How to apply for fire NOC in Meghalaya?

Register on investmeghalaya.gov.in and choose Fire and Emergency Service, then Pre-Operation. Apply for the pre-construction Fire Clearance Certificate with ID proof, the building plan and a fire layout plan, then for the Grant of Fire Safety Certificate when the building is complete.

What is the fee for fire NOC in Meghalaya?

Rs 3 to Rs 10 per m² of floor area by building type under the 12 June 2018 notification: for example Rs 4 for hospitals and guest houses, Rs 5 for hotels up to 4 star and Rs 7 for shops over 500 m². Pandals pay Rs 800 to Rs 10,000.

Is fire NOC required for a homestay in Shillong?

Yes. The notification of 26 September 2024 makes a fire NOC compulsory for every building in Shillong city and its adjoining areas used as a hotel, lodge, homestay, resort or business.

Who issues fire NOC in Shillong?

The Superintendent of Police (Fire and Emergency Services), Meghalaya, at the Fire and Emergency Service Headquarter, Nongthymmai, after a Station Officer's inspection. The Garo Hills have their own SP (F&ES) at Tura.

What is the late fee for fire NOC renewal in Meghalaya?

Nothing for the first 7 days after expiry, Rs 5 a day from day 8 to day 15, and Rs 15 a day after that, under Annexure C of the 2018 notification.

Which buildings need fire clearance in Meghalaya?

High-rise buildings over 15 m, special buildings such as hotels, shops, offices and assembly halls over 500 m², and special projects, before their Occupancy Certificate; plus Shillong's hotels, homestays and business buildings, public gathering places, pandals and fireworks premises.

How long does the fire department take in Meghalaya?

The Right to Public Services list gives 30 days for the pre-construction NOC. The SOP's 1 month restarts from any clarification, and the inspection report is due within 48 working hours of the visit.

Fire NOC by state 26 min read

Fire NOC in Meghalaya: Fire Clearance and the Fire Safety Certificate

Updated October 2026By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on 24 October 2026

Quick answer

A Meghalaya fire NOC, also called a Fire Clearance Certificate, is valid for 3 years from the date of issue under Home (Police) notification HPL.36/2019/212 of 24 July 2025. The fee is Rs 3 to Rs 10 per m² of floor area by building type under the 12 June 2018 notification, with a renewal fee of Rs 500 to Rs 3,500 and a late fee of Rs 5 a day after 7 free days.

Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services issues it through the Invest Meghalaya single window in two stages: a pre-construction fire clearance, due in 30 days, and the Fire Safety Certificate after inspection. Since 26 September 2024 every hotel, lodge, homestay, resort and business building in Shillong must hold one.

Validity since July 2025: 3 years; From the date of issue; surprise inspections allowed; The 2025 notification
Hotel fee per m², up to 4 star: Rs 5; Rs 2,000 renewal fee; Fee table
Pre-construction NOC due in: 30 days; Under the Right to Public Services Act, 2020; Step by step
Late renewal: Rs 5 a day; After 7 free days; Rs 15 a day after day 15; Charges

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Meghalaya fire NOC at a glance

The Meghalaya fire NOC in 12 facts, each with its source. Last verified October 2026.
What	The rule	Source
Issuing authority	Superintendent of Police (Fire and Emergency Services), Shillong, who issues and uploads the NOC after a Station Officer's inspection	Invest Meghalaya
The Act	Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2012 (Act No. 5 of 2012), assented on 29 March 2012 and published in the Gazette Extraordinary of 30 March 2012	Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Fees	Rs 3 to Rs 10 per m² of floor area by occupancy, under notification HPL.179/2017/85 of 12 June 2018 (Annexure B)	Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya
Validity	3 years from the date of issue, under notification HPL.36/2019/212 of 24 July 2025, published in the Gazette on 14 August 2025	Gazette 14 Aug 2025
Renewal fee	Rs 500 to Rs 3,500 by category; none listed for apartment houses	Meghalaya F&ES
Late renewal	No charge for 7 days after expiry, Rs 5 a day from day 8 to day 15, Rs 15 a day after that (Annexure C)	Meghalaya F&ES
Two stages	Pre-construction Fire Clearance Certificate before building starts; Grant of Fire Safety Certificate for the finished building. A Provisional Fire Safety Certificate service also exists	Invest Meghalaya
Where to apply	investmeghalaya.gov.in, under Services Available, Fire and Emergency Service, Pre-Operation; or at the office of the SP (F&ES)	meghalaya.gov.in
Time limit	30 days for the pre-construction NOC under the Meghalaya Right to Public Services Act, 2020; the SOP restarts its 1 month from any clarification	MRPS service list
Shillong rule	Hotels, lodges, homestays, resorts and business buildings in Shillong city and adjoining areas must hold a fire NOC (notification HPL.127/2023/43, 26 September 2024)	HPL.127/2023/43
Building bye-laws trigger	High-rise buildings over 15 m, special buildings over 500 m² and special projects get no Occupancy Certificate without Fire Services clearance (bye-law A10)	Bye-Laws 2021
Fire service	36 functional fire stations and 3 temporary fire camps in two ranges, Eastern (Shillong) and Western (Tura)	Meghalaya F&ES

Meghalaya fire NOC fees by building type under the 2018 schedule

Annexure B to notification HPL.179/2017/85 of 12 June 2018, read from its three page images. Fees are per m² of the floor area of a building used for commercial purposes; the renewal column is headed "annual renewal fees".
Option	Sub-division	Fee per m²	Renewal fee	Source
Inns, clubs, motels and guest houses up to 40 persons or beds	A1	Rs 4	Rs 500	Meghalaya F&ES
Lodging houses above 40 and up to 100 persons or beds	A1	Rs 4	Rs 1,000	Meghalaya F&ES
One or two family private dwellings sleeping 20 or fewer	A2	Not applicable	Not applicable	Meghalaya F&ES
Dormitories, hostels and barracks up to 20 persons	A3	Rs 3	Rs 500	Meghalaya F&ES
Dormitories, hostels and barracks above 20 persons	A3	Rs 3	Rs 1,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Apartment houses	A4	Rs 4	Not applicable	Meghalaya F&ES
Hotels up to 4 star	A5	Rs 5	Rs 2,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Hotels of 5 star and above	A6	Rs 6	Rs 3,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Schools up to senior secondary	B-1	Rs 4	Rs 1,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Colleges and training institutions of 100 students or more	B-2	Rs 4	Rs 1,500	Meghalaya F&ES
Hospitals, sanatoria and nursing homes	C-1	Rs 4	Rs 1,500	Meghalaya F&ES
Homes for the aged, orphanages, prisons and mental hospitals	C-2, C-3	Rs 3	Rs 500	Meghalaya F&ES
Theatres, halls and restaurants seating over 1,000	D	Rs 6	Rs 2,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Theatres, halls and restaurants seating up to 1,000	D	Rs 5	Rs 1,500	Meghalaya F&ES
Stadia, circus tents and grand stands without seats, 300 or more people	D	Rs 4	Rs 1,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Offices, banks and professional offices	E-1	Rs 3	Rs 500	Meghalaya F&ES
IT parks, data centres and call centres	E-3	Rs 4	Rs 1,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Shops and markets up to 500 m²	F-1	Rs 6	Rs 1,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Shops and markets over 500 m²	F-2	Rs 7	Rs 2,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Underground shopping centres	F-3	Rs 8	Rs 2,500	Meghalaya F&ES
Industry: low, moderate and high hazard	G-1 to G-3	Rs 8, Rs 9, Rs 10	Rs 2,500, Rs 3,000, Rs 3,500	Meghalaya F&ES
Warehouses, cold storage, depots and garages	H	Rs 6	Rs 2,000	Meghalaya F&ES
Hazardous: gases, flammable liquids, LPG, explosives and fireworks	J	Rs 10	Rs 3,000	Meghalaya F&ES

How to get a Meghalaya fire NOC, step by step

Check whether your building is caught
A fire clearance is needed for high-rise buildings over 15 m, special buildings over 500 m², hotels, lodges, homestays, resorts and business buildings in Shillong, and public gathering places, warehouses and pandals licensed under the 2012 Act.
Register on investmeghalaya.gov.in
The fire services are built on NIC ServicePlus and are common to citizens and businesses. Pick Fire and Emergency Service, then Pre-Operation, and choose the Khasi and Jaintia Hills or Garo Hills region.
Apply for the pre-construction Fire Clearance Certificate
Before building starts, upload ID proof, the building plan as per the national code and a fire layout plan. The Right to Public Services list gives the fire department 30 days for this NOC.
Host the station officer's inspection
The Station Officer tells you the date and time, inspects against a 24-item checklist and uploads a report within 48 working hours, with photographs of anything missing.
Build and fit the fire systems shown on the plan
Stage 1 drawings for high-rise and special buildings must show fire access, the fire lift, alarms, the static tank and pump room, sprinklers, wet risers and hose reels.
Apply for the Grant of Fire Safety Certificate
On completion, file the fire layout plan, building plan and ID proof, with the pre-construction NOC, an electrical certificate and a fire safety undertaking. The SP (F&ES) issues and uploads it.
Renew before the 3 years run out
The certificate is valid 3 years from issue. A renewal application carries the latest certificate; late renewal costs Rs 5 a day after 7 free days.

What Meghalaya's 2025 notification says on fire NOC validity

One paragraph of 24 July 2025 made the fire NOC last 3 years and replaced the yearly renewal that most guides still describe.

Word for word

In continuation to this Department's Notification No.HPL.179/2017/85, dated 12th June, 2018 that was issued under clause (b) of Section 17 of the Meghalaya Fire & Emergency Act, 2012, (Act No. 5 of 2012), the Governor of Meghalaya is pleased to notify that the validity of Fire NOC/Fire Clearance Certificate shall be for 3 (three) years from the date of issuance. Random or surprise inspections may be carried out any time, with or without prior notice and any non-compliance observed during such inspections may lead to suspension or revocation of the Fire NOC/Fire Clearance Certificate.

Home (Police) Department notification No. HPL.36/2019/212 of 24 July 2025, Gazette of Meghalaya No. 33, Part IIA, 14 August 2025, page 1476 Gazette 14 Aug 2025

The 2018 fee schedule it continues still heads its renewal column "annual renewal fees", and neither notification says whether that fee is paid once per 3-year renewal or for each year. Flamekite reads the 3-year term as settled and the renewal charge as not confirmed.

Which Meghalaya buildings need fire clearance, and under which rule

Meghalaya has no single height test in its fire Act. The triggers sit in 5 different instruments; any one row brings a building in.

	Trigger	Instrument	Where it applies
High-rise building Bye-Laws 2021	Over 15 m, any occupancy: Fire Services clearance before the Occupancy Certificate	Bye-laws 2021, A2.30 and A10(iii)	Master Plan, municipal and scheme areas
Hotel, commercial, industrial, storage, hazardous or mixed building Bye-Laws 2021	Covered area over 500 m²	Bye-laws 2021, A2.59(1)	Master Plan, municipal and scheme areas
Educational, institutional or public building Bye-Laws 2021	9 m or more and over 500 m²	Bye-laws 2021, A2.59(2)	Master Plan, municipal and scheme areas
Assembly building, or a basement Bye-Laws 2021	Over 500 m²; or over 300 m² of assembly use on any floor	Bye-laws 2021, A2.59(3) to (5)	Master Plan, municipal and scheme areas
Hotel, lodge, homestay, resort or business building HPL.127/2023/43	Any size	Notification HPL.127/2023/43 of 2024	Shillong city and adjoining areas
Theatre, cinema, circus, fair or mela Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012	A licence on the Director's recommendation	Act 2012, section 15	Whole state
Pandal or temporary structure for the public HPL.179/2017/86	Licence, Form No. C declaration and checklist	Act section 16; notification HPL.179/2017/86	Whole state, not private weddings or funerals
Fireworks premises Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012	A licence before any manufacture or dealing	Act 2012, section 14	Whole state
Hospital, custodial or penal building of 15 m and above Gazette 24 May 2018	A qualified Fire Officer on the premises	Notification HPL.254/2013/65 of 2018	Whole state

The bye-laws define a high-rise building as one "exceeding 15 meters or more in height irrespective of occupancy". Low-risk buildings up to 7 m on plots up to 2,500 sq ft are passed by architect self-certification under a 2025 amendment, which says nothing on fire.

Does your Shillong homestay, hotel or building need a fire NOC?

Find the line closest to your premises. Each one names the Meghalaya rule that decides it.

If You run a homestay, lodge or resort in Shillong or its adjoining areas
Yes, whatever its size: the 26 September 2024 notification makes the fire NOC compulsory. The Tourism Department separately asks for a district administration and police NOC. HPL.127/2023/43
If You run a homestay outside Shillong, in Sohra or Mawlynnong for example
No notification names homestays outside Shillong. A family home sleeping 20 or fewer is fee-exempt under row A2; above 20 it is grouped with lodgings or dormitories. Meghalaya F&ES
If You are building anything taller than 15 m
It is a high-rise under the 2021 bye-laws: the Fire Services Department inspects it and no Occupancy Certificate issues without its clearance. Bye-Laws 2021
If Your shop, office or hotel is over 500 m² but low-rise
It is a special building under bye-law A2.59 and needs fire clearance before occupation, and in Shillong the 2024 notification covers it anyway. Bye-Laws 2021
If You run a hospital of 15 m or more
Besides the certificate, appoint a qualified Fire Officer with at least the Sub-Officer course on the premises. Gazette 24 May 2018
If You are putting up a puja or public pandal
You are a self-regulator: follow the Annexure I checklist, display and file a Form No. C declaration, and pay Rs 800 to Rs 10,000 by area. Fire NOC fees, all states HPL.179/2017/86

Meghalaya fire NOC charges beyond the per-m² fee

Annexures A and C of the 2018 notification set flat fees for pandals and a daily charge for late renewal.

As published

Pandal up to 250 sq ftRs 800Fee for issuing the NOC Meghalaya F&ES
Pandal over 250 and up to 500 sq ftRs 1,000 Meghalaya F&ES
Pandal over 500 sq ftRs 2,000 Meghalaya F&ES
Commercial jatra, circus, fair or mela, over 500 up to 2,500 sq ftRs 7,500 Meghalaya F&ES
Commercial jatra, circus, fair or mela beyond 2,500 sq ftRs 10,000 Meghalaya F&ES
Renewal within 7 days of expiryNo charge Meghalaya F&ES
Renewal after 7 days and up to 15 daysRs 5 a day Meghalaya F&ES
Renewal beyond 15 daysRs 15 a day Meghalaya F&ES
Pre-construction NOC under the Invest Meghalaya SOPNo feesThe SOP's own line, which conflicts with the 2018 notification Invest Meghalaya

The 2018 notification says the fees defray administrative costs and the cost of fire safety audits. Installers' and consultants' charges are not fire service fees and are not listed.

Shillong and Tura buildings worked through Meghalaya's fee table

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

Six common premises run through the 2018 schedule and the triggers above. Areas are examples; the fire service decides the category.

Case 1
An 8-room homestay in Laitumkhrah, Shillong, 220 m²
A family home letting rooms to 16 guests.
What applies The NOC is compulsory under the 2024 notification. As an A1 lodging the fee is 220 x Rs 4 = Rs 880 with a Rs 500 renewal fee; read as a family dwelling of 20 or fewer, row A2 lists no fee. HPL.127/2023/43
Case 2
A 3-star hotel in Police Bazar, 2,400 m²
50 rooms and a restaurant on five floors, 14 m tall.
What applies Category A5: 2,400 x Rs 5 = Rs 12,000, then a Rs 2,000 renewal fee. Over 500 m², it is also a special building that needs fire clearance before occupation. Meghalaya F&ES
Case 3
A showroom in Shillong, 800 m²
Two floors of retail.
What applies Category F-2: 800 x Rs 7 = Rs 5,600, renewal Rs 2,000. Covered by the Shillong notification as a business building and by bye-law A2.59 as a special building. Meghalaya F&ES
Case 4
An 18 m hospital in Tura, 3,000 m²
A nursing home of six floors.
What applies Category C-1: 3,000 x Rs 4 = Rs 12,000, renewal Rs 1,500. As a high-rise it needs fire clearance for its Occupancy Certificate, and at 15 m or more a qualified Fire Officer on site. Gazette 24 May 2018
Case 5
An 18 m apartment block in Shillong, 4,000 m²
Flats on six floors.
What applies Category A4: 4,000 x Rs 4 = Rs 16,000, with no renewal fee listed for apartments. A high-rise, so the Occupancy Certificate waits for Fire Services clearance. Bye-Laws 2021
Case 6
A Durga Puja pandal of 600 sq ft
A public pandal on open ground.
What applies Rs 2,000 under Annexure A. The erector signs a Form No. C declaration, displays it, and must keep 20 ft of clear space and 2 fire buckets per 500 sq ft. Meghalaya pandal checklist

How a Meghalaya fire NOC file moves from the SP (F&ES) to the station

The Invest Meghalaya SOP names every desk. An Eastern Range file passes 5 officers; a Western Range file also goes through the district police.

1. Online application to the SP (F&ES)
The applicant fills the online form addressed to the Superintendent of Police (F&ES), Shillong. Invest Meghalaya
2. Assignment
The SP assigns it to the Divisional Fire Service Officer or the Senior Station Officer of the Eastern Range, who checks the papers against the 24-item list. Invest Meghalaya
3. Inspection fixed
The Station Officer of the area is told to inspect and informs the applicant of the date and time. Invest Meghalaya
4. Inspection report
The report, with photographs of any non-compliance, is due within 48 working hours, and the applicant can download it. Invest Meghalaya
5. Review by the DFSO
The Divisional Fire Service Officer reviews the file and forwards it to the SP (F&ES). Invest Meghalaya
6. NOC issued
The SP (F&ES) issues and uploads the NOC; the applicant downloads it from the single window. Invest Meghalaya
7. Western Range route
In the Garo Hills the file runs SP (F&ES), SP (Police), Station Officer, then back through the Eastern Range desks to the SP. Invest Meghalaya

Meghalaya fire NOC online: Invest Meghalaya and megfireservice.gov.in

Applications run only through the state single window. These 7 official pages are the ones an applicant uses.

Start here
Invest Meghalaya single window
Register, then Services Available, Fire and Emergency Service, Pre-Operation; track status online. meghalaya.gov.in
investmeghalaya.gov.in
Services list
Invest Meghalaya services page
SOP, Act, enclosures and form for the Grant and the Provisional Fire Safety Certificate. Invest Meghalaya
investmeghalaya.gov.in/resources/homePage/17/megeodb/services.html
Plan stage
Pre-construction fire clearance form
The 15 fields asked before construction, from plot area to distance from the nearest fire station. Invest Meghalaya
investmeghalaya.gov.in/resources/homePage/17/megeodb/forms/FireClearance_Form.pdf
Occupancy
Fire Safety Certificate form
Grant of Fire Safety Certificate or NOC, by region and office. Invest Meghalaya
investmeghalaya.gov.in/resources/homePage/17/megeodb/forms/FireEmergencyServiceForm.pdf
Department
Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services
The Act, the fee notification and annexures, pandal forms, circulars and application links. Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya
megfireservice.gov.in
State listing
Grant of Fire Safety Certificate
The state portal's entry: apply on Invest Meghalaya, contact the SP (F&ES), Shillong. meghalaya.gov.in
www.meghalaya.gov.in/services/content/40164
Building plans
OBPS Meghalaya
The online building permit system named in 2024 as the common application for all agencies, fire included. Gazette 14 Nov 2024
obps.meghalaya.gov.in

Meghalaya fire NOC terms from Fire Clearance to Form No. C

Meghalaya uses several names for what the rest of India calls a fire NOC. These 9 are the ones on its forms and notifications.

Pre-construction Fire Clearance Certificate: The plan-stage NOC, applied for before construction starts; the state portal calls it the Initial No Objection Certificate. meghalaya.gov.in
Fire Safety Certificate: The final certificate for a finished building, listed as the Final No Objection Certificate for the Occupancy Certificate. meghalaya.gov.in
Provisional Fire Safety Certificate: A separate Invest Meghalaya service needing 3 enclosures: fire layout plan, building plan and ID proof. Invest Meghalaya
Fire Clearance Certificate: The term the 2018 fee notification and the 2025 validity notification use alongside Fire NOC. Gazette 14 Aug 2025
Fire licence: The 2018 notification's word for the certificate at renewal; Annexure C charges for failing to renew it. Meghalaya F&ES
Licensing Authority: The officer the State authorises to grant licences under sections 15 and 16, on the Director's recommendation. Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Special Building: Under bye-law A2.59, chiefly hotel, commercial, industrial, assembly or basement buildings of over 500 m². Bye-Laws 2021
Form No. C: The pandal erector's signed declaration that fire measures are in place, displayed at the pandal and sent to the Director. Meghalaya F&ES Form C
SP (F&ES): The Superintendent of Police, Fire and Emergency Services, who issues the NOC; a second SP heads the Western Range at Tura. Meghalaya F&ES

Documents Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services asks for at each stage

Invest Meghalaya publishes 3 enclosure lists. Together they come to 8 distinct items.

Proof of bona fide citizenship: EPIC, driving licence, Aadhaar or a Local Head certificate (every stage) Invest Meghalaya
The building plan (blueprint) drawn as per the National Building Code (every stage) Invest Meghalaya
The fire layout plan (every stage) Invest Meghalaya
Plot area, proposed built-up area, occupancy type, approach road and driveway sizes, and the distance to the nearest fire station, on the pre-construction form Invest Meghalaya
The neighbouring buildings on all four sides and their distances from yours, on the pre-construction form Invest Meghalaya
The pre-construction NOC, when applying for the final certificate (optional) Invest Meghalaya
A competent authority's certificate that all electrical installations are in good working condition (optional) Invest Meghalaya
A declaration with undertaking that all fire safety measures are installed and working (optional) Invest Meghalaya
For a renewal, the existing Fire Safety Certificate or the latest renewal certificate Invest Meghalaya

Penalties under the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act 2012

Section 20 carries fines up to Rs 1 lakh and up to 2 years in prison, far above most older state fire Acts.

Offence	Penalty	Law
Breaching sections 14 to 17 or any provision of the Act	Up to 2 years, a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both	Section 20(1) Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Using a warehouse or workshop whose licence was refused, suspended or withdrawn	Up to 1 year, a fine of not less than Rs 1 lakh, or both	Section 20(2) Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Breaking a condition of a warehouse or workshop licence	Up to 6 months, a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both	Section 20(3) Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Obstructing seizure of hazardous goods from an unlicensed warehouse	Up to 6 months, a fine up to Rs 10,000, or both	Section 20(4) Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Obstructing firefighters at work	Up to 3 months, a fine up to Rs 5,000, or both	Section 20(5) Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Knowingly giving a false fire report	3 months, a fine of not less than Rs 1,000, or both	Section 23 Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
A false Form No. C declaration by a pandal erector	Treated as an offence under section 20	Notification HPL.179/2017/86, clause (d) HPL.179/2017/86
Non-compliance found at a surprise inspection	Suspension or revocation of the fire NOC	Notification HPL.36/2019/212 of 2025 Gazette 14 Aug 2025

Section 13(2) also lets any officer from Station Officer up seize and auction hazardous goods found in an unlicensed warehouse, with no compensation. A missed renewal costs the daily late fee shown above.

The Meghalaya instruments behind a fire NOC in 2026

One Act, five Home (Police) notifications and the building bye-laws make up the Meghalaya regime.

Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2012
Section 13 lets the State notify precautions for any area or class of premises, sections 14 to 16 license fireworks, public gathering places and pandals, section 17(b) allows fees, section 20 sets the penalties. Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
HPL.179/2017/85, 12 June 2018
Fee notification
Annexure A for pandals, Annexure B for every building category and Annexure C for late renewal. Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya
HPL.179/2017/86, 12 June 2018
Pandal notification
Erectors are self-regulators under an NBC 2016 checklist, file Form No. C and face sealing if they ignore directions. HPL.179/2017/86
HPL.254/2013/65, 9 May 2018
Fire Officer for institutional buildings
Hospitals, custodial and penal buildings of 15 m and above must keep a qualified Fire Officer on the premises. Gazette 24 May 2018
HPL.127/2023/43, 26 September 2024
Shillong hotels and business buildings
A compulsory fire NOC for hotels, lodges, homestays, resorts and business buildings in Shillong and its adjoining areas. HPL.127/2023/43
HPL.36/2019/212, 24 July 2025
Three-year validity
Fire NOCs and Fire Clearance Certificates last 3 years from issue, subject to surprise inspections. Gazette 14 Aug 2025
UAU.73/2016/Pt/402, 2021
Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021
Defines high-rise and special buildings and makes Fire Services clearance a condition of the Occupancy Certificate; amended for fire tender access in 2024 and 2025. Bye-Laws 2021
Withdrawn 30 April 2026
National Building Code 2016
Meghalaya's forms, SOP and bye-laws cite NBC 2016. BIS replaced it with SP 7:2026; no Meghalaya order adopting it was found, and only Assam had written NBCS 2026 into its fire law by 24 October 2026. Gazette of India

Meghalaya's pandal fire checklist in numbers

Annexure I to the 2018 pandal notification sets hard numbers for every public pandal. These are the ones a fire officer measures.

20 ft
Clear open space from any fence, boundary wall or permanent structure Meghalaya pandal checklist
40 ft
Maximum roof height; the ceiling must be at least 12 ft from the ground Meghalaya pandal checklist
30 ft
Fire gap between two pandals 75 ft long, and the no-flame, no-cooking zone from the boundary Meghalaya pandal checklist
4,000 sq ft
Largest floor area allowed for any one pandal Meghalaya pandal checklist
2
ISI fire buckets per 500 sq ft, plus 1 extinguisher for every 1,000 sq ft Meghalaya pandal checklist
8 inches
Minimum letter height of the EXIT signs, in English and the local language Meghalaya pandal checklist

Meghalaya fire law and fire NOC rules, 1972 to 2026

Meghalaya's fire Act dates from 2012; almost every rule an owner meets today was notified after 2018.

1972 or 1974
The fire service comes into existence after Meghalaya is carved out of Assam, with 2 stations at Shillong and Tura; the department's own pages give both years. Meghalaya F&ES
30 March 2012
The Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services Act, Act No. 5 of 2012, is published in the Gazette Extraordinary. Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
9 August 2016
A Home (Police) order directs mock drills and fire safety audits in all types of establishments. Order HPL/31/2002/138
24 May 2018
The Fire Officer rule for institutional buildings of 15 m and above is gazetted, with 90 days to comply. Gazette 24 May 2018
12 June 2018
The fee schedule and the pandal self-regulation notification are issued the same day. Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya
25 March 2021
The Meghalaya Building Bye-Laws, 2021 are gazetted, tying the Occupancy Certificate to Fire Services clearance. Bye-Laws 2021
26 September 2024
Shillong's hotels, lodges, homestays, resorts and business buildings must hold a fire NOC. HPL.127/2023/43
15 October 2024
OBPAS is notified as the common building permit application for every agency, fire included, with a single joint inspection. Gazette 14 Nov 2024
24 July 2025
The fire NOC's validity is set at 3 years from issue. Gazette 14 Aug 2025
21 October 2025
The Third Amendment Byelaws require fire tender access to a third of a building's perimeter on plots of 2,001 to 35,000 sq ft. Gazette 3 Nov 2025
20 February 2026
East Khasi Hills orders fire safety audits across all establishments after rising fire incidents. DC East Khasi Hills
27 May 2026
Old fire service numbers are retired; Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services answers on 112 and 2520400. DIPR Meghalaya

How Meghalaya announced its fire NOC drives, 2024 to 2026

From news reports, not yet an official source.

These are the government's own notices and press releases. They show the push since 2024; Flamekite found no published count of NOCs issued under the Shillong notification, as of 24 October 2026.

26 September 2024
The Home (Police) Department lists the Shillong order on the state portal: all hotels, lodges or homestays, resorts and business buildings in the city and its adjoining areas must obtain a compulsory NOC from the fire service. HPL.127/2023/43
1 July 2025
The Director of Tourism tells every hotel, guest house, homestay and bed and breakfast to log guests online and to obtain an NOC from the district administration and district police, for security. DIPR Meghalaya
20 February 2026
The Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills cites rising fires in homes, shops, schools and offices, orders audits in all establishments and tells them to apply on investmeghalaya.gov.in. DC East Khasi Hills
27 May 2026
The SP (F&ES), Shillong, says the fire numbers printed in local dailies are no longer in use and that 112 now covers fire calls. DIPR Meghalaya

Meghalaya fire service offices in Shillong and Tura

The NOC desk sits in the SP (F&ES) office behind the Shillong Fire Station Complex. Numbers are as the department prints them on 24 October 2026.

Superintendent of Police (F&ES), Meghalaya Meghalaya F&ES
Issues fire NOCs for the state; sp.fes-meg@gov.in
Address
Fire and Emergency Service Headquarter, P.O. Nongthymmai, Shillong 793014
Phone
94851 78896 (office hours)
Website
megfireservice.gov.in/contact_us.html
Divisional Fire Service Officer, Shillong Meghalaya F&ES
Reviews Eastern Range NOC files; dfso.fes-meg@gov.in
Phone
9436524717
Superintendent of Police (F&ES), Western Range, Tura Meghalaya F&ES
Fire service head for the Garo Hills districts; sp.fes-wr@meghalaya.gov.in
Phone
9402324646
Inspector General of Police (F&ES), Meghalaya Meghalaya F&ES
Overall command of the service; fes.meg@meghalaya.gov.in
Phone
0364-2224668
Fire Control Room, Shillong Fire Station Meghalaya F&ES
Emergencies, 24 x 7
Phone
112; 0364-2520400; 0364-2520004

Why Meghalaya fire NOCs are delayed, suspended or refused

Most Meghalaya setbacks trace to a written rule that was missed. Here are 7.

If The fire officer asked for clarification
The SOP's 1 month starts again from the day your clarification reaches the department. Answer in one complete reply. Invest Meghalaya
If A surprise inspection found something broken
Since July 2025 any non-compliance at a random inspection can suspend or revoke the NOC. Keep systems working every day, not just before renewal. Gazette 14 Aug 2025
If No staircase within reach on a long floor
The pre-inspection checklist looks for 1 staircase in every 22.5 m. Fix the plan before the site visit. Invest Meghalaya
If Fire tenders cannot reach the building
On plots of 2,001 to 35,000 sq ft, keep a 4.5 m wide access with a 4.5 m turning radius along a third of the perimeter, and do not let setback parking block it. Gazette 3 Nov 2025
If The Occupancy Certificate is held up
For a high-rise or special building it issues only after Fire Services clearance, and without it the power and water connections stay temporary. Bye-Laws 2021
If A hospital of 15 m or more has no Fire Officer
Appoint a person with at least the Sub-Officer course; the 2018 notification gave 90 days from gazette publication. Gazette 24 May 2018
If The renewal was left until after expiry
Annexure C allows 7 days free, then Rs 5 a day to day 15 and Rs 15 a day after. Meghalaya F&ES

Running a Shillong homestay or hotel under Meghalaya's fire rules

Do

Apply for the fire NOC on investmeghalaya.gov.in even if you have 1 room to let: the 2024 Shillong notification names homestays without a size limit. HPL.127/2023/43
Register on the Tourism Department's provider app and get the district administration and police NOC as well, since 1 July 2025. DIPR Meghalaya
Keep extinguishers, alarms and exits in order all year: random inspections can suspend a 3-year NOC. Gazette 14 Aug 2025
Diary the renewal well before the 3 years end; after 7 days the late fee runs daily. Meghalaya F&ES

Don’t

Don't treat the tourism or police NOC as the fire NOC: they are separate approvals from separate offices. DIPR Meghalaya
Don't add rooms past 20 sleeping guests in a family home without checking the fee class: above 20 it is grouped with lodgings or dormitories. Meghalaya F&ES
Don't call the old fire numbers from local dailies in an emergency; since May 2026 it is 112. DIPR Meghalaya

Meghalaya fire NOC myths set against the 2025 notification

You may have read
A Meghalaya fire NOC must be renewed every year.
Myth
What the sources say
Notification HPL.36/2019/212 of 24 July 2025 makes it valid for 3 years from the date of issue. Gazette 14 Aug 2025
You may have read
The 2012 Act requires a fire NOC for buildings over 15 m.
Myth
What the sources say
The Act has no height test. The 15 m line comes from the 2021 building bye-laws' definition of a high-rise building. Bye-Laws 2021
You may have read
The fire NOC in Meghalaya is free.
Myth
What the sources say
Only the single-window SOP says "no fees". The 12 June 2018 notification charges Rs 3 to Rs 10 per m² and renewal fees of Rs 500 to Rs 3,500. Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya
You may have read
Small homestays in Shillong are exempt.
Myth
What the sources say
The 26 September 2024 notification covers every building in Shillong and its adjoining areas used as a homestay, with no size limit. HPL.127/2023/43
You may have read
Weddings and funerals in a private compound need a pandal licence.
Myth
What the sources say
Section 2(k) of the Act excludes pandals in private compounds for bereavement, marriage and other private gatherings. Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
You may have read
The tourism registration covers fire safety.
Myth
What the sources say
The July 2025 tourism notice asks for guest data and a district administration and police NOC, for security; it does not mention fire. DIPR Meghalaya

What Flamekite could not confirm about the Meghalaya fire NOC

Seven points about the Meghalaya regime that no official source we read settles, as of 24 October 2026.

How the renewal fee works over a 3-year term. The 2018 schedule's column is headed "annual renewal fees" and the 2025 notification sets 3-year validity without changing it, so whether the fee is paid once or three times per term is not stated.

Whether any fee is collected at the pre-construction stage. The Invest Meghalaya SOP says "no fees"; the 2018 notification levies fees for NOCs and Fire Clearance Certificates. The amount shown at payment is the final word.

What "adjoining areas" of Shillong means in the 2024 notification. It is not defined in the notification, and no map or list of localities was found.

The day limit for the Grant of Fire Safety Certificate under the Right to Public Services Act. The published list truncates item 18; only a 90-day extension for works in progress is legible. The pre-construction NOC's 30 days is clear.

The Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Service Rules, 2012 that Form No. C cites. No such Rules were found published, nor the notification that brought the 2012 Act into force under section 1(3).

Whether the fire NOC is now applied for inside OBPS (obps.meghalaya.gov.in). The 2024 notification names it as the common application for Fire Services, but the system needs a login and the Invest Meghalaya services remain listed.

The year the fire service began: the department's home page says 1972 and its About page 1974.

Questions about fire NOC in Meghalaya

How to apply for fire NOC in Meghalaya?: Register on investmeghalaya.gov.in and choose Fire and Emergency Service, then Pre-Operation. Apply for the pre-construction Fire Clearance Certificate with ID proof, the building plan and a fire layout plan, then for the Grant of Fire Safety Certificate when the building is complete.
What is the fee for fire NOC in Meghalaya?: Rs 3 to Rs 10 per m² of floor area by building type under the 12 June 2018 notification: for example Rs 4 for hospitals and guest houses, Rs 5 for hotels up to 4 star and Rs 7 for shops over 500 m². Pandals pay Rs 800 to Rs 10,000.
What is the validity of fire NOC in Meghalaya?: 3 years from the date of issue, under Home (Police) notification HPL.36/2019/212 of 24 July 2025. Older guides that say one year predate it.
Is fire NOC required for a homestay in Shillong?: Yes. The notification of 26 September 2024 makes a fire NOC compulsory for every building in Shillong city and its adjoining areas used as a hotel, lodge, homestay, resort or business.
Who issues fire NOC in Shillong?: The Superintendent of Police (Fire and Emergency Services), Meghalaya, at the Fire and Emergency Service Headquarter, Nongthymmai, after a Station Officer's inspection. The Garo Hills have their own SP (F&ES) at Tura.
What is the late fee for fire NOC renewal in Meghalaya?: Nothing for the first 7 days after expiry, Rs 5 a day from day 8 to day 15, and Rs 15 a day after that, under Annexure C of the 2018 notification.
Which buildings need fire clearance in Meghalaya?: High-rise buildings over 15 m, special buildings such as hotels, shops, offices and assembly halls over 500 m², and special projects, before their Occupancy Certificate; plus Shillong's hotels, homestays and business buildings, public gathering places, pandals and fireworks premises.
How long does the fire department take in Meghalaya?: The Right to Public Services list gives 30 days for the pre-construction NOC. The SOP's 1 month restarts from any clarification, and the inspection report is due within 48 working hours of the visit.

Keep reading

Fire NOC in India: the complete guideWho needs a fire NOC, how to apply, and the rules in every state.
Fire NOC for homestaysWhen a homestay needs a fire NOC, state by state, and the equipment it must have.
Fire NOC fees by stateMeghalaya's Rs 3 to Rs 10 per m² beside every other state's rates.
Fire NOC validity by stateHow Meghalaya's 3-year term compares across India.
Fire NOC renewal date calculatorCount forward 3 years and set a reminder before the late fee starts.
Do I need a fire NOC? CheckerRun your building through the thresholds in two minutes.
Documents required for fire NOCWhat each state asks for at each stage.
Fire NOC online applyEvery state portal in one place.

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Sources

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

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Meghalaya fire NOC at a glance

Meghalaya fire NOC fees by building type under the 2018 schedule

How to get a Meghalaya fire NOC, step by step

Check whether your building is caught

Register on investmeghalaya.gov.in

Apply for the pre-construction Fire Clearance Certificate

Host the station officer's inspection

Build and fit the fire systems shown on the plan

Apply for the Grant of Fire Safety Certificate

Renew before the 3 years run out