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Fire NOC and PESO licence for an LPG godown: Form F rules, distances and fees

Updated By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on

Quick answer

An LPG distributor's cylinder godown is licensed by PESO in Form F under the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016, and the Form F fee bands start above 100 kg. The shed needs at least 11 m² of floor per 1,000 kg, a 1.8 m brick wall and 3 m to 15 m of clear ground by stock; the fee is Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000 a year, and a licence runs to 30 September for up to 10 years.

Since 5 June 2026 the Rules no longer ask for a District Magistrate's NOC: G.S.R. 447(E) omitted rule 48. The state fire service still certifies, licenses or inspects LPG godowns in Odisha, Goa, Mizoram, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and other states, and the oil company fixes the godown's size: 8,000 kg for an urban distributor.

Shed floor per 1,000 kg of LPG
11 m²
Form F condition 1(a)
The checklist
Ground kept clear around the shed
3 m to 15 m
By stock, Form F condition 5(a)
The table
PESO licence fee a year
Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000
Up to 10,000 kg; half for MSEs
Fee table
District Magistrate NOC dropped on
5 June 2026
Rule 48 omitted, G.S.R. 447(E)
The change
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LPG godown licence and fire rules at a glance: 10 facts

How the Gas Cylinders Rules, the fire codes, the oil companies and the states treat a godown of filled LPG cylinders, each fact with the instrument behind it. Last verified 25 October 2026.
WhatThe ruleSource
LicenceForm F, the licence to store compressed gas in cylinders, granted by the Chief Controller or a Controller of Explosives (PESO)Gas Cylinders Rules
Own-use exemptionNo licence for own-use flammable gas up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg, whichever is less, or for cylinders on an IS 6044 Part 1 manifold (rule 44)Gas Cylinders Rules
ShedNon-flammable, at least 11 m² of floor per 1,000 kg, mastic floor, ventilators of at least 10% of the floor areaGas Cylinders Rules
Clear distance3 m for 101 to 2,000 kg, rising to 15 m over 20,000 kg, to any building, public place, road or buildable plotGas Cylinders Rules
Fire equipment in the licenceAt least two portable foam or dry chemical extinguishers of 10 kg each, BIS marked (condition 16)Gas Cylinders Rules
FeeRs 1,000 (100 to 500 kg) to Rs 6,000 (5,000 to 10,000 kg) a year; half for micro and small enterprises and startupsG.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
TermTo 30 September of the last year granted, up to 10 years; renewable for up to 10 years at a time (rules 51 and 55)Gas Cylinders Rules
District Magistrate NOCRule 48 and the Form C item asking for it were omitted on 5 June 2026G.S.R. 447(E) of 2026
Code classStorage and handling of liquefiable gases like LPG is Group J hazardous in NBC 2016 (3.1.10)BIS, NBC 2016 Part 4
Oil company minimum8,000 kg godown for Sheheri and Rurban distributors, 5,000 kg Gramin, 3,000 kg Durgam KshetriyaOMC guidelines 2019

LPG godown fire NOC and licence lines in 13 states and UTs

What each state's fire law, fee schedule or service charter asks of a godown of filled LPG cylinders, on top of the PESO licence. States whose reviewed instruments name no LPG godown line are left out. Checked 25 October 2026.
OptionWhat the state asks of an LPG godownFee, officer or time limitInstrumentSource
OdishaA Fire Safety Certificate, issued and renewed by an Assistant Fire Officer after an inspection with the Station OfficerValid 2 yearsOrder No. 50908 of 19 November 2019Order 50908 of 2019
GoaFlammable gas and LPG godowns are a listed class that needs a DFES NOC; commercial LPG over 50 kg needs a prior NOC and an IS 6044 Part 1 installationRs 10 per m² of built-up area; LPG under 100 kg Rs 150 per occupancySection 13 notification of 17 December 2014; Annexure III of 2018DFES Goa charter
MizoramA fire NOC as an other structure, and a godown licence after the Director's fire report, renewed every year (rules 49 and 50)Rs 4 per m², maximum Rs 6,000Notification G/262/2026-HM of 6 May 2026Mizoram Fire and Emergency Services
West BengalA yearly fire licence for LPG storageRs 10,000 a year up to 10,000 kg; Re 1 a kg above, capped at Rs 1,00,000Notification 1338 of 23 August 2018WB notification 1338
UttarakhandA gas godown or agency takes a pre-establishment NOC, a pre-operational NOC and an annual clearance15, 30 and 15 daysUFES Right of Service charter; order of 9 October 2023UFES charter
Jammu and KashmirFire safety recommendations for LPG outlets after a risk and hazard analysisDistrict Officer, 20 daysSRO-493 of 6 December 2017, item 2(a)J&K Gazette
RajasthanAn LPG storage shed of non-flammable material with at least 11 m² per 1,000 kg; the Gas Cylinders Rules prevail over the Model RegulationsRegulation 4.10.2(ii) replacedChief Town Planner's order of 29 April 2026Rajasthan CTP
LakshadweepPremises storing or selling LPG need the fire certificates at any sizeListed under rule 11(2)Fire and Emergency Services Rules, 2026Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary Vol. LXII No. 42, 3 September 2026
TripuraAn LPG store is never self-certified, whatever its sizeFull certificate route under rule 6Fire Safety Rules, 2026Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Tripura
MeghalayaGroup J hazardous buildings (gases, LPG) have their own fee lineRs 10 per m²; renewal Rs 3,000Annexure B2 to notification HPL.179/2017/85Meghalaya F&ES
ChandigarhA fire safety certificate for Group J hazardous buildings, which the order lists with LPGMinimum Rs 6,615, then Rs 14 per m² of covered areaMC Office Order 23 of 10 February 2025MCC Office Order 23
GujaratHazardous storage and LPG are banded as single storey up to 15 m, then more than one floorSpecialist Fire Safety Officer for older certificatesFire Regulations 2023, Tables 1 and 2Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
AssamGas storage applies on its own form, Form II, not the building Form ICovers LPG, CNG, oxygen, hydrogen and other gasesSewa Setu fire NOC serviceSewa Setu Assam

Getting an LPG godown licensed in 8 steps: PESO, fire and the oil company

  1. Fix the stock and the plot

    The oil company sets the minimum: 8,000 kg on a 25 m x 30 m plot for Sheheri and Rurban distributors, 5,000 kg on 21 m x 26 m for Gramin, 3,000 kg on 15 m x 16 m for Durgam Kshetriya. Build only after the OMC's written permission.

  2. Draw the shed to Form F

    Allow 11 m² of floor per 1,000 kg, ventilators of 10% of the floor, a 1.8 m brick wall with a gate no wider than 1.2 m, and the clear distance for your stock: 7 m for 6,001 to 8,000 kg.

  3. Get the plan approved under rule 47

    Submit specifications and plans to scale in triplicate, colouring the premises and showing everything within 100 m, with the Rs 1,000 scrutiny fee. Since April 2025 fees and documents go online.

  4. Clear the state's fire and local approvals

    Form C asks for an undertaking that revenue, fire and local clearances are obtained. The District Magistrate's NOC under rule 48 is no longer required from 5 June 2026; your state's fire certificate or licence still is.

  5. Build, then apply in Form C

    File four copies of the approved plans, proof of lawful possession, the licence fee, the undertaking and a HAZOP study or disaster management plan for flammable gas.

  6. Inspection and endorsement

    The Controller inspects the premises; the licence comes into force on the date it is endorsed (rule 50(4)). Faults found are sent back for rectification.

  7. Run it to the 17 conditions

    Two 10 kg extinguishers, filled cylinders upright and at most 2 high, a 60 cm gangway, flameproof light only, no phones or smoking, a competent person in charge.

  8. Renew before 30 September

    Renew for up to 10 years at a time. Up to 3 months late costs twice the fee; after a year from expiry the licence cannot be renewed (rule 55).

The District Magistrate NOC for LPG godowns, dropped on 5 June 2026

For ten years an LPG godown needed a District Authority NOC before PESO would license it. The Second Amendment of 5 June 2026 removed the rule in one line.

Word for word

In the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as the said rules), rule 48 shall be omitted.

Gas Cylinders (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 447(E) of 5 June 2026, rule 2 G.S.R. 447(E) of 2026

Rule 48 had made a Form F applicant storing gas for sale apply to the District Magistrate, or the Police Commissioner in a commissionerate, with two copies of the site plan. DIPP's 2017 guidelines (letter 17(20)/2017-Expls) gave the District Authority one month: a week to send the file to the revenue and fire offices, 15 days for their replies, a week to decide, with schools, hospitals and fire tender access in view. The same amendment struck the NOC from Form C's document list and is in force from 5 June 2026. Form C still asks for an undertaking that revenue, fire and local clearances are obtained, so the state fire service's part remains.

LPG godown words in the Gas Cylinders Rules: Form F, rule 44 and 7 more

PESO's licence, the exemptions and the officers carry their own names in the Rules. These 9 come up in every LPG godown file.

Form F
The licence to store compressed gas in cylinders in a storage shed, attached to a filling plant or standing alone. Its conditions 1 to 17 set the LPG shed. Gas Cylinders Rules
Form C
The application to grant, amend, renew or duplicate a filling or storage licence, with the document list for Forms E, F and G. Gas Cylinders Rules
Forms E, G and H
E licenses filling (a bottling plant), G a CNG dispensing station and H, added in April 2025, a hydrogen dispensing station. A distributor's godown is Form F. G.S.R. 225(E) of 2025
Rule 44 exemption
No licence for own-use flammable gas up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg, whichever is less. Clause 44(c) names 100 kg of LPG at a dealer's sales room; its wording is not clear enough to restate as a rule. Gas Cylinders Rules
Chief Controller and Controller
PESO's officers: the Chief Controller of Explosives, and Joint, Deputy Chief, Controller and Deputy Controllers of Explosives (rule 2). Gas Cylinders Rules
District authority
The Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner of Police where there is a Commissioner of Police; elsewhere the District Magistrate (rule 2(xxi)). Gas Cylinders Rules
Thin-wall cylinder
An LPG or dissolved gas cylinder, which may not be stacked lying down except as Form F condition 8 allows for empties (rule 21). Gas Cylinders Rules
Endorsement
The Controller's entry on a Form E, F or G licence after inspecting the built premises; the licence is in force from that date (rule 50(4)). Gas Cylinders Rules
Vitrak
The oil companies' distributor classes: Sheheri (urban), Rurban, Gramin (rural) and Durgam Kshetriya (remote area), each with a minimum godown size. OMC guidelines 2019

LPG godown safety distances by stock: the Form F table

Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.

Form F condition 5(a) sets the ground to keep clear between the LPG shed and any building, public place, public road or plot that may be built on. Read off the gazette page image.

Ground kept clearShed floor at the top of the band
0 to 101 kg Gas Cylinders RulesNone printedAbout 1.1 m²
101 to 2,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules3 m22 m²
2,001 to 3,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules4 m33 m²
3,001 to 4,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules5 m44 m²
4,001 to 6,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules6 m66 m²
6,001 to 8,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules7 m88 m²
8,001 to 10,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules8 m110 m²
10,001 to 12,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules9 m132 m²
12,001 to 20,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules12 m220 m²
Over 20,000 kg Gas Cylinders Rules15 m11 m² for every 1,000 kg

The gazette table prints no units; the quantities are kilograms and the distances metres, as the rest of Form F and Schedule V use them. The second column is Flamekite's arithmetic from condition 1(a), 11 m² per 1,000 kg. The Chief Controller may reduce a distance where screen walls or other special precautions are provided. A shed of more than 100 kg and up to 500 kg may form part of a building if a substantial partition separates it, it opens only to the outside air and it is not under a staircase or near an exit (condition 6).

LPG godown construction and fitting checklist from Form F: 14 items

These are the build items a Controller checks before endorsing a Form F licence for LPG. Each comes from the conditions printed in the licence or from rule 22.

  • A shed of non-flammable material with at least 11 m² of floor for every 1,000 kg of LPG (condition 1(a)). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Mastic flooring to IS 1195 or IS 1196 in the cylinder shed. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Ventilators of at least 10% of the floor area, near the ground and near or in the roof (conditions 1(a) and 3). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Two thicknesses of fine copper or other non-corroding wire gauze on every ventilator, with at least 11 meshes per linear centimetre. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • A brick masonry compound wall at least 1.8 m high all round, set at the clear distance for the stock. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • A compound wall gate no wider than 1.2 m. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • A dedicated LPG truck parking area in front of the shed, fenced with industrial fencing at least 2.0 m high. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • The clear distance from the table kept open at all times: 3 m for up to 2,000 kg, up to 15 m above 20,000 kg. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Flameproof electric meters, switches, fittings and lamps to IS or IEC 60079, effectively earthed (rule 22 and condition 15(a)). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • At least 2 portable foam or dry chemical extinguishers of 10 kg each, BIS marked, ready at a convenient spot (condition 16). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • No Smoking signs in Hindi, English and the regional language at prominent places outside the shed. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • The true chemical name of the gas displayed prominently in the shed (condition 9). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • A platform digital weighing scale of least count 10 g at the godown, checked against a standard weight (OMC MDG 2022, 1.2). OMC MDG 2022
  • A competent person in charge of the shed, and the shed and its surroundings kept free of flammable material, vegetation and rubbish (conditions 10 and 14). Gas Cylinders Rules

PESO Form F licence fee for an LPG godown: Schedule V of 9 June 2025

G.S.R. 386(E) substituted Schedule V on 9 June 2025 and added lower rates for small firms and women. The LPG lines were proof-read off the gazette page; fees are per year of the licence.

As published

  • LPG over 100 kg, up to 500 kgRs 1,000 a yearMicro or small enterprise or startup Rs 500; woman entrepreneur Rs 200 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Over 500 kg, up to 2,000 kgRs 2,000 a yearRs 1,000; Rs 400 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Over 2,000 kg, up to 5,000 kgRs 4,000 a yearRs 2,000; Rs 800 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Over 5,000 kg, up to 10,000 kgRs 6,000 a yearRs 3,000; Rs 1,200 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Over 10,000 kgRs 2,000 for every additional 5,000 kg or partRs 1,000; Rs 400. As printed; the schedule does not say in words that it is added to Rs 6,000 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Scrutiny of specifications and plans (rule 47 or 53)Rs 1,000Rs 500; Rs 200 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Amendment of a licence, a duplicate, or an authenticated copyRs 1,000 eachRs 500; Rs 200 G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025
  • Renewal received up to 3 months lateTwice the fee3 to 12 months late: a year's fee for every 3 months or part, as late fee (rule 55(7)) Gas Cylinders Rules

All fees are paid online and credited to the Consolidated Fund of India (rule 47A, from April 2025). The lower rates need an MSME certificate (micro or small only, not medium), DPIIT startup registration, or proof that a woman is the proprietor or director with at least 26% of the capital; a woman-owned MSE or startup pays the lower of the two. State fire fees come on top: see the state table above and the fire NOC fees page.

Three distributor godowns worked through: 3,000, 5,000 and 8,000 kg

Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.

Flamekite's arithmetic from Form F, Schedule V and the oil companies' minimum plots, for the three godown sizes the selection guidelines ask for.

  1. Case 1

    Durgam Kshetriya distributor, 3,000 kg

    A remote-area godown on the OMC minimum plot of 15 m x 16 m.

    What applies Shed at least 33 m² with 3.3 m² of ventilators, and 4 m kept clear (2,001 to 3,000 kg band). A 6 m x 5.5 m shed with 4 m round it needs about 14 m x 13.5 m, inside the plot. Form F fee Rs 4,000 a year; Rs 2,000 for a micro or small enterprise. Gas Cylinders Rules

  2. Case 2

    Gramin distributor, 5,000 kg

    A rural godown on the OMC minimum plot of 21 m x 26 m.

    What applies Shed at least 55 m² with 5.5 m² of ventilators, and 6 m kept clear (4,001 to 6,000 kg band). A 5 m x 11 m shed needs about 17 m x 23 m with its clear zone. Fee Rs 4,000 a year, as 5,000 kg is still in the 2,000 to 5,000 kg line. Gas Cylinders Rules

  3. Case 3

    Sheheri distributor, 8,000 kg

    An urban godown on the OMC minimum plot of 25 m x 30 m.

    What applies Shed at least 88 m² with 8.8 m² of ventilators, and 7 m kept clear (6,001 to 8,000 kg band). An 8 m x 11 m shed needs about 22 m x 25 m, leaving little room for the fenced truck bay condition 1(a) asks for in front. Fee Rs 6,000 a year; Rs 1,200 for a woman entrepreneur. Gas Cylinders Rules

OMC godown sizes for Sheheri, Rurban, Gramin and Durgam Kshetriya distributors

The oil companies' Unified Guidelines (Version 1.5, applicable from 15 December 2019) fix a PESO-licensed godown of a minimum capacity, on a plot of a minimum size, for each distributor class.

  • 8,000 kg

    Sheheri and Rurban Vitrak

    Plot at least 25 m x 30 m in the city or within 15 km; 26 m x 31 m in Kerala. In X and Y category cities the godown may sit up to 15 km outside the municipal limit. OMC guidelines 2019

  • 5,000 kg

    Gramin Vitrak

    Plot at least 21 m x 26 m in the advertised location or within 15 km in the same state; 24 m x 29 m in Kerala. OMC guidelines 2019

  • 3,000 kg

    Durgam Kshetriya Vitrak

    Plot at least 15 m x 16 m within the village or cluster of villages advertised; 22 m x 23 m in Kerala. OMC guidelines 2019

  • All classes

    Land and road

    One plain, contiguous plot, free of live overhead power or telephone lines, with no canal, drain or nallah through it, and an all-weather approach road at least 2.5 m wide for the cylinder truck (7 m in Kerala). OMC guidelines 2019

Running an LPG godown day to day: 6 dos and 6 don'ts

Form F's operating conditions, rule 21 and the oil companies' Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2022 set how cylinders are kept and handled once the godown is open.

Do

  • Keep filled cylinders upright and stack them at most 2 high; chock the ends of every pile (condition 8). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Stack empties at most 3 high upright or 5 high lying down, apart from the filled stock, with valves shut (condition 8, rule 21(7)). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Leave a gangway of at least 60 cm between stacks of single or double rows and between stacks and walls. Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Mark separate areas for filled, empty and defective cylinders of each type, and weigh 10% of each truckload at random. OMC MDG 2022
  • Report any accident, fire or explosion at once to the Controller, the District Magistrate and the police; the Controller's notice follows in writing within 12 hours (rule 67). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Carry out repairs the inspecting authority orders in writing within the time given, which is never less than 1 month (condition 12). Gas Cylinders Rules

Don’t

  • Don't open the shed or handle cylinders between sunset and sunrise unless approved electric lighting is used exclusively (condition 13). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Don't let anyone carry mobile phones, matches or fuses into the premises; PESO restated the phone ban in its circular of 15 February 2023. PESO circular 2023
  • Don't transfer LPG from one cylinder to another: the oil companies treat it as a major irregularity with fines from Rs 2,00,000. OMC MDG 2022
  • Don't use the licensed premises for anything but keeping filled cylinders (condition 1(b)). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Don't store combustible goods with the cylinders, or keep them where they will corrode (rule 21(5) and (6)). Gas Cylinders Rules
  • Don't alter the shed or bring an altered part into use before the Controller approves the plan and amends the licence (rule 53). Gas Cylinders Rules

NBC 2016 Table 7 for an LPG godown building: Group J from one storey to 15 m

Where a fire service applies the national code to an LPG store, these are its rows, read off the page image. 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.

  1. Group J hazardous (3.1.10)

    Storage and handling of liquefiable gases like LPG puts a building in Group J, not Group H storage; so does gas stored above 0.1 N/mm² in quantities over 70 m³. BIS, NBC 2016 Part 4

  2. Single storey, up to 15 m

    Extinguishers, a first-aid hose reel, a wet riser, a yard hydrant, sprinklers, a manual alarm and automatic detection; no down-comer or terrace tank. Underground water for at least 240 minutes of fire-fighting demand. NBC 2016, Part 4

  3. More than one floor, up to 15 m

    Everything in the single-storey row, plus a down-comer, a 50,000 litre terrace tank and a 900 litre a minute terrace pump. The fire pump is sized to the covered area (Note 21). NBC 2016, Part 4

  4. Above 15 m

    Not permitted for Group J (Note 20). The Form F shed itself is a single-storey building of non-flammable material. NBC 2016, Part 4

Does your LPG store need a PESO licence or a fire NOC? 10 cases

Start from what the cylinders are for and how much gas they hold, then add the state. The PESO licence and the state fire paper are separate.

  1. If Cylinders for your own use, up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg, whichever is less

    No PESO licence under rule 44(b)(i). Gas Cylinders Rules

  2. If A kitchen on a manifold built to IS 6044 Part 1

    No PESO licence is obligatory within IS 6044's quantity limits; the kitchen's fire rules are on the restaurants page. Fire NOC for Restaurant Gas Cylinders Rules

  3. If A dealer's sales room with up to 100 kg

    Rule 44(c) names 100 kg for a distributor's sales room, but its wording is unclear: ask the Controller in writing. Gas Cylinders Rules

  4. If More than 100 kg and up to 500 kg in a shed attached to a building

    Form F, Rs 1,000 a year; the shed needs a substantial partition, access only from outside and no place under a staircase (condition 6). Gas Cylinders Rules

  5. If A distributor's godown of 3,000 to 8,000 kg

    Form F with 4 m to 7 m clear and 33 m² to 88 m² of shed; Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 a year. Gas Cylinders Rules

  6. If The godown is in Odisha

    Add a Fire Safety Certificate from the Assistant Fire Officer, valid 2 years. Fire NOC Odisha Order 50908 of 2019

  7. If The godown is in West Bengal

    Add a yearly fire licence: Rs 10,000 for up to 10,000 kg of LPG. Fire NOC West Bengal WB notification 1338

  8. If The godown is in Goa

    Add a DFES NOC: flammable gas and LPG godowns are a listed class, at Rs 10 per m² of built-up area. Fire NOC Goa DFES Goa charter

  9. If Cylinders are kept in a general warehouse with other goods

    LPG makes the building Group J hazardous, not Group H storage; a storage NOC does not cover it. Fire NOC for Warehouse BIS, SP 7:2026

  10. If A shop keeps a few commercial cylinders for sale

    Sale or trading takes it out of the own-use exemption; read the shops page for the other stock limits. Fire NOC for Shop Gas Cylinders Rules

LPG godown rules in numbers

The figures an LPG godown is built and inspected to, from Form F, the Rules and the oil companies' guidelines.

LPG godown licensing rules, dated: 2016 to 2026

Ten dates changed how an LPG godown is approved, built and charged, from the 2016 Rules to the June 2026 amendment.

  1. 22 November 2016

    The Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 are published; rule 48 makes a District Authority NOC a condition of a Form F licence to store gas for sale. Gas Cylinders Rules

  2. 2017

    DIPP's letter 17(20)/2017-Expls sends District Authorities guidelines: decide an LPG godown NOC within one month, after revenue and fire comments. DIPP letter 2017

  3. 15 December 2019

    The oil companies' Unified Guidelines, Version 1.5, apply: 8,000, 5,000 and 3,000 kg godowns by distributor class. OMC guidelines 2019

  4. 1 May 2022

    The Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2022 for LPG distributors take effect. OMC MDG 2022

  5. 15 February 2023

    PESO's circular restates that rule 14(2) and Form F condition 15(b) bar mobile phones where flammable gas cylinders are stored. PESO circular 2023

  6. 11 April 2025

    G.S.R. 225(E): all fees and documents go online (rules 47A and 47B), and the District Authority NOC is to be issued online. G.S.R. 225(E) of 2025

  7. 9 June 2025

    G.S.R. 386(E) substitutes Schedule V, keeping the LPG bands and adding half rates for MSEs and startups and a fifth for women entrepreneurs; gazetted 16 June 2025. G.S.R. 386(E) of 2025

  8. 27 April 2026

    G.S.R. 315(E) extends rule 48(3)(b), which covered LPG, to other flammable gases. G.S.R. 315(E) of 2026

  9. 29 April 2026

    Rajasthan's Chief Town Planner writes Form F's 11 m² per 1,000 kg into the Model Building Regulations. Rajasthan CTP

  10. 5 June 2026

    G.S.R. 447(E) omits rule 48 and the NOC item in Form C, in force on publication. G.S.R. 447(E) of 2026

Penalties for an unlicensed or unsafe LPG godown

The Explosives Act punishes breaches of the Gas Cylinders Rules; PESO can suspend or cancel the licence, and the oil company fines its distributor separately.

OffencePenaltyLaw
Possessing, selling or transporting filled cylinders against the Rules or a licence conditionUp to 2 years, a fine up to Rs 3,000, or bothExplosives Act 1884, s.9B(1)(b) (from a legal-database copy) Courtbooknews report
Breaking any rule or condition of a Form F licenceLicence liable to cancellation; the holder punishable under s.9BForm F, Gas Cylinders Rules 2016 Gas Cylinders Rules
Breach of the Act, the Rules or a licence conditionSuspension for up to 3 months, or cancellation, after a hearing; interim suspension where danger is imminentRule 57 Gas Cylinders Rules
Not giving notice of an accidentA fine up to Rs 500; up to 3 months' jail, a fine, or both if a life was lostExplosives Act 1884, s.9B(3)(c), with rule 67 Courtbooknews report
Ignoring a Controller's written order to fix a dangerous practiceA breach of rule 70; appeal to the Chief Controller within 30 daysRule 70 Gas Cylinders Rules
Renewing lateTwice the fee within 3 months; a year's fee per 3 months up to 1 year; no renewal after thatRule 55(7) and (8) Gas Cylinders Rules
Distributor staff transferring LPG between cylindersRs 2,00,000 or 20% of AMDC, whichever is less, rising to termination at the 4th instanceOMC MDG 2022, 2.1.1 and 3.1 OMC MDG 2022
Using a godown in Mizoram without a valid licenceGoods may be removed, seized or destroyed without compensationMizoram Fire and Emergency Services Rules 2019, rule 52 Home Department, Mizoram

India Code's copy of the Explosives Act could not be downloaded on 25 October 2026, so the section 9B amounts are from a legal-database copy of the bare Act. Drafts of an Explosives Bill to replace the 1884 Act were circulated in 2024 and 2025; the June 2026 amendment is still made under the 1884 Act. State fire-law penalties are on the fire NOC penalties page.

Where LPG godowns fail inspection, and the fix

Most refusals and orders trace back to 6 Form F points: space, distance, light, ventilation, the truck bay and paperwork.

  • If The oil company raises the allocation and stock outgrows the licensed quantity

    Get the plan approved under rule 53 and the licence amended (Rs 1,000 scrutiny each) before the extra stock arrives; check the shed still gives 11 m² per 1,000 kg. Gas Cylinders Rules

  • If A house goes up inside the clear zone

    Condition 5(a) measures to any plot that may be built upon, so own or control the zone; only the Chief Controller can reduce the distance, with screen walls or special precautions. Gas Cylinders Rules

  • If Ordinary tube lights, sockets or phone chargers in the shed

    Replace with flameproof fittings to IS or IEC 60079, earthed; nothing else is allowed in the shed or its safety zone. Gas Cylinders Rules

  • If Open ventilators without gauze

    Fit two thicknesses of fine copper or non-corroding wire gauze, at least 11 meshes per centimetre, and keep 10% of the floor area as vents. Gas Cylinders Rules

  • If Trucks unload on the road outside the wall

    Provide the dedicated truck bay in front of the shed with 2.0 m industrial fencing; the guidelines also want a 2.5 m all-weather approach road. OMC guidelines 2019

  • If The licence lapsed on 30 September

    Apply before expiry and it stays in force until decided; within 3 months late pays double, and after 1 year it cannot be renewed (rule 55). Gas Cylinders Rules

LPG godown fires and raids in the news, 2016 and 2022

From news reports, not yet an official source.

Two reported cases show the risks the Form F conditions are written against: cylinder trucks catching fire at a godown, and cylinders kept without a licence.

News reports, labelled. No PESO or state inquiry report on either case was found online on 25 October 2026.

  • 26 December 2016

    Sakshi Post: at Chintamani in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district, two lorries carrying LPG cylinders caught fire at a gas agency's godown and about 900 cylinders burst; no one was hurt, and crews from 3 stations put out the fire in about half an hour. Sakshi Postnews report

  • 25 March 2022

    The Tribune: police and Civil Supplies officials found 92 cylinders of 47.5, 19.2 and 14.2 kg in a godown at Badhal village, Solan, with no licence; a case was registered under IPC section 336 and sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. The Tribunenews report

LPG godown myths, checked against the Gas Cylinders Rules

Six claims that still circulate on consultants' and dealers' pages, against the Rules as amended to 5 June 2026.

  • You may have read

    PESO will not license an LPG godown without the District Magistrate's NOC.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    That was rule 48 until 5 June 2026. G.S.R. 447(E) omitted it and the Form C item that asked for it; the undertaking on revenue, fire and local clearances remains. G.S.R. 447(E) of 2026

  • You may have read

    The PESO licence is the godown's fire NOC.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    PESO licenses storage under the Explosives Act. Form C makes you declare the fire clearance separately, and Odisha, West Bengal, Goa and Mizoram issue their own certificate, licence or NOC. Gas Cylinders Rules

  • You may have read

    An LPG godown licence has to be renewed every year.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    A Form F licence can be granted or renewed for up to 10 years at a time, to 30 September; the fee is still charged for every 12 months (rules 51 and 55). Gas Cylinders Rules

  • You may have read

    Form F requires sand buckets.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Condition 16 requires at least 2 portable foam or dry chemical extinguishers of 10 kg each, BIS marked; the Rules' text does not mention sand. Gas Cylinders Rules

  • You may have read

    Filled cylinders can be stacked as high as the roof allows.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Filled LPG cylinders stand upright, at most 2 high; empties 3 high upright or 5 lying down, with a 60 cm gangway (condition 8). Gas Cylinders Rules

  • You may have read

    Any LPG cylinder on the premises needs a PESO licence.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Own-use flammable gas up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg, whichever is less, and IS 6044 Part 1 manifolds within its limits are exempt (rule 44). Gas Cylinders Rules

Where an LPG godown files: PESO Online and 4 state fire portals

The PESO licence is applied for online since April 2025; the state fire paper goes through the state's own portal.

What Flamekite could not confirm about LPG godown rules

The wording of rule 48(3)(b). G.S.R. 315(E) of 27 April 2026 inserted "or other flammable gases" after "Liquified Petroleum Gas" in it, so an earlier amendment had added an LPG clause; secondary summaries say it waived the District Authority NOC where a local body NOC was obtained. We read the amendments of 2025 and 2026 but could not find the 2018, 2019 and 2022 texts online, so that wording is not published here. With rule 48 omitted on 5 June 2026, it no longer applies.

Whether any District Magistrate or state food department still asks for an NOC for an LPG godown after 5 June 2026 under a state order: none was found. Ask your district office in writing before you rely on either answer.

Section 9B's amounts come from a legal-database copy of the Explosives Act because India Code refused the download on 25 October 2026 and PESO's copy is a Hindi scan. The OMC guidelines read are Version 1.5 of December 2019; a later version was not checked. A Lok Sabha answer on how often PESO and the oil companies inspect godowns could not be opened (eparlib did not resolve).

Whether a fire service applies NBC 2016 Table 7's Group J rows to a single-storey Form F shed is not written in any state instrument we read; the 13 states in the table are the ones whose reviewed instruments name LPG storage. None was found for Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana or Uttar Pradesh beyond their general storage lines.

Questions about LPG godown licences and fire NOCs

Is a fire NOC required for an LPG godown?

It depends on the state, on top of the PESO licence in Form F. Odisha issues a Fire Safety Certificate valid 2 years, West Bengal a yearly fire licence, Goa a DFES NOC at Rs 10 per m², Mizoram a NOC and a yearly godown licence, and Uttarakhand pre-establishment, pre-operational and annual clearances.

How much LPG can be stored without a PESO licence?

For your own use, up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg of flammable gas, whichever is less, under rule 44 of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016; cylinders on an IS 6044 Part 1 manifold within its limits are also exempt. Storage for sale is licensed in Form F, whose fee bands start above 100 kg.

Is a District Magistrate NOC still needed for an LPG godown?

Not under the Gas Cylinders Rules since 5 June 2026: G.S.R. 447(E) omitted rule 48 and the NOC item in Form C. You still sign an undertaking that revenue, fire and local clearances are obtained, and the state fire certificate or licence still applies.

What is the safety distance for an LPG godown?

Form F sets 3 m of clear ground for 101 to 2,000 kg, 4 m up to 3,000 kg, 7 m for 6,001 to 8,000 kg, and up to 15 m above 20,000 kg, measured to any building, public place, road or plot that may be built on. The Chief Controller can reduce it with screen walls.

What is the PESO licence fee for an LPG godown?

Under Schedule V as substituted on 9 June 2025: Rs 1,000 a year for 100 to 500 kg, Rs 2,000 up to 2,000 kg, Rs 4,000 up to 5,000 kg and Rs 6,000 up to 10,000 kg. Micro and small enterprises and startups pay half; women entrepreneurs a fifth.

How long is an LPG godown licence valid?

A Form F licence runs to 30 September of the year it is granted or renewed to, for up to 10 years, and can be renewed for up to 10 years at a time if there is no contravention. A late renewal costs double within 3 months; after 1 year it cannot be renewed.

What size godown does an LPG distributor need?

The oil companies' guidelines ask for a PESO-licensed godown of at least 8,000 kg for Sheheri and Rurban distributors on a 25 m x 30 m plot, 5,000 kg for Gramin on 21 m x 26 m, and 3,000 kg for Durgam Kshetriya on 15 m x 16 m, with a 2.5 m approach road.

How many fire extinguishers does an LPG godown need?

At least two portable foam or dry chemical extinguishers of 10 kg each, BIS marked, under Form F condition 16, besides any other fire-fighting the Controller requires. State fire services and NBC 2016 Table 7 can ask for more, such as a hydrant and sprinklers in a Group J building.

Keep reading

Words on this page, explained

Sources

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

  1. Gazette of India Extraordinary, 22 November 2016 (bilingual copy hosted by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)): Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 (G.S.R. 1081(E)): rules 2, 21, 47, 48, 50, 51, 55, 57, 67 and 71, Form C and the conditions of Form F, the licence to store compressed gas in cylinders (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  2. Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section 3(i), 5 June 2026: Gas Cylinders (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 447(E) of 5 June 2026: rule 48 omitted, the District Authority NOC dropped from Form C, Form F condition 8A (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  3. Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section 3(i), 28 April 2026: Gas Cylinders (Amendment) Rules, 2026, G.S.R. 315(E) of 27 April 2026: rules 3(5), 32 and 48(3)(b) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  4. Gazette of India Extraordinary, 11 April 2025 (copy hosted by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)): Gas Cylinders (Amendment) Rules, 2025, G.S.R. 225(E): rules 47A and 47B (fees paid and documents filed online) and rule 48(7) and (8) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  5. Gazette of India Extraordinary, 16 June 2025 (copy hosted by Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO)): Gas Cylinders (Amendment) Rules, 2025, G.S.R. 386(E) of 9 June 2025: Schedule V substituted, with lower fees for micro and small enterprises, startups and women entrepreneurs (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  6. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, letter No. 17(20)/2017-Expls (copy hosted by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Assam): NOC from District Authority to start new LPG godown: guidelines for District Authorities under rule 48 of the Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
Show all 37 sourcesShow fewer
  1. Public sector oil marketing companies (brochure hosted by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation): Brochure on Unified Guidelines for Selection of LPG Distributors, Version 1.5, December 2019 (applicable from 15 December 2019): godown capacity, land size and approach road (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  2. Public sector oil marketing companies (copy hosted by Indian Oil Corporation): Marketing Discipline Guidelines 2022 for LPG Distributorship, in force from 1 May 2022: godown receipt, stock, statutory compliance and penalties (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  3. Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section 3(i), No. 804, 22 November 2016 (copy hosted by Aleph India): Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 (G.S.R. 1081(E)): rules 43 and 44, licence for possession and the exemptions, including LPG cylinders connected to a manifold under IS 6044 Part 1 (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  4. Bureau of Indian Standards (copy hosted by Puducherry Fire Service): National Building Code of India 2016, Volume 1, Part 4 Fire and Life Safety: Table 7, Minimum Requirements for Fire Fighting Installations, and its notes 6 to 24 (read from the page images) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  5. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS-licensed copy hosted by Nagpur Municipal Corporation): National Building Code of India 2016 (SP 7:2016), Part 4: Fire and Life Safety, clauses 1.2, 2.38 and 3.1 (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  6. Bureau of Indian Standards (copy hosted by Goa Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services): SP 7:2026 National Building Construction Standards 2026, Part F: Fire and Life Safety (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  7. Assam Gazette Extraordinary No. 427, 14 August 2026 (PRS copy of the gazette): The Assam Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (Assam Act No. XIII of 2026): Schedule item 4 amending sections 2, 20, 21 and 31 of the 2025 Act (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  8. Home Department, Government of Odisha: Order No. 50908 of 19 November 2019: procedure for issue and renewal of Fire Safety Certificates and Fire Safety Recommendations (issuing officer, validity, inspecting team and time limit by building type) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  9. WBXPress (copy of notification 1338/FES/O/3S-33/2016 (Pt.-1), 23 August 2018): Rates of annual fees for using premises for storing and processing hazardous substances and special items (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  10. Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Goa: Citizen's Charter, December 2024: 17 fire stations, 3 zones, 1,106 posts, the section 13 notification 3/5/97-HD(G) Part/3934 of 17 December 2014 with Annexures I and II, the 2018 Annexure III on shacks and guest houses, and the 2009 fee rules (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  11. Mizoram Fire and Emergency Services: Home Department notification G/262/2026-HM (F&ES), 6 May 2026: rate of NOC fees (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  12. Home Department, Mizoram: Mizoram Fire and Emergency Services Rules, 2019 (Rule 57: provisional and final NOC for high-rise buildings) (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  13. Uttarakhand Fire and Emergency Services: Services notified under the Right of Service: 32 services with designated officers, time limits, appellate officers and notifying orders (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  14. Government of Goa, Official Gazette Series II No. 31 (Extraordinary No. 3), 3 November 2022: Notification 41/1/2022/PG(Notification)/235 under the Goa (Right of Citizens to Time-bound Delivery of Public Services) Act, 2013: DFES services 81 to 116 with designated officers, time limits and appellate authorities (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  15. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO): Circular No. G.3(4)40/Misc/2019 of 15 February 2023 on reducing compliance burden: rule 14(2) and Form F condition 15(b) bar mobile phones where flammable-gas cylinders are stored (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  16. Chief Town Planner, Rajasthan (Town Planning Department): Clarification order of 29 April 2026: LPG storage sheds under the Model Regulations 2025 and the Gas Cylinder Rules, 2016 (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  17. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO): PESO Online: licensing portal for the Petroleum, Gas Cylinders and SMPV(U) Rules (login page) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  18. Odisha Fire and Emergency Service: Service details: Fire Safety Certificate on Form-III (fee Rs 1 or Rs 2 per m² through IFMS; 9 documents) (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  19. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: Grant of Fire License: eligibility, documents and fee basis (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  20. Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Goa: Ease of Doing Business: online fire NOC on Goa Online (FES91, FES92, FES93), annual self-declaration (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  21. Fire Service Online, Mizoram (Department of ICT): Fire Service Online: Fresh NOC Application, Provisional NOC, Provisional NOC Renewal, Final NOC, Download NOC and Verify NOC (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  22. Jammu and Kashmir Government Gazette (Extraordinary), General Administration Department: SRO-493 of 6 December 2017 under the J&K Public Services Guarantee Act, 2011: fire reports in 10 days, fire safety recommendations in 20 days (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  23. Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary Vol. LXII No. 42, 3 September 2026: Lakshadweep Fire and Emergency Services Rules, 2026 (Rule 12: 5-year fire safety certificate) (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  24. Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Tripura: Tripura Fire Safety Rules, 2026 (Tripura Gazette, 2 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 24 October 2026
  25. Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya: Annexure B2 to notification HPL.179/2017/85: mercantile, industrial, storage and hazardous buildings (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  26. Municipal Corporation Chandigarh, Fire and Rescue Services: Office Order No. 23 of 10 February 2025: Fire Safety Certificate charges by NBC occupancy group from 1 April 2025, validity 3 years, exemptions (read from the page images) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  27. Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal (GujFireSafety CoP): Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Regulations, 2023 (fees in Annexure 8) (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  28. Sewa Setu, Government of Assam: Fire NOC for one storied, multi-storied or high-rise building (Form I): required documents, and the Form II to XIII services (opens in a new tab)checked 25 October 2026
  29. Courtbook (legal database copy of the bare Act): Explosives Act, 1884, section 9B: punishment for contravening rules made under section 5 or a licence's conditions (opens in a new tab)News report · checked 25 October 2026
  30. Sakshi Post, 26 December 2016: 900 cylinders burst after 2 lorries catch fire (Chintamani, Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka) (opens in a new tab)News report · checked 25 October 2026
  31. The Tribune, 25 March 2022: LPG cylinders stored unauthorisedly found (Badhal village, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh) (opens in a new tab)News report · checked 25 October 2026
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