodges of 50 rooms and above, and Lakshadweep's Rules of 2026 name hostels for 200 or more.

The extra hostel rules and where they come from
What	The rule	Source
College hostels	Fire safety system and a fire drill every semester (UGC, April 2015)	UGC guidelines 2015
Women's and children's hostels, Tamil Nadu	Collector's licence; extinguishers and emergency lighting (Act 18 of 2014)	TN Hostels Act 2014
Coaching hostels, Rajasthan	Hostel = 10 or more paying students; Fire and Building Safety Certificate (Bill 11 of 2025)	Rajasthan Assembly
Coaching centres, Delhi and NCR	Fire NOC compulsory; challenge dismissed on 5 August 2024	Supreme Court order
Hostels of 50 rooms, Jharkhand	Fire Safety Officer (s.29(b))	Government of Jharkhand
Hostels for 200, Lakshadweep	Fire Safety Officer (Schedule II)	Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary Vol. LXII No. 42, 3 September 2026

Does your hostel need a fire NOC? 10 cases

Match your hostel's state, height and size to one line. Where a state does not name hostels, the line given is Flamekite's reading of its residential row.

If A hostel in Himachal Pradesh used by 20 or more students
It is class 16 of the 2019 notification, whatever its height. Building plans above 15 m also need the NOC under section 15-A. Fire NOC Himachal Pradesh HP Home notification
If A hostel in Gujarat of 15 m or more
Table 1 of the 2023 Regulations names hostels and dormitories from 15 m; the fire plan and certificate go through a Fire Safety Officer on GujFireSafety CoP. Fire NOC Gujarat Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
If A hostel in Delhi over 15 m or 5 storeys
Rule 27's residential row. The certificate renews every 5 years until 20 May 2027, then Form K every year. Fire NOC Delhi DFS
If A hostel in Uttar Pradesh over 15 m
A Fire Safety Certificate under section 26(3), signed by the In-charge Fire District up to 60 m, valid 5 years. Fire NOC UP UP Rules 2024
If A hostel in Maharashtra of any height
Schedule-I's dormitory row applies from below 15 m, and the owner files Form B every January and July. Form B Fire NOC Maharashtra MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
If A hostel in Karnataka between 15 m and 21 m
The Act's line is 21 m, but Seva Sindhu still lists above 15 m. Ask KSFES in writing before you build. Fire NOC Karnataka Government of Karnataka
If A hostel in Telangana between 18 m and 24 m
The 24 m line of 7 October 2026 is for residential apartments only, so on Flamekite's reading a hostel stays with the 18 m line the 2016 table uses for lodging and apartments. Fire NOC Telangana TGFD circular 3455
If A hostel in Kerala over 1,000 m² or 15 m
A fire NOC from Kerala Fire and Rescue Services. Between 300 and 1,000 m² up to 15 m, an Appendix L self-declaration. Fire NOC Kerala KMBR amendment 2025
If A women's hostel in Tamil Nadu
The Collector's licence under the 2014 Act at any size; a TNFRS NOC from the District Officer up to 18.3 m and the Director above. Fire NOC Tamil Nadu TN Hostels Act 2014
If A hostel of 50 rooms or more in Jharkhand
Appoint a Fire Safety Officer; after 30 days' notice the charge is Rs 10 to Rs 50 per m² a month. Fire NOC Jharkhand Government of Jharkhand

Hostel fire NOC fees in the official schedules

Only a few fee schedules name hostels or dormitories. These are the lines an Act, rule or order sets; a consultant's or agency's quote is a private price.

As published

Punjab, hostels and PGs up to 15 m, plot under 1 acreRs 20,000 lump sumRead from the page images of the 2021 letter; taller and larger plots pay more Local Govt Punjab
Meghalaya, A3 dormitories and hostelsRs 3 per m²Renewal Rs 500 up to 20 persons, Rs 1,000 above Meghalaya F&ES
Chandigarh, Group A lodging, dormitories and PG buildingsRs 14 per m², minimum Rs 6,615Certificate valid 5 years since 6 May 2026 (3 under the order before) MCC Office Order 23
Assam, dormitories under 15 mRs 200 to Rs 1,000 a stageBy floor area; the recommendation and certificate cost the same Assam fee Annexure A
Assam, dormitories of 15 m and aboveRs 400 to Rs 1,200 a stageBy floor area Assam fee Annexure A
Tamil Nadu, TNFRS NOC and licenceNo fees collectedAs TNSWP's procedure sheets state TN Single Window
Uttar Pradesh, portal feeNilProvisional, final and renewal UP Fire dashboard
Delhi, fire safety certificateNo fee in the rules in forceRs 1,000 with Forms H, I and J from 20 May 2027 DFS
Tamil Nadu, hostel licence from the CollectorUp to Rs 3,000Up to Rs 10,000 once Act 37 of 2024 is in force TN Hostels Act 2014

Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana publish rates by residential or other use without naming hostels; how they class a hostel is for the fire service to decide. Every state's schedule is on the fire NOC fees page.

Penalties for running a hostel without a licence or fire compliance

Tamil Nadu punishes the hostel licence itself; the fire Acts punish the owner who lets fire systems lapse. These are the amounts the instruments set.

Offence	Penalty	Law
Running a women's or children's hostel without the Collector's licence, Tamil Nadu	Imprisonment up to 2 years and a fine up to Rs 50,000	Section 20(1), Act 18 of 2014 TN Hostels Act 2014
Breaking the Act's other duties, such as blocked stairs or stored kerosene, Tamil Nadu	First offence 2 to 3 years and Rs 50,000; later offences 3 to 5 years and Rs 1,00,000	Section 20(3), Act 18 of 2014 TN Hostels Act 2014
Letting fire systems fall out of repair, Maharashtra	Rigorous imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years and a fine of Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000	Section 36(1), Act of 2006 MFS Act 2006 copy
No Fire Safety Officer in a hostel of 50 rooms, Jharkhand	Rs 10 to Rs 50 per m² a month, recovered as land revenue	Section 31, Act 9 of 2024 Government of Jharkhand
A licence cancelled or suspended by the Collector, Tamil Nadu	The hostel ceases to function, and the Collector may move the inmates to another licensed hostel or to their guardians	Section 9(4) and (5), Act 18 of 2014 TN Hostels Act 2014
A coaching centre in breach of the Bill, Rajasthan	Rs 50,000 first, Rs 2,00,000 second, then cancellation; whether the Act is in force is not confirmed	Bill 11 of 2025 as reported Rajasthan Assembly

Section 21 of the Tamil Nadu Act deems the persons in charge of a company, trust or society guilty with it. Every state's fire NOC penalties are on the penalties page.

Where hostels fail fire inspections, and the fix

Hostel failures are mostly about escape: one door to a big room, a cluttered stair, a kitchen open to the corridor. These 7 come from the codes, the Tamil Nadu Act and reported cases.

If A dormitory of 12 or more beds with one door
Cut a second exit access in a different direction, or split the room so none sleeps more than 10. BIS, SP 7:2026
If Trunks, cycles and coolers on the stairs
Clear every flight and passage; Tamil Nadu makes it an offence for the manager to allow an obstruction. TN Hostels Act 2014
If A mess kitchen opening straight onto the dining hall and corridor
Enclose live cooking in 120-minute fire-rated construction. BIS, SP 7:2026
If Night-time padlocks and chain bolts on exit doors
Use locks that release quickly from inside; NBCS 2026 prohibits chain-type bolts and burglar locks on exits. BIS, SP 7:2026
If Extra beds in common rooms at admission time
Students may sleep only in specified bedrooms, at the licensed number; raise the number only with a licence alteration. TN Hostels Act 2014
If A transformer installed inside the hostel near the stairs
In the Kota hostel fire of 14 April 2024 the fire officer called this alarming; keep electrical equipment out of the escape route. Careers360 (PTI)news report
If No fire NOC, structural audit or building permission on file
Pune sealed 11 PG hostels in September 2026 for exactly this; keep the papers on the premises. ThePrint (PTI)news report

Fire drills and daily safety in a hostel: 5 dos and 4 don'ts

A hostel's residents change every year, so drills and training are part of the fire system.

Do

Hold a mock fire drill at least once a semester, as UGC asks of colleges. UGC guidelines 2015
Train students and staff to use the extinguishers and hose reels. UGC guidelines 2015
In Goa, run fire and evacuation drills every quarter, with night drills in hostels, and keep the records. Goa DIP release
Keep emergency lighting and extinguishers in efficient working order. TN Hostels Act 2014
Keep flammable liquids for household use in tightly stoppered or sealed containers. BIS, SP 7:2026

Don’t

Don't store kerosene, petrol, spirit or other flammable substances inside the hostel. TN Hostels Act 2014
Don't place a stove or heater under the stairs or at their foot. BIS, SP 7:2026
Don't route the only escape through a shop or other non-residential part of the building. BIS, SP 7:2026
Don't let any room other than a specified bedroom be used for sleeping. TN Hostels Act 2014

Licensing a women's hostel in Tamil Nadu: the 6 stops

The 2014 Act's licence comes from the Collector, not the fire service, but it rests on the building and fire papers.

1. An approved building
The hostel must be housed in a building approved by the competent authority under the relevant law (section 15(1)). TN Hostels Act 2014
2. The fire papers
A TNFRS NOC or licence for the building: the District Officer up to 18.3 m, the Director above. Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services
3. A manager per 50 inmates
A manager, and a resident manager if the manager does not live there; women where women and girls are housed; one for every 50 inmates (section 13). TN Hostels Act 2014
4. Apply to the Collector
On the prescribed form with the fee: up to Rs 3,000 under the 2014 text, up to Rs 10,000 online once Act 37 of 2024 is in force. TN Hostels Act 2014
5. The licence and its limits
It names the manager and the number of inmates; adding inmates needs the Collector's consent (section 8). TN Hostels Act 2014
6. Renew 3 months ahead
Apply for renewal not less than 3 months before expiry: 3 years under the 2014 text, 10 years under the amendment. TN Hostels Act 2014

Hostel fire NOC worked cases: 7 buildings

Flamekite's reading of the rules for 7 example hostels; the buildings are illustrations, the figures are the instruments'.

Case 1
A 40-student hostel in Shimla
Ground plus 2, about 10 m.
What applies Class 16 of the 2019 notification covers hostels used by 20 or more students; the precautions follow the inspecting officer's directions. The plan-stage NOC of section 15-A starts above 15 m. HP Home notification
Case 2
A 13 m student hostel in Pune
4 storeys, no basement, 100 students.
What applies Schedule-I's dormitory row below 15 m: extinguishers, a first-aid hose reel, a 5,000 litre terrace tank and a 450 l/min terrace pump; Form B each January and July. MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
Case 3
An 18 m girls' hostel in Coimbatore
Ground plus 5, 180 residents.
What applies Under 18.3 m, so the TNFRS District Officer decides, at no fee. The Collector's licence is needed too, with 4 managers for 180 inmates and CCTV at every entry and exit above 50 inmates. TN Hostels Act 2014
Case 4
A 16 m student hostel in Kota
5 storeys, 75 rooms.
What applies Taller than 15 m, so Rajasthan's permanent fire NOC comes before the occupancy certificate. The hostel in the April 2024 Kota fire also had 5 storeys and 75 rooms, and no fire NOC, as reported. Urban Development and Housing Department, Rajasthan
Case 5
A 2,400 m² college hostel block in Kochi
3 floors, 11 m.
What applies Over 1,000 m² of built-up area, so a Kerala fire NOC is needed although the block is under 15 m. KMBR amendment 2025
Case 6
A 14 m hostel in Ludhiana
Plot of half an acre.
What applies The 2021 fee letter's hostel and PG line: Rs 20,000 lump sum. Local Govt Punjab
Case 7
A 1,200 m² dormitory planned to NBCS 2026
2 floors, 8 m.
What applies Over 1,000 m², so HL-2: extinguishers, a hose reel, a down-comer and automatic detection with a gas detector. Rooms over 10 beds need 2 exits. BIS, SP 7:2026

Hostel fire rules in numbers

20 students
Himachal Pradesh's hostel and coaching centre class HP Home notification
10 persons
Above this, a sleeping room needs 2 exits in different directions BIS, SP 7:2026
12.5 m²
Floor area per person used to size a residential building's exits BIS, SP 7:2026
1.25 m
Minimum stair width in a hostel BIS, SP 7:2026
50 inmates
Above this, a Tamil Nadu hostel needs CCTV at every entry and exit TN Hostels Act 2014
50 rooms
Jharkhand hostels at or above this size need a Fire Safety Officer Government of Jharkhand
200 students
Lakshadweep hostels at or above this size need a Fire Safety Officer Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary Vol. LXII No. 42, 3 September 2026
120 min
Fire separation for a hostel's live cooking area BIS, SP 7:2026

Hostel fire rules, dated: 2014 to 2026

Thirteen dated steps that shaped what a hostel owes today.

2 September 2014
Tamil Nadu's Hostels and Homes for Women and Children Act receives assent and comes into force at once. TN Hostels Act 2014
April 2015
UGC issues its student-safety guidelines: a fire safety system and a drill every semester. UGC guidelines 2015
23 July 2019
Himachal Pradesh lists hostels and coaching centres of 20 or more students as a fire-precaution class. HP Home notification
8 October 2021
Punjab sets the Rs 20,000 lump-sum NOC fee for hostels and PGs up to 15 m. Local Govt Punjab
11 May 2023
Maharashtra substitutes Schedule-I, with dormitories and apartments in one row of 5 height bands. MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
16 June 2023
The Delhi High Court takes up the Mukherjee Nagar coaching centre fire on its own motion, as reported. Bar and Benchnews report
14 December 2023
The Delhi High Court refuses to relax its fire directions for coaching centres; the Supreme Court later calls fire NOCs mandatory for all of them. Supreme Court order
5 August 2024
The Supreme Court dismisses the coaching federation's appeal with Rs 1,00,000 costs and widens the case to the NCR. Supreme Court order
17 December 2024
Tamil Nadu's Amendment Act 37 of 2024 receives assent: online licences valid 10 years, from a notified date. TN Hostels Act 2014
30 April 2026
NBC 2016 is withdrawn; NBCS 2026 keeps hostels as A-II dormitories. Gazette of India
3 June 2026
Coimbatore's Collector warns that running a working women's hostel without a licence under the 2014 Act is an offence, and moves licensing online. Coimbatore Collector
18 September 2026
Pune seals 11 PG hostels without fire systems or NOCs, as reported. ThePrint (PTI)news report
7 October 2026
Telangana moves its apartment line to 24 m; other occupancies, hostels among them, do not change. TGFD circular 3455

Hostel fire crackdowns reported, 2019 to 2026

From news reports, not yet an official source.

No fire service publishes a count of hostels holding a fire NOC. These reports, all secondary, show the same pattern: hostels found without NOCs after a fire or a drive.

18 September 2026
ThePrint (PTI) reports the Pune Municipal Corporation sealed 11 PG hostels in Lohegaon and Nimbalkar Nagar, 3 and 4 storeys with more than 100 students each, without fire-fighting systems or fire NOCs; officials count about 3,500 PG hostels and co-living places in Pune. ThePrint (PTI)news report
14 April 2024
Careers360 (PTI) reports 8 students hurt in a fire in a 5-storey, 75-room hostel in Landmark City, Kota; students jumped because smoke filled the staircase, and the fire officer said the building did not have a fire NOC. Careers360 (PTI)news report
16 June 2023
Bar and Bench reports the Delhi High Court took suo motu cognisance of the Mukherjee Nagar coaching centre fire and directed authorities to examine the safety of such institutes. Bar and Benchnews report
5 June 2019
The News Minute reports 227 unregistered women's hostels in Chennai under scrutiny and 5 shut; applicants need approvals from fire and rescue services, the Corporation and revenue. The News Minutenews report

Hostel fire NOC myths, checked against the rules

You may have read
A hostel under 15 m needs nothing from the fire service.
Myth
What the sources say
Himachal covers hostels of 20 students at any height, Kerala hostels over 1,000 m², and Maharashtra's Schedule-I sets equipment below 15 m. HP Home notification
You may have read
Telangana raised the fire NOC line to 24 m for hostels.
Myth
What the sources say
Circular 3455 of 2026 changes the residential apartment row only and says "No change for other occupancy types". TGFD circular 3455
You may have read
A school or college hostel follows the school's line.
Myth
What the sources say
NBCS 2026 classes the residential portion of a school or institution as A-II dormitories. BIS, SP 7:2026
You may have read
UGC issues or requires a fire NOC for college hostels.
Myth
What the sources say
UGC's 2015 guidelines ask for a fire safety system, training and drills; the NOC comes from the state's fire law. UGC guidelines 2015
You may have read
NBC 2016 still decides a new hostel's fire systems.
Myth
What the sources say
NBC 2016 was withdrawn on 30 April 2026. NBCS 2026 is voluntary unless the state adopts it; your state's Act or rules decide. Gazette of India
You may have read
A Tamil Nadu hostel licence lasts 10 years already.
Myth
What the sources say
The 10-year term comes from Act 37 of 2024, which starts on a date the State notifies; the 2014 text gives 3 years. TN Hostels Act 2014

Where a hostel owner applies for the fire NOC, state by state

These 8 official portals took hostel and residential fire applications on 25 October 2026.

Uttar Pradesh
UP Fire Service: Apply for NOC
Provisional, final and renewal certificates; no portal fee UP Fire FAQ
upfireservice.gov.in/upfire/user/login
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Single Window Portal
TNFRS NOC and fire licence; no fees collected TN Single Window
tnswp.com/DIGIGOV/swp-tnswp.jsp
Gujarat
GujFireSafety CoP
Fire Safety Plan and Certificate approval through a Fire Safety Officer Gujarat FSCOP
fscop.gujfiresafetycop.in
Kerala
Kerala Fire NOC portal
Site and Final Clearance for lodging, hostels and dormitories over the rule 5(4) line Kerala NOC manual
noc.fire.kerala.gov.in/applicant_controller/signup
Karnataka
Seva Sindhu: high-rise NOC
Karnataka's high-rise fire NOC application Seva Sindhu
sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in/category/Application%20for%20No%20Objection%20Certificate%20(High%20rise%20Building)%20-%20Fire%20&%20Emergency.html
Delhi
Delhi Fire Service
Fire Safety Certificate and its 5-year renewal DFS
dfs.delhi.gov.in
Telangana
Telangana Fire Services
Building NOC login, with portal support TGFD contact
fire.telangana.gov.in
Rajasthan
Rajasthan LSG online: fire service
Fire NOC registration and certificate verification Local Self Government Department, Rajasthan
lsgonline.rajasthan.gov.in/fire_service.aspx

Questions about fire NOCs for hostels

Is a fire NOC mandatory for a hostel?: It depends on the state and the building. Most states require one from 15 m, Delhi over 15 m or 5 storeys, Karnataka from 21 m, Kerala over 1,000 m² or 15 m, and Himachal Pradesh lists hostels used by 20 or more students at any height. Below the line, fire equipment is still required: Maharashtra's Schedule-I sets it under 15 m too.
What is the fire safety norm for hostels in the NBC?: Hostels are dormitories: A-3 in NBC 2016 and A-II in NBCS 2026. Rooms sleeping more than 10 need two exits in different directions, stairs must be at least 1.25 m wide, and the protection table runs from extinguishers and a hose reel to wet risers and detection as height and area grow.
How often should a hostel hold a fire drill?: UGC's 2015 guidelines ask colleges for a mock fire drill at least once a semester. Goa's fire service asks for drills every quarter, with night drills in hostels.
Do PG accommodations follow the same fire NOC rules as hostels?: Not always. NBCS 2026 puts lodging and rooming houses in A-I, apart from dormitories, and some orders treat PGs separately: Chandigarh charges PG buildings as Group A lodging, and Punjab's fee letter names hostels and PGs together.
Does a women's hostel in Tamil Nadu need a licence?: Yes. The Tamil Nadu Hostels and Homes for Women and Children (Regulation) Act, 2014 bars any hostel or lodging house for women or children from running without the Collector's licence. Running without one carries up to 2 years and a fine up to Rs 50,000.
What is the fire NOC fee for a hostel?: Only a few schedules name hostels. Punjab charges Rs 20,000 for hostels and PGs up to 15 m on plots under 1 acre; Meghalaya Rs 3 per m² for A3 dormitories; Chandigarh Rs 14 per m² with a Rs 6,615 minimum. Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh charge no portal fee.
Who needs a Fire Safety Officer in a hostel?: Jharkhand's Fire Service Act, 2024 requires one for hotels, hostels and lodges of 50 rooms and above, and Lakshadweep's Rules of 2026 for hostels for 200 or more.
Do coaching hostels in Kota need a fire NOC?: In Rajasthan any building taller than 15 m needs a permanent fire NOC before its occupancy certificate. The coaching Bill of 2025 defined a hostel as accommodation for 10 or more paying students; the enacted Coaching Centres Act 16 of 2025 requires a Fire and Building Safety Certificate for coaching buildings, but no commencement notification was found by 25 October 2026.

Keep reading

Fire NOCWhat a fire NOC is, who issues it and every state's regime.
Which buildings require a fire NOCHeight, area and use lines for all 36 states and UTs.
Fire NOC feesEvery published state fee schedule compared.
Fire NOC validityHow long a certificate lasts in each state.
Documents required for fire NOCState checklists and drawing rules.
National Building Code 2026NBCS 2026 and what replaced NBC 2016.
Fire NOC penaltiesWhat each state's law sets for running without fire compliance.
Free fire NOC checkCheck whether your hostel building needs a fire NOC.

Words on this page, explained

Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources

Show all 47 sourcesShow fewer

Fire NOC for a hostel at a glance: 10 facts

Hostel fire NOC lines in 18 states and UTs: height, area or students

Getting a hostel's fire NOC in 7 steps

Record the hostel as a dormitory, not a school

Measure height, floor area and student count

Check the hostel licence that sits beside the NOC

Fit the systems for the height band and the exits for the rooms

File on the state portal with drawings and papers

Pass the inspection and display the certificate

Drill every semester and diary the renewal