Is a fire NOC mandatory for a warehouse?

Yes, once it crosses your state's line: above 250 m² of covered area in Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat, above 500 m² on a floor in Haryana and Bihar, and at any size in Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Tamil Nadu. Mizoram and Meghalaya also license warehouses as such.

What are the fire safety norms for a warehouse in the NBC?

A warehouse is Group H storage. NBC 2016 asked a storage building over 250 m² for a wet riser, yard hydrant, sprinklers and detection even on one floor, and allowed none above 15 m. NBCS 2026 grades storage by area from HL-4 to CL-7 and puts every racked warehouse in the top set.

Does a warehouse need sprinklers?

Under NBC 2016, every storage row lists sprinklers, including stores under 250 m². Under NBCS 2026, warehouses from 1,001 m², with a ridge above 7.6 m, or with racks of any height need wet sprinklers. Maharashtra asks for them under 1,000 m² only in a basement over 200 m².

How tall can a warehouse building be in India?

NBC 2016 permitted no storage building above 15 m. Maharashtra allows storage up to 24 m where local fire-fighting facilities exist, Haryana up to 21 m, and Uttar Pradesh does not permit storage above 15 m.

What is the fire NOC fee for a warehouse?

It depends on the state. Gujarat charges Rs 2,500 plus Rs 10 per m² for single-floor storage over 250 m²; Bihar Rs 10 per m² provisional; Chandigarh Rs 12 per m² with a Rs 6,615 minimum; Goa Rs 10 per m². Uttar Pradesh charges no portal fee.

Does WDRA warehouse registration need fire insurance?

Yes. WDRA's Circular 01/Tech.II/2017 requires the stock to be insured against at least fire, flood, burglary, misappropriation, and riots and strikes, under a Standard Fire and Special Perils policy. Building insurance is not mandatory.

How much diesel or LPG can a warehouse keep without a PESO licence?

The Petroleum Act exempts Class B petroleum up to 2,500 litres and Class C up to 45,000 litres. The Gas Cylinders Rules exempt own-use flammable non-toxic gas up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg. Above these, a PESO licence is needed besides the fire NOC.

How long is a warehouse fire NOC valid?

Storage renews every year in Sikkim, every 2 years in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, every 3 years in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and hazardous storage every 2 years in Kerala. Mizoram's warehouse licence is yearly, and Maharashtra replaces renewal with Form B every January and July.

Fire NOC 29 min read

Fire NOC for a warehouse: state lines, NBC storage rules, sprinklers and fees

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

Quick answer

A warehouse needs a fire NOC above 250 m² in Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat, above 500 m² a floor in Haryana and Bihar, and at any size in UP. In the fire codes it is Group H storage, and NBC 2016 did not allow a storage building above 15 m; Maharashtra allows 24 m and Haryana 21 m.

The systems grow with area, floors and racking. NBC 2016 asks a storage building over 250 m² for a wet riser, yard hydrant, sprinklers and automatic detection even on one floor. NBCS 2026 requires sprinklers and voice evacuation in any warehouse with rack storage, and WDRA registers a warehouse only if its stock is insured against fire.

Warehouse class in the codes: Group H; Storage; hazardous stores are Group J; The terms
Lowest common area line: 250 m²; Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and 4 more; In numbers
NBC 2016 height cap for storage: 15 m; Note 20 to Table 7; The table
Rack storage needs sprinklers at: Any height; NBCS 2026 Table 7H, row v; Levels

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Fire NOC for a warehouse at a glance: 10 facts

How the fire codes, state laws and regulators treat a warehouse, each fact with the instrument behind it. Last verified 25 October 2026.
What	The rule	Source
Occupancy	Group H storage: warehouses, freight depots, transit sheds, truck terminals, storehouses and cold storages (NBCS 2026, 3.1.9)	BIS, SP 7:2026
When it becomes hazardous	Highly flammable liquids, LPG, gases stored above 0.1 N/mm² and 70 m³, or explosives make it Group J hazardous	BIS, SP 7:2026
Lowest state area line	Over 250 m² of covered area on all floors, any height: Delhi Rule 27	DFS
Any size	Uttar Pradesh section 26(3) names every storage building; a store under 250 m² skips only the agency certificate (Rule 42)	UP Rules 2024
Height cap	NBC 2016 Note 20: no storage building above 15 m; Maharashtra 24 m; Haryana 21 m	NBC 2016, Part 4
Systems over 250 m²	NBC 2016: wet riser, yard hydrant, sprinklers, manual alarm and automatic detection from the ground-floor-only row	NBC 2016, Part 4
Rack storage	NBCS 2026 Table 7H: sprinklers, yard hydrant, detection and voice evacuation at any height	BIS, SP 7:2026
Travel distance	30 m unsprinklered, 90 m sprinklered (NBCS 2026 Table 4)	BIS, SP 7:2026
WDRA registration	Stock insured against fire, flood, burglary, misappropriation, riots and strikes (Circular 01/Tech.II/2017)	WDRA circular 1/2017
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

Warehouse fire NOC lines in 28 states and UTs: area, floors or height

When a storage building crosses each state's fire NOC, licence or certificate line, with the other storage rule in the same instrument. Where a state lists storage with no size, the row says so. Checked 25 October 2026.
Option	When a warehouse is caught	Other storage rule in the same instrument	Instrument	Source
Delhi	Covered area over 250 m² on all floors, any height	Hazardous premises over 100 m²	DFS Rules 2010, Rule 27 as amended	DFS
Rajasthan	Storage over 250 m²	Fee Rs 2, 1.50 or 1 per sq ft by local body; a missing NOC costs Rs 5,000 under s.291	UDH order of 14 September 2023	Rajasthan UDH
Gujarat	Godowns over 250 m² of covered area under 15 m, banded by floors	Specialist Fire Safety Officer only; a Fire Safety Executive on site for storage of ground plus 1 or more	Fire Regulations 2023, Tables 1 and 2, reg 27	Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Himachal Pradesh	Storage building over 250 m² covered on all floors (class 11)	Hazardous buildings over 100 m²	Notification of 23 July 2019 under s.9	HP Home notification
Manipur	Storage over 250 m² covered on all floors, any height	Schedule I godown row: wet riser, yard hydrant, sprinklers, 50,000 litre tank; storage capped at 15 m	Act 9 of 2026, s.21(5) and Schedule I	Government of Manipur
Nagaland	Storage over 250 m² covered on all floors, any height	Only a licensed agency may fit the installation	Fire and Emergency Services Act, s.21(1)	Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Nagaland
Chhattisgarh	Storage above 250 m² covered on all floors (class 10)	Moderate risk: certificate valid 2 years	Notification of 29 November 2022; HQ order of 16 October 2025	Fire and Emergency Services and SDRF, Chhattisgarh
Haryana	More than 500 m² on any one floor	Storage buildings capped at 21 m, no continuous public habitation above 15 m; NFPA where NBC is silent	Act 14 of 2022, s.18(2)(b) and 18(5)	Government of Haryana
Bihar	A floor over 500 m², or 15 m and above	Storage pays the top Schedule C rate, Rs 10 per m² provisional	Fire Service Rules 2021, rule 15	Bihar Rules 2021
Andhra Pradesh	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	Fire Service Act 1999, s.13(1) as amended in 2026	Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Arunachal Pradesh	More than 500 m² on any one floor	High rise above 4 storeys or 15 m	Building Bye-Laws 2019, 11.1(b)(1)	AP Building Bye-Laws 2019
Meghalaya	Storage over 500 m² covered	A warehouse licence under the 2012 Act; goods in an unlicensed warehouse can be seized	Bye-Laws 2021, A2.59; Act 5 of 2012, s.13	Bye-Laws 2021
Odisha	Warehouses or storage of 500 m² built-up or above	Issued by a Deputy Fire Officer, valid 2 years	Act as amended in 2019; Order 50908 of 2019	Odisha Rules 2019
Lakshadweep	Storage over 500 m²	Premises storing petroleum, LPG, gases, chemicals or fireworks at any size	Rules 2026, r.11(2)	Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary Vol. LXII No. 42, 3 September 2026
Uttar Pradesh	Every storage building (s.26(3))	No agency certificate under 250 m²; 3-year term, 1 year for hazardous storage; above 15 m not permitted	Act 16 of 2022; Rules 2024, rules 42 and 44	UP Rules 2024
Sikkim	Every storage building (s.24(3))	Certificate valid 1 year for storage (rule 30)	Act 4 of 2023 (start date not found); Rules 2025	Sikkim F&ES Rules 2025
Tamil Nadu	Warehouses at any height, on the DTCP checklist	The District Officer issues up to 18.3 m, the Director above	TNCDBR 2019; DTCP planning permission	TNSWP
Goa	Godowns and warehouses at any size	Hazard decides the officer: low, a Divisional Officer; moderate, a Deputy Director; high, the Director	Section 13 notification of 17 December 2014; RTS 2022	DFES Goa charter
Assam	Storage buildings are listed premises; ground plus 1 and over 500 m² is high risk	The trade licence for a warehouse issues only on the fire certificate (rule 18)	Act LIII of 2025, Schedule I; Rules 2025	Assam Act LIII of 2025
Mizoram	Any building used as a warehouse or godown needs a licence (rules 49 and 50)	Licence renewed every year; an unlicensed warehouse can be seized (rule 52)	Rules 2019	Home Department, Mizoram
West Bengal	A fire licence for storage, priced by area	A single-floor warehouse up to 9 m and 500 m² self-certifies yearly	Fire Licence Rules 2004; notification 1930 of 2024	WB notification 1930
Kerala	H storage over 1,000 m² or over 15 m	300 to 1,000 m² up to 15 m: Appendix L self-declaration	Municipality Building Rules, rule 5(4)	KMBR 2019
Telangana	Storage above 15 m	Risk category R3, medium	Renewal circular of 2016	TSDRFS circular 2016
Karnataka	21 m or more, any occupancy	None for warehouses	Fire Force Act, s.13(3) as amended in 2023	Government of Karnataka
Tripura	Storage above 10 m or 200 m² takes the full route	Up to both limits it self-certifies; a change of use needs a fresh certificate (rule 11)	Rules 2026	Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Tripura
Uttarakhand	Over 500 m² if it stores explosive or highly inflammable substances	Warehouses renew every 3 years	Act of 2016 as amended in 2022, s.18	Uttarakhand Gazette 2022
Maharashtra	Every height band: Schedule-I sets storage installations below 15 m too	Storage above 24 m not permitted; Form B every January and July	Act of 2006, Schedule-I substituted in 2023	MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
Chandigarh	Storage with over 500 m² on any floor, under the Haryana Act as extended	Rs 12 per m², minimum Rs 6,615; Haryana's 21 m storage cap does not apply in the city	S.O. 2264(E) of 6 May 2026; MC Office Order 23	Gazette of India

Getting a warehouse fire NOC in 7 steps

Class the goods before the building
Non-combustible goods are low hazard, general goods moderate, and combustible or flammable goods high hazard in NBCS 2026 Annex B. LPG, solvents or explosives above the code's limits make the building Group J.
Measure covered area on all floors, floors and height
Delhi counts 250 m² over all floors and Rajasthan draws its storage line at 250 m²; Haryana and Bihar 500 m² on one floor; Kerala 1,000 m² in total. Keep the shed under 15 m, or 24 m in Maharashtra and 21 m in Haryana.
Decide floor stacking or racks
NBCS 2026 Table 7H covers goods stacked up to 3.7 m on the floor. Racks of any height move the building to the full set: sprinklers, riser, hydrant, detection and voice evacuation.
Design the water and pumps
NBC 2016 asks 50,000 litres underground for a single-floor store over 250 m², 1,00,000 litres above ground plus one. Rack and plastics storage is sized by hydraulic calculation.
File on the state portal with drawings
Upload the fire drawings, a list of goods with quantities, ownership or lease papers and the installer's certificate. The full checklists are on the documents page.
Add the PESO and trade licences
Class B petroleum over 2,500 litres needs a PESO licence; Assam issues a warehouse trade licence only on the fire certificate; Mizoram and Meghalaya license warehouses yearly.
Diary the renewal and the drills
Storage renews every year in Sikkim, every 2 years in Odisha, every 3 years in Uttar Pradesh; in Maharashtra Form B goes in every January and July.

Group H storage, godown classes and the words fire officers use

The class written on the file decides the line and the table. These 9 terms come from the codes, Annex B and the state laws that license warehouses.

Group H Storage (NBCS 2026, 3.1.9): A building used mainly to store or shelter goods, vehicles or animals, with servicing or repair incidental to storage: warehouses, freight depots, transit sheds, truck and marine terminals, garages, hangars, grain elevators. BIS, SP 7:2026
Group J Hazardous (3.1.10): Storage or handling of highly flammable liquids, LPG, explosives, or gases held above 0.1 N/mm² in quantities over 70 m³. A warehouse holding these is not Group H. BIS, SP 7:2026
Change of use: A warehouse turned into offices or a garage into a workshop takes the class of the new use, because it holds more people (3.1.9). BIS, SP 7:2026
Godown, low hazard (G1): Godowns and warehouses storing non-combustible goods only (Annex B). BIS, SP 7:2026
Godown, moderate hazard (G2): Godowns and warehouses not in the low or high hazard lists; cold storage premises sit in this column too. BIS, SP 7:2026
Godown, high hazard (G3, sub-category A): Godowns and warehouses storing combustible or flammable goods. BIS, SP 7:2026
Covered area on all floors: Delhi's 250 m² line adds every floor's covered area together, so a 2-floor store of 130 m² each is caught. DFS
Warehouse (Meghalaya, s.2(p)): Godowns, factories, workshops and shops dealing in prescribed inflammable articles, which need a licence under the 2012 Act. Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Fire load, storage: Up to 500 kg of wood equivalent per m², the highest band in NBCS 2026, shared with hazardous buildings. BIS, SP 7:2026

Warehouse fire systems by area and floors: NBC 2016 Table 7 and Maharashtra Schedule-I

Both tables were read off the page images. NBC 2016 draws its storage line at 250 m²; Maharashtra's 2023 Schedule-I draws it at 1,000 m².

	Hose, riser and hydrant	Sprinklers and alarm	Water storage	Pumps
NBC 2016: below 15 m, under 250 m² NBC 2016, Part 4	Extinguishers and a first-aid hose reel; no riser or hydrant	Sprinklers; no manual alarm or detection	Terrace tank 25,000 litres	Terrace pump 900 l/min
NBC 2016: below 15 m, over 250 m², ground floor only NBC 2016, Part 4	Hose reel, wet riser and yard hydrant	Sprinklers, manual alarm and automatic detection	Underground 50,000 litres, terrace 10,000	Electric and diesel pumps of 1,620 l/min, a 180 l/min jockey, 450 l/min at the terrace
NBC 2016: over 250 m², ground plus one NBC 2016, Part 4	Hose reel, wet riser and yard hydrant	Sprinklers, manual alarm and automatic detection	Underground 75,000 litres, terrace 10,000	Electric and diesel pumps of 2,280 l/min, a 180 l/min jockey, 450 l/min at the terrace
NBC 2016: over 250 m², more than ground plus one NBC 2016, Part 4	Hose reel, wet riser and yard hydrant	Sprinklers, manual alarm and automatic detection	Underground 1,00,000 litres, terrace 10,000	Electric and diesel pumps of 2,280 l/min, a 180 l/min jockey, 450 l/min at the terrace
Maharashtra: below 15 m, under 1,000 m² MH Act 2023 Schedule-I	Hose reel and a wet riser; no yard hydrant	Sprinklers only in a basement over 200 m²; no alarm or detection	Underground 50,000 litres; no terrace tank	Electric and diesel pumps of 1,620 l/min and a 180 l/min jockey
Maharashtra: over 1,000 m², or 15 m to 24 m MH Act 2023 Schedule-I	Hydrants designed to the Indian Standards for the whole occupancy (Note 18)	Sprinklers, water spray, mist, gas, foam and fire alarm as the codes apply	Sized by design to IS 13039, IS 15105 and IS 15325 (Note 21(a))	Sized by design

NBC 2016 Note 20 permits no storage building above 15 m and no multi-level car park above 45 m. Maharashtra's Note 3(g) allows storage from 15 m to 24 m only where local fire-fighting facilities exist, and Note 3(c) bars storage above 24 m. Every row needs extinguishers.

NBCS 2026 warehouse protection levels: HL-4 to CL-7 and racks

NBCS 2026 Table 7H grades a storage building by built-up area and ridge height, then puts any racked warehouse in the top set. It covers goods stacked on the floor up to 3.7 m, tyres excepted.

Up to 500 m²
HL-4
Extinguishers, a first-aid hose reel, a wet riser and automatic detection. No yard hydrant, sprinklers or voice evacuation. BIS, SP 7:2026
501 to 1,000 m²
HL-5
The HL-4 set plus a yard hydrant. BIS, SP 7:2026
1,001 to 2,000 m², or ridge up to 7.6 m
CL-6
A down-comer in place of the wet riser, a yard hydrant, wet sprinklers and automatic detection. BIS, SP 7:2026
Above 2,001 m², or ridge 7.6 m to 9.0 m
CL-7
Wet riser, yard hydrant, wet sprinklers, automatic detection, and a public address and voice evacuation system. BIS, SP 7:2026
Any height with rack storage
Racked warehouse
The full CL-7 set, whatever the area. Racks of plastics, lithium batteries, ignitable chemicals or oxidisers follow the relevant Indian Standard, with pumps and water proved by hydraulic calculation. BIS, SP 7:2026
Where the code applies
9 m or 500 m²
NBCS 2026 applies its fire provisions to storage from 9 m in height or 500 m² in area; a state or local authority may change those values. BIS, SP 7:2026

From floor stacks to high racks: how warehouse sprinkler rules scale

Racking changes a warehouse's fire design more than its floor area does. These 6 stops follow NBCS 2026 and Maharashtra's Schedule-I notes.

1. Floor stacks up to 3.7 m
Table 7H's area bands cover packaging, raw materials and finished goods in piles, shelves or pallets on the floor, up to 3.7 m (12 ft), tyres excluded. BIS, SP 7:2026
2. Any rack, any area
Row v puts a racked warehouse on sprinklers, wet riser, yard hydrant, automatic detection and voice evacuation, even under 500 m². BIS, SP 7:2026
3. Special commodities in racks
Plastic or cartoned combustible packaging, water-reactive goods, lithium batteries, ignitable chemicals and oxidisers follow the relevant Indian Standards, sized by hydraulic calculation. BIS, SP 7:2026
4. The sprinkler standard
IS 15105:2021 is BIS's current sprinkler standard; Maharashtra's Note 21(a) names IS 13039, IS 15105 and IS 15325 for hydrant, sprinkler and spray design. BIS standards database
5. Compartments and clear height
A sprinklered warehouse under 5.0 m may run 5,000 m² per compartment; a warehouse taller than 5 m may be exempted from compartmentation. BIS, SP 7:2026
6. The water and pump sizes
Table 7K's extra hazard levels call for pumps of 4,731 l/min (CL-6) and 7,570 l/min (CL-7), plus 20% on the total flow. BIS, SP 7:2026

Warehouse fire safety checklist for owners and site managers: 12 items

These 12 points come from NBCS 2026, NBC 2016 Table 7 and the state Acts. An inspecting officer looks for each of them in a storage building.

Extinguishers and a first-aid hose reel in every warehouse, whatever its size: both codes list them in every storage row. NBC 2016, Part 4
An exit within 30 m of any point where hazardous commodities are stored, 35 m with sprinklers. BIS, SP 7:2026
At least 2 exit access doors from any storage area over 1,400 m², or with more than 10 people at work. BIS, SP 7:2026
Exit doors that stay unlocked while anyone is inside and open without power. BIS, SP 7:2026
Roof or high-level wall vents, normally open or opening automatically on smoke detection. BIS, SP 7:2026
Travel distance within 30 m, or 90 m with sprinklers, and a common path within half of that. BIS, SP 7:2026
Vehicle charging bays, ignitable chemical stores, hazardous waste and flammable scrap in their own fire compartments, or 30 m from occupied buildings. BIS, SP 7:2026
Electrical, UPS, battery and server rooms enclosed in 2-hour fire-rated construction. BIS, SP 7:2026
No storage use beside homes, schools, hospitals, halls or offices; at least 120 minutes' separation from shops and light industry. BIS, SP 7:2026
Sprinklers fed from both the underground and terrace tanks where NBC 2016 asks for both. NBC 2016, Part 4
Pumps, hydrants and sprinklers maintained, with the Form B certificate filed every January and July in Maharashtra. MFS circular 64
A list of goods with quantities kept current, since the hazard class follows what is stored. BIS, SP 7:2026

Fuel, LPG and chemicals in a warehouse: PESO limits, 4 dos and 4 don'ts

A store of fuel or gas can need a PESO licence and a fire NOC at once. These are the limits the national laws set.

Do

Get a PESO licence before storing more than 2,500 litres of Class B petroleum (flash point 23°C to below 65°C) at one place. Petroleum Act 1934
Keep Class C petroleum under 45,000 litres unless licensed, and Class B in receptacles of no more than 1,000 litres. Petroleum Act 1934
Build an LPG cylinder shed of non-flammable material with at least 11 m² per 1,000 kg, as Rajasthan's 2026 order sets. Rajasthan CTP
Compartment ignitable chemical stores and hazardous waste areas whatever their size. BIS, SP 7:2026

Don’t

Don't keep more than 25 cylinders or 200 kg of flammable non-toxic gas for own use without a licence under rule 44. Gas Cylinders Rules
Don't store Class A petroleum for sale without a licence; only 30 litres not for sale, in small sealed receptacles, is exempt. Petroleum Act 1934
Don't put lithium batteries, oxidisers or water-reactive goods in racks designed for general goods. BIS, SP 7:2026
Don't treat a Group H certificate as cover for LPG or solvent storage: those make the building Group J. BIS, SP 7:2026

WDRA warehouse registration: fire insurance and fire safety arrangements

A warehouse that issues negotiable warehouse receipts registers with WDRA. Its insurance circular of 27 April 2017 names fire first.

Word for word

The insurance coverage of the applicant or warehouseman with respect to the goods deposited in the warehouse(s), must be against at least: (a) fire, (b) flood, (c) burglary, (d) misappropriation and (e) riots and strikes.

Circular No. 01/Tech.II/2017, Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority, 27 April 2017, applying rule 17 of the Registration of Warehouses Rules, 2017 WDRA circular 1/2017

The cover is a Standard Fire and Special Perils policy on the stock, with a minimum sum insured of Rs 1 crore on a declaration policy and stock valued at Rs 20,000 a ton; building insurance is not mandatory and self-insurance is not accepted. WDRA's registration procedure also asks for the warehouse's fire safety arrangements and its layout plan. Registration is not a fire NOC: the certificate still comes from the state fire service. WDRA has amended the 2017 Rules 11 times up to 8 May 2025; Flamekite did not check whether a later circular changed these insurance norms.

Does your warehouse need a fire NOC? 10 cases

Match your warehouse's state, area and floors to one line. Where a state lists storage at any size, the answer does not depend on area.

If A single-floor store of 300 m² in Delhi
Yes: storage over 250 m² of covered area needs a certificate, whatever the height. Fire NOC Delhi DFS
If A 400 m² godown in Jaipur, Kota or Jodhpur
Yes: the 2023 order covers storage over 250 m², at Rs 2 per sq ft in a Nagar Nigam. Fire NOC Rajasthan Rajasthan UDH
If A 1,800 m² single-storey warehouse in Gujarat
Yes: godowns over 250 m² under 15 m are in Table 1, and only a Specialist Fire Safety Officer may certify. Fire NOC Gujarat Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
If A logistics shed in Gurugram with one 480 m² floor
Not under section 18(2)(b), which starts above 500 m² on a floor; above it the fire scheme needs approval. Fire NOC Haryana Government of Haryana
If Any warehouse in Uttar Pradesh
Yes: every storage building needs a Fire Safety Certificate; under 250 m² it skips only the agency certificate. Fire NOC UP UP Rules 2024
If A warehouse in Maharashtra of any size
Schedule-I's storage rows apply from the smallest band, and the owner files Form B every January and July. Form B Fire NOC Maharashtra MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
If A 12 m warehouse in Karnataka
Not on height: Karnataka's line is 21 m for every occupancy. Fire NOC Karnataka Government of Karnataka
If An 800 m² single-floor warehouse in Kochi
An Appendix L self-declaration with a copy to the fire station; a fire NOC above 1,000 m². Fire NOC Kerala KMBR 2019
If A single-floor warehouse of 400 m² and 8 m in West Bengal
Self-certify yearly under the 2024 notification, which covers single-floor warehouses up to 9 m and 500 m². Fire NOC West Bengal WB notification 1930
If A godown in Aizawl of any size
A licence from the competent authority on the Director's fire report, renewed every year. Fire NOC Mizoram 2026 Home Department, Mizoram

Warehouse fire NOC fees in the official schedules

These are the storage lines an Act, rule or order sets. A consultant's or installer's quote is a private price.

As published

Gujarat, storage over 250 m², ground floor onlyRs 2,500 + Rs 10 per m²Plan approval Rs 2,500, certificate Rs 10 per m², renewal Rs 2,500; ground plus 1 Rs 15 per m², more floors Rs 20 Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Gujarat, hazardous storageRs 20 or Rs 30 per m²Single storey or more than one floor, with plan fees of Rs 5,000 or Rs 7,000 Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Bihar, storage, industrial and hazardousRs 10 per m² provisionalRs 5 per m² at the final stage, on all floors with the basement BFS fee PDF
Rajasthan, storage over 250 m²Rs 2, 1.50 or 1 per sq ftNagar Nigam, Parishad or Palika Rajasthan UDH
Kerala, storageRs 20 or Rs 40 per m²Minimum Rs 26,000 Kerala Fire and Rescue Services
Chandigarh, industrial and storageRs 12 per m²Minimum Rs 6,615 MCC Office Order 23
Goa, godowns and warehousesRs 10 per m²Of built-up area, at the final NOC; the initial NOC is free DFES Goa
Assam, warehouses and godowns under 15 mRs 1,500 to Rs 2,500Up to 250 m², to 500 m², over 500 m²; Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 at 15 m and above Assam fee Annexure A
Mizoram, godowns and storesRs 4 per m²Maximum Rs 6,000 Mizoram Fire and Emergency Services
West Bengal, fire licence for storageRs 3,000 to Rs 1,00,000 a yearKolkata rates from 250 sq ft to above 25,000 sq ft; lower in towns and villages WB notification 1338
Uttar Pradesh, portal feeNilProvisional, final and renewal UP Fire dashboard

Gujarat's fees are flat plan and renewal fees plus a per m² certificate fee of built-up area. Every state's schedule is on the fire NOC fees page.

Penalties for running a warehouse without a fire licence or NOC

Three states license warehouses as such and punish an unlicensed one; the fire Acts punish lapsed systems; the Petroleum Act punishes unlicensed fuel.

Offence	Penalty	Law
Using a warehouse whose licence was refused, suspended or withdrawn, Meghalaya	Up to 1 year, a fine of not less than Rs 1 lakh, or both	Section 20(2), Act 5 of 2012 Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Breaking a condition of a warehouse licence, Meghalaya	Up to 6 months, a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both	Section 20(3), Act 5 of 2012 Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Hazardous goods found in an unlicensed warehouse, Meghalaya	Seizure and auction, without compensation	Section 13(2), Act 5 of 2012 Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
A building used as a warehouse without a licence, Mizoram	Seizure of the goods	Rule 52, Rules 2019 Home Department, Mizoram
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 NOC, or equipment missing or not working, Rajasthan	Rs 5,000	Municipalities Act 2009, s.291, applied by the 2023 order Rajasthan UDH
Storing petroleum without a licence	Up to 1 month, Rs 1,000, or both; a repeat up to 3 months and Rs 5,000	Section 23, Petroleum Act 1934 Petroleum Act 1934
A cancelled certificate, Uttar Pradesh	Reported to the licensing authority to cancel the warehouse's licence; then sealing	Rules 46 and 47, Rules 2024 UP Rules 2024

Assam's Act LIII of 2025 sets fines from Rs 10,000 to Rs 5 lakh. Every state's fire NOC penalties are on the penalties page.

Where warehouses fail fire inspections, and the fix

Warehouse failures are mostly about what changed after approval: racks, goods, mezzanines and fuel. These 7 come from the codes and the state rules.

If Racks installed in a shed approved for floor stacking
Row v of Table 7H applies to any racked warehouse: add sprinklers, hydrant, detection and voice evacuation, and refile. BIS, SP 7:2026
If Plastics, aerosols or lithium batteries in a general-goods godown
Combustible or flammable goods make it a high hazard godown; redesign to the relevant Indian Standard with hydraulic calculations. BIS, SP 7:2026
If A mezzanine of offices or a packing line inside the store
A use that raises the number of occupants changes the classification; test exits and systems for the new use. BIS, SP 7:2026
If A high-bay design above 21 m in Haryana or above 24 m in Maharashtra
Both caps are in the law; redesign the height before applying. Government of Haryana
If Exit doors chained at night while the shift is still working
Storage exits must not be locked while anyone is inside or depend on power to open. BIS, SP 7:2026
If Forklift charging in the open storage floor
Put vehicle charging in its own fire compartment, or 30 m from occupied buildings. BIS, SP 7:2026
If A new tenant moves in without telling the fire service, Mizoram
Rule 53 asks for a change of possession to be reported within 14 days. Home Department, Mizoram

Warehouse fire NOC worked cases: 7 buildings

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

Case 1
A 300 m² single-floor store in Okhla, Delhi
One storey, 6 m, general goods.
What applies Over 250 m² of covered area, so a Fire Safety Certificate is needed whatever the height. DFS
Case 2
A 1,800 m² godown in Ahmedabad
Ground floor only, 10 m.
What applies Over 250 m² under 15 m, so it is in Table 1. Fees: Rs 2,500 plan approval, 1,800 × Rs 10 = Rs 18,000 for the certificate, Rs 2,500 renewal (Flamekite's arithmetic). Only a Specialist FSO certifies. Gujarat Fire Safety Compliance Portal
Case 3
A 2,000 m² logistics shed near Bhiwandi
Single storey, 12 m, palletised racks.
What applies Over 1,000 m² below 15 m, so Maharashtra's Notes 18 and 21 apply: hydrants and sprinklers designed to the Indian Standards, then Form B every January and July. MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
Case 4
A 2,000 m² warehouse in Greater Noida
One floor of general storage.
What applies Every storage building is covered. Above 250 m² it needs a qualified agency certificate, the In-charge Fire District signs up to ground plus 1, and it renews every 3 years. UP Rules 2024
Case 5
A 24 m automated warehouse in Faridabad
Planned high-bay storage.
What applies Section 18(5) caps storage buildings at 21 m. Redesign before applying. Government of Haryana
Case 6
A 400 m² godown in Jaipur
Ground floor, Nagar Nigam area.
What applies Over 250 m². 400 m² is about 4,306 sq ft, so Rs 2 a sq ft comes to about Rs 8,611 (Flamekite's arithmetic). Rajasthan UDH
Case 7
A 2,000 m² single-storey warehouse in Bihta, Bihar
General storage on one floor.
What applies A storage building with a floor over 500 m². Provisional fee Rs 20,000 and final fee Rs 10,000 at Schedule C rates. BFS fee PDF

Warehouse fire rules in numbers

250 m²
Covered area above which Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal, Manipur, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat catch a store DFS
15 m
Height above which NBC 2016 permitted no storage building NBC 2016, Part 4
24 m
Maharashtra's cap for storage buildings MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
3.7 m
Floor-stack height NBCS 2026 Table 7H is written for BIS, SP 7:2026
90 m
Maximum travel distance in a sprinklered storage building, 30 m without BIS, SP 7:2026
5,000 m²
Compartment size for a sprinklered warehouse under 5 m BIS, SP 7:2026
1,400 m²
Storage area above which 2 exit doors are needed BIS, SP 7:2026
30 m² per person
Occupant load used to size a storage building's exits BIS, SP 7:2026

Warehouse fire rules, dated: 1996 to 2026

Fourteen dated steps that shaped what a warehouse owes today.

1 August 1996
The chemical accident rules list the hazardous substances whose handlers need public liability insurance; NBCS 2026 points to the list. BIS, SP 7:2026
22 November 2016
The Gas Cylinders Rules, 2016 set the licence-free limits for gas cylinders kept on a premises. Gas Cylinders Rules
23 February 2017
The Registration of Warehouses Rules, 2017 take effect for WDRA registration. WDRA rules page
27 April 2017
WDRA's Circular 01/Tech.II/2017 requires stock insured against fire, flood, burglary, misappropriation, riots and strikes. WDRA circular 1/2017
1 November 2017
WDRA moves warehouse registration fully online. WDRA procedure
23 August 2018
West Bengal's notification 1338 prices the fire licence by storage area. WB notification 1338
23 July 2019
Himachal Pradesh lists storage buildings over 250 m² as a fire-precaution class. HP Home notification
23 August 2019
Mizoram's Rules 2019 require a yearly licence for any building used as a warehouse or godown. Home Department, Mizoram
11 May 2023
Maharashtra substitutes Schedule-I: storage under 1,000 m² gets a wet riser and a 50,000 litre tank; storage above 24 m is barred. MH Act 2023 Schedule-I
14 September 2023
Rajasthan's UDH order brings storage over 250 m² under the fire NOC. Rajasthan UDH
24 December 2025
Assam's Act LIII of 2025 replaces the 1985 Act, with storage in its risk schedule. Assam Act LIII of 2025
26 January 2026
Two adjoining warehouses burn at Anandapur, East Kolkata; 25 dead by 30 January, as reported. IANSnews report
30 April 2026
NBC 2016 is withdrawn; NBCS 2026 brings Table 7H's rack row. Gazette of India
28 June 2026
A warehouse fire on Mahuli Road, Patna, sets off more than 200 audits in 10 days, as reported. Patna Pressnews report

Warehouse fires and the crackdowns that followed, 2026

From news reports, not yet an official source.

No fire service publishes a count of warehouses holding a fire NOC. These reports are secondary; Flamekite found no rule change made in response to either fire.

30 January 2026
IANS reports the toll in the Anandapur warehouse fire in East Kolkata reached 25, and the NHRC took suo motu cognisance and sought an action-taken report from the district magistrate. IANSnews report
29 June 2026
Patna Press reports 27 teams auditing industrial units and warehouses after an oil factory fire; Patna has an estimated 700 to 1,000 such units, 150 to 200 of them high-risk. Patna Pressnews report
24 July 2026
Patna Press reports fire audits at over 200 locations in Patna City after the Mahuli Road warehouse fire, with notices for safety lapses. Patna Pressnews report
4 July 2026
The Times of India reports Maharashtra's Director of Fire Services saying NBCS 2026 norms for warehouses and other uses are set to become mandatory in the state; no notification had followed by 25 October 2026. The Times of Indianews report

Warehouse fire NOC myths, checked against the rules

You may have read
A warehouse needs a fire NOC only above 500 m².
Myth
What the sources say
Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Himachal, Manipur, Nagaland and Chhattisgarh draw the line at 250 m², and Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Tamil Nadu list warehouses at any size. DFS
You may have read
Registering with WDRA covers fire safety.
Myth
What the sources say
WDRA asks for fire safety arrangements and fire insurance on the stock; the fire NOC still comes from the state fire service. WDRA procedure
You may have read
WDRA registration needs building insurance.
Myth
What the sources say
The 2017 circular says building insurance is not mandatory; the goods must be insured against fire and 4 other perils. WDRA circular 1/2017
You may have read
Sprinklers are only for big warehouses.
Myth
What the sources say
NBC 2016 lists sprinklers even for storage under 250 m², and NBCS 2026 asks for them in any racked warehouse. NBC 2016, Part 4
You may have read
Telangana's 24 m change covers warehouses.
Myth
What the sources say
Circular 3455 of 2026 moves only the residential apartment line; storage stays at above 15 m. TGFD circular 3455
You may have read
NBC 2016 still decides a new warehouse's 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

Where a warehouse owner applies, state by state

These 8 official portals took storage-building fire applications, or warehouse registrations, 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
Gujarat
GujFireSafety CoP
Fire Safety Plan and Certificate approval through a Specialist Fire Safety Officer Gujarat FSCOP
fscop.gujfiresafetycop.in
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Single Window Portal
TNFRS NOC and fire licence; no fees collected TN Single Window
tnswp.com/DIGIGOV/swp-tnswp.jsp
Kerala
Kerala Fire NOC portal
Site and Final Clearance for storage over the rule 5(4) line Kerala NOC manual
noc.fire.kerala.gov.in/applicant_controller/signup
Delhi
Delhi Fire Service
Fire Safety Certificate for storage over 250 m² DFS
dfs.delhi.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
Assam
Sewa Setu Assam
Form III for transport and other godowns Sewa Setu Assam
sewasetu.assam.gov.in
All India
WDRA portal
Online warehouse registration, with insurance and fire safety details WDRA procedure
wdra.gov.in

What Flamekite could not confirm about warehouse fire rules

Six questions a warehouse owner asks that no official text we read on 25 October 2026 answers.

Haryana's Logistics, Warehousing and Retail Policy, 2019, extended past its 2024 expiry, offers subsidies to warehouses, but we found no fire condition in it and did not read the policy text. Gurugram and Faridabad warehouses therefore rest on the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2022 alone on this page. We found no fire clause in Karnataka's or Telangana's warehousing policies either.

Maharashtra's Schedule-I gives figures only for storage under 1,000 m²; above it, Notes 18 and 21 send the design to the Indian Standards, so no table value can be quoted for a large logistics shed. Insurer discounts for sprinklered warehouses, the IRDAI position on them, the MSIHC Rules' chemical storage thresholds, and any change to Gas Cylinders Rules rule 44 after 2016 were not read and are not published here.

WDRA amended its 2017 Rules 11 times up to 8 May 2025; we read the 2017 insurance circular and the 2019 procedure, not the amendments. Sikkim's Act of 2023 lists every storage building, but its start date was not found.

Questions about fire NOCs for warehouses

Is a fire NOC mandatory for a warehouse?: Yes, once it crosses your state's line: above 250 m² of covered area in Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat, above 500 m² on a floor in Haryana and Bihar, and at any size in Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim, Goa and Tamil Nadu. Mizoram and Meghalaya also license warehouses as such.
What are the fire safety norms for a warehouse in the NBC?: A warehouse is Group H storage. NBC 2016 asked a storage building over 250 m² for a wet riser, yard hydrant, sprinklers and detection even on one floor, and allowed none above 15 m. NBCS 2026 grades storage by area from HL-4 to CL-7 and puts every racked warehouse in the top set.
Does a warehouse need sprinklers?: Under NBC 2016, every storage row lists sprinklers, including stores under 250 m². Under NBCS 2026, warehouses from 1,001 m², with a ridge above 7.6 m, or with racks of any height need wet sprinklers. Maharashtra asks for them under 1,000 m² only in a basement over 200 m².
How tall can a warehouse building be in India?: NBC 2016 permitted no storage building above 15 m. Maharashtra allows storage up to 24 m where local fire-fighting facilities exist, Haryana up to 21 m, and Uttar Pradesh does not permit storage above 15 m.
What is the fire NOC fee for a warehouse?: It depends on the state. Gujarat charges Rs 2,500 plus Rs 10 per m² for single-floor storage over 250 m²; Bihar Rs 10 per m² provisional; Chandigarh Rs 12 per m² with a Rs 6,615 minimum; Goa Rs 10 per m². Uttar Pradesh charges no portal fee.
Does WDRA warehouse registration need fire insurance?: Yes. WDRA's Circular 01/Tech.II/2017 requires the stock to be insured against at least fire, flood, burglary, misappropriation, and riots and strikes, under a Standard Fire and Special Perils policy. Building insurance is not mandatory.
How much diesel or LPG can a warehouse keep without a PESO licence?: The Petroleum Act exempts Class B petroleum up to 2,500 litres and Class C up to 45,000 litres. The Gas Cylinders Rules exempt own-use flammable non-toxic gas up to 25 cylinders or 200 kg. Above these, a PESO licence is needed besides the fire NOC.
How long is a warehouse fire NOC valid?: Storage renews every year in Sikkim, every 2 years in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, every 3 years in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and hazardous storage every 2 years in Kerala. Mizoram's warehouse licence is yearly, and Maharashtra replaces renewal with Form B every January and July.

Keep reading

Fire NOCWhat a fire NOC is, who issues it and every state's regime.
Fire NOC for petrol pumpsPetroleum storage at retail outlets under the Petroleum Rules 2002.
Fire NOC for godownsMarket, grain, timber, scrap and chemical godowns, and their licences.
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.
Fire NOC penaltiesWhat each state's law sets for running without fire compliance.

Words on this page, explained

Keep exploring

Fire NOC for other industrial and storage buildings

Fire NOC: the steps

Sources

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

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