Fire NOC in West Bengal: the WBFES certificate and fire licence explained
Updated By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
A West Bengal Fire Safety Certificate lasts 3 years and a fire licence 1 year. WBFES charges Rs 4.35 to 13.05 per m² and decides in 15 days in Kolkata.
In West Bengal the fire NOC comes in two steps under the West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950: a Fire Safety Recommendation (FSR) on the plans, then a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) after construction. Premises that store hazardous goods also need a yearly fire licence from the Collector, and since 1 March 2024 twelve kinds of small buildings up to 500 m² self-certify every year instead.
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West Bengal fire NOC at a glance
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services (WBFES), a Directorate under the Director General, in the state's Department of Fire and Emergency Services | WBFES |
| What West Bengal calls the NOC | Fire Safety Recommendation (FSR) at plan stage, then Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) after construction under section 11C | West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services |
| The Act | West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950 (West Bengal Act XVIII of 1950); the certificate chapter, sections 11A to 11K, was added by West Bengal Act 7 of 1996 | Indian Kanoonnews report |
| The Rules | Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2003 (17 June 2003) and Fire Licence Rules, 2004 (5 April 2004) | WB Rules 2003 |
| Who needs an FSC | Every high-risk building: high-rise buildings above 14.5 m and the 19 occupancies of notification 279 of 8 July 2003 | West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services |
| Who self-certifies instead | 12 classes of small buildings up to 500 m², by notification 1930 of 1 March 2024, once a year on e-District | WB notification 1930 |
| FSC validity | 3 years from issue under section 11C(3A); 5 years for government primary schools under order 1589 of 9 December 2025 | WB F&ES order 1589 |
| Fire licence | A separate licence from the Collector for hazardous storage or processing, valid 1 year (Rule 9 of 2004) | WB Licence Rules 2004 |
| Recommendation fee | Rs 4.35, 6.52, 8.70 or 13.05 per m² of floor area, by fee group A to D | WBFES |
| Statutory time limit | FSR, revised FSR, FSC and renewal: 15 days in Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas, 30 days elsewhere; fire licence 60 days | WB RTPS notification |
| Where to apply | WBFES e-services, filed on WB e-District; paper applications refused since 17 July 2017 | WB F&ES order 1376 |
| Compounding fee | Rs 20,000 to Rs 5,00,000 by hazard and area, under section 38B | West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services |
WBFES Fire Safety Certificate against the West Bengal fire licence
| Option | Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) | Fire licence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Section 11C, Chapter IIIA of the Act; Rules 2003 | Section 12, Chapter IV of the Act; Fire Licence Rules 2004 | Indian Kanoonnews report |
| Who needs it | Owners and occupiers of high-risk buildings | Anyone storing or processing listed hazardous substances above the exempt quantity | WBFES |
| Issued by | Director General, WBF&ES, or a superior nominated authority | The Collector under the Act | WB RTPS notification |
| What must come first | A Fire Safety Recommendation on the plans | An endorsed FSC, or a requisition for fire safety in Form A endorsed by the Director General | WB Licence Rules 2004 |
| Validity | 3 years from the date of issue | 1 year from issue or renewal; a Spot Fire Licence 5 years | WB Licence Rules 2004 |
| Fee basis | Per m² of total floor area, Rs 4.35 to Rs 13.05 | Annual fee by storage area, Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,00,000, or by quantity for petroleum, LPG and gas cylinders | WB notification 1338 |
| Statutory time limit | 15 days in KMC areas, 30 days elsewhere | 60 days | WB RTPS notification |
| Renewal | Application and prescribed fee under section 11C(3B) | Apply at least a month before expiry; renewed in the month it expires | WB Licence Rules 2004 |
| Online service | FSC and RFSC | GFL and RFL | West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services |
How to get a fire NOC in West Bengal, step by step
Place your building in the West Bengal scheme
A building of 14.5 m or more, or one of the 19 notified occupancies, is high-risk and needs an FSR and FSC. Small buildings up to 500 m² inside the 2024 limits self-certify instead.
Apply for the Fire Safety Recommendation before plan sanction
File the FSR through WBFES e-services with drawings at the scales the department lists, and pay Rs 4.35 to 13.05 per m² of floor area by fee group.
Build with a licensed agency
Section 11G lets only a licensed agency install fire protection in a high-risk building. Keep the bills, vouchers and bank statements for every appliance.
Apply for the Fire Safety Certificate after completion
Upload the last FSR, structural drawings, the registered deed and the completion certificate, with a self-declaration that the FSR conditions are met. An inspector then visits.
Add a fire licence if you keep hazardous goods
Storing jute, paper, plastics, solvents, LPG or petroleum above the exempt quantity needs a yearly licence from the Collector, decided within 60 days.
Drill every year and renew every 3 years
Hold the yearly mock fire drill with a certificate in Form G, and apply to renew the FSC before its 3 years run out.
What West Bengal's 2018 amendment says about FSC validity
Until 2018 the West Bengal Act had no renewal clause at all. Bill No. 9 of 2018 added two sub-sections to section 11C.
Word for word
(3A) A 'Fire Safety Certificate' issued under sub-section (2), shall remain valid for a period of three years with effect from the date of issue of such 'Fire Safety Certificate'.
Sub-section (3B) makes renewal an application on a prescribed fee. Rule 18 of the 2003 Rules still prints a 1-year term, but the Act prevails, and the department's order 1589 of 9 December 2025 calls 3 years the usual validity while giving government primary schools 5.
Full WBFES certificate, self-certification or Spot Fire Licence in West Bengal?
Find the line that describes your premises. The 2024 self-certification limits all stop at 500 m² of total floor area.
If Your building is 14.5 m or taller anywhere in West Bengal
It is a high-rise and so a high-risk building: FSR on the plans and FSC before occupation, renewed every 3 years. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
If It is a hotel, restaurant, hospital, market, cinema or a housing complex of more than 8 flats, beyond the 2024 limits
It is one of the 19 high-risk occupancies of the 2003 notification and needs the full FSR and FSC. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
If It is a stand-alone house or block up to 14.5 m, or up to 15.5 m inside the KMC area, and up to 500 m²
No FSR or FSC under notification 1930: upload the Form-1 self-certification on e-District before plan sanction and every year after. But the UDMA's pre-construction NOC page asks clearance for any residential building with a basement, and uses 15.5 m statewide; confirm a basement building with the fire office. WB notification 1930
If It is a non-star hotel, office or clinic up to 15.5 m, a school or shop up to 9 m, or a hall up to 10 m for 300 people
Self-certify yearly on Forms 2 to 9, provided the total floor area stays within 500 m². WB notification 1930
If It is a hospital or a sweet or jewellery workshop up to 6 m, a low-hazard factory up to 15 m, or a single-floor warehouse up to 9 m
Self-certify yearly on Forms 5, 6, 10, 11 or 12, again within 500 m². WB notification 1930
If You run a one-storey tea shop, roll centre or 10-seat restaurant with up to 40 kg of LPG
Apply for the instant online Spot Fire Licence: no inspection, valid 5 years, checked at random later. WB F&ES order 1590
If Your building mixes uses on different floors
WBFES says a multipurpose building needs an FSC whatever its height. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
If You are putting up a puja pandal or another temporary structure
Take permission under section 23A; the department must decide within 15 days. WB RTPS notification
West Bengal fire licence fees by storage area: Kolkata, towns and villages
Notification 1338 of 23 August 2018 sets the annual licence fee by the storage area and by where the premises stand. Kolkata pays the municipal corporation rate.
| Municipal corporation areas | Municipalities and notified areas | Rural areas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 250 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 3,000 | Rs 2,500 | Rs 2,000 |
| 250 to 500 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 5,000 | Rs 4,000 | Rs 3,500 |
| 500 to 1,000 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 7,500 | Rs 6,500 | Rs 5,500 |
| 1,000 to 5,000 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 10,000 | Rs 8,500 | Rs 7,500 |
| 5,000 to 10,000 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 15,000 | Rs 13,000 | Rs 11,000 |
| 10,000 to 25,000 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 50,000 | Rs 45,000 | Rs 40,000 |
| Above 25,000 sq ft WB notification 1338 | Rs 1,00,000 | Rs 90,000 | Rs 80,000 |
These rates apply to the 57 non-chemical goods of Table X (jute, cotton, paper, plastics, rubber, wood, coal and others) and the inflammable chemicals of Table Y. Petroleum, kerosene, LPG and gas cylinders are charged by quantity instead; see the fee lines below.
WBFES recommendation fees and special-item licence fees
The Fire Safety Recommendation costs Rs 4.35 to Rs 13.05 per m² of floor area, by fee group. Licences for fuels and gases are charged by quantity.
As published
- Group A: residential over 14.5 m, educational, dharamsala, library, museum, art galleryRs 4.35 per m² WBFES
- Group B: hospital, nursing home, guest house, hotel up to 3-star, restaurant without bar, laboratoryRs 6.52 per m² WBFES
- Group C: office, market, katra, shopping complex, bar, cinema, hotel above 3-star, covered parkingRs 8.70 per m² WBFES
- Group D: hazardous outlets, fireworks, explosives, oil installations, refineriesRs 13.05 per m² WBFES
- Example: a 2,400 m² office block in Kolkata, Group CRs 20,8802,400 x Rs 8.70; Flamekite's working WBFES
- Petroleum, 91 to 1,000 litresRs 1,000 a yearUp to 90 litres exempt; above 10,000 litres Re 0.50 a litre, capped at Rs 5,00,000 WB notification 1338
- LPG for cooking or processing, 41 to 100 kgRs 10,000 a year1 to 40 kg Rs 2,000, exempt for domestic use; above 100 kg Rs 100 a kg, capped at Rs 1,00,000 WB notification 1338
- LPG storage, up to 10,000 kgRs 10,000 a yearRe 1 a kg above that, capped at Rs 1,00,000 WB notification 1338
- Oxygen, acetylene or hydrogen cylinders, up to 10,000 litresRs 5,000 a yearCapped at Rs 20,000 WB notification 1338
- Smallest fire licence feeRs 100Rule 7 floor; a rebate is allowed if you keep your own trained fire staff WB Licence Rules 2004
- Licence transfer to a new occupierRs 100Paid within 30 days of the Collector's notice WB Licence Rules 2004
Floor area is length times breadth of every floor. A mixed building is charged at the group that covers more than 50% of it. The FSC renewal fee under section 11C(3B) was not found in any published schedule.
How a WBFES application moves officer by officer
Order 1410 of 15 December 2020 gives every officer a deadline. The ladder adds up to 15 days in Kolkata and 30 days elsewhere, and an officer who misses it is personally liable under the RTPS Act, 2013.
1. Director logs the case
1 day for cases that go to a Technical Expert Committee and for KMC cases; ordinary cases start with the Divisional Fire Officer, also 1 day. WB F&ES order 1410
2. Head Assistant checks the file
4 days for ordinary and committee cases; KMC cases skip this desk. WB F&ES order 1410
3. Inspector visits the site
14 days for ordinary cases, 10 for committee cases and 5 in the KMC area. WB F&ES order 1410
4. Divisional Fire Officer reviews
11 days for ordinary cases, 3 for committee cases, 1 in the KMC area. WB F&ES order 1410
5. Deputy Director clears
2 days for committee cases and 1 in the KMC area. WB F&ES order 1410
6. Director approves
10 days for committee cases and 7 in the KMC area: 30 days in all outside Kolkata, 15 days inside it. WB F&ES order 1410
7. Appeal if the clock runs out
Appeal to the Additional Director General for an FSR, or the Senior Special Secretary for an FSC, who has 30 days; a review follows within 30 more. WB RTPS notification
Penalties under the West Bengal Fire Services Act 1950
The Act's own fine for running a high-risk building without the required fire safety runs from Rs 20,000 to Rs 5 lakh, with 3 to 5 years in jail.
| Offence | Penalty | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Contravening Chapter IIIA or its rules, or ignoring a lawful requisition (no FSC, no fire measures) | Imprisonment of 3 years extendable to 5, or a fine of Rs 20,000 extendable to Rs 5 lakh, or both; Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000 a day if it continues after conviction | Section 11J Indian Kanoonnews report |
| A licensed agency's person knowingly furnishing a false Fire Safety Certificate | Imprisonment of 3 years extendable to 5, or a fine of Rs 20,000 extendable to Rs 5 lakh, or both | Section 11K Indian Kanoonnews report |
| A licensed agency compromising fire safety by wilful default | Criminal prosecution, and liability for all damage if a fire follows | Section 11H Indian Kanoonnews report |
| Not taking a Fire Safety Certificate or fire licence | Cognizable and non-bailable; can be compounded for Rs 20,000 to Rs 5,00,000 on a plea of guilt | Section 38B, as WBFES applies it West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services |
| Continuing to disobey the appellate authority's directions | Rs 5 for each day | Rule 29 of the 2003 Rules WB Rules 2003 |
| Skipping the yearly mock fire drill, or ignoring a section 35 notice | The FSC may be revoked | Rule 22 of the 2003 Rules WB Rules 2003 |
| Obtaining a Spot Fire Licence on false information | Prosecution, and the licence is treated as invalid and terminated | Order 1590 of 9 December 2025 WB F&ES order 1590 |
The section 11J and 11K amounts come from a legal database copy of the 1996 text. The 2018 amendment changed only section 11C; whether Act VIII of 2022 changed these amounts is not confirmed. The Act names the District Magistrate as compounding authority, while the WBFES FAQ says the Director General compounds.
Who designs, inspects and signs off fire safety in West Bengal
West Bengal leans on licensed private agencies more than most states, and added committees and third-party agencies in 2025.
Section 11F
Licensed agencies, Classes A to C
Class A covers buildings above 14.5 m, hospitals and refineries; Class B 7 to 14.5 m, malls and nursing homes; Class C below 7 m. The licence costs Rs 50,000, Rs 40,000 or Rs 25,000 and lasts 3 years. WB Rules 2003
Section 11G
Only an agency may install
No one but a licensed agency may carry out fire prevention work in a high-risk building, and the agency keeps a Form I register for each building it works on. Indian Kanoonnews report
State TECs
Technical Expert Committees
Recommend FSCs to the Director General for hospitals, malls, cinemas, hotels, schools, colleges and every commercial or residential building of G+5 and above. WB F&ES order 1591
Since 9 December 2025
Zonal Technical Expert Committees
Chaired by Deputy Directors, they handle smaller cases: homes up to 15 m with a parking basement up to 500 m², hostels up to 35 m, and hospitals under 15 m with up to 50 beds. WB F&ES order 1591
19 December 2025
Third-party agencies
16 of 35 bidding companies were provisionally shortlisted, with a reverse bid on 22 December 2025. Fees and the agreement date were to be announced later. WB F&ES notification 1669
Order 1460
The inspecting officer
Must collect bills and bank statements for the fire appliances, inspect in every case, and is personally liable for missing measures before and after the FSC. WB F&ES order 1460
Hospitals
Hospital Level Fire Safety Committees
Health, PWD and fire officers meet every fortnight in each government hospital down to sub-divisional level to check wiring, alarms, extinguishers and evacuation plans. WB H&FW notification 215
Kolkata, Howrah and Siliguri premises: worked cases
Flamekite’s working from the official rules; no government publishes this figure.
Five common West Bengal premises run through the 2003 and 2024 notifications and the fee schedules. Your own building may differ.
Case 1
A 15 m block of flats in Kolkata, 450 m²
Stand-alone residential, no basement, inside the KMC area.
What applies Under the 15.5 m KMC line and the 500 m² cap, so no FSR or FSC: the owner uploads a Form-1 self-certification every year on e-District. WB notification 1930
Case 2
The same 15 m block in Howrah
Stand-alone residential, 450 m², outside the KMC area.
What applies Above the 14.5 m statewide line, so it is a high-rise: FSR and FSC at Group A, 450 x Rs 4.35 = Rs 1,957.50 for the recommendation. WB notification 1930
Case 3
A 4-floor budget hotel in Burrabazar, 1,200 m²
40 rooms, 13 m, no star rating.
What applies Above the 500 m² self-certification cap, so the full FSR and FSC. Group B fee: 1,200 x Rs 6.52 = Rs 7,824. WBFES
Case 4
A 180 sq ft tea shop with 30 kg of LPG
One storey, 8 seats.
What applies Within the Spot Fire Licence limits of 200 sq ft, 40 kg LPG, 50 kg coal and 10 seats: an instant 5-year licence with 1 ABC 4.5 kg and 1 water 9 litre extinguisher. WB F&ES order 1590
Case 5
A 15,000 sq ft jute godown in Siliguri
Storage in a municipal corporation area in North Bengal.
What applies A fire licence at Rs 50,000 a year from the 10,000 to 25,000 sq ft slab, applied for at the Deputy Director's office in Siliguri. WB notification 1338
West Bengal fire law from 1950 to 2025
The 1950 Act was built to run a fire brigade; certificates arrived in 1996 and most of today's procedure after 2017.
1950
The West Bengal Fire Services Act becomes West Bengal Act XVIII of 1950. Indian Kanoonnews report
1996
West Bengal Act 7 of 1996 inserts Chapter IIIA: high-risk buildings, the Fire Safety Certificate, licensed agencies and the section 11J and 11K penalties. Indian Kanoonnews report
17 June 2003
The Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2003 are notified. WB Rules 2003
8 July 2003
Notification 279 lists the 19 high-risk occupancies. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
5 April 2004
The Fire Licence Rules, 2004 set a 1-year licence from the Collector. WB Licence Rules 2004
17 July 2017
Licences and NOCs go online only through wbfes.gov.in. WB F&ES order 1376
9 February 2018
Bill No. 9 of 2018 gives the FSC a 3-year term and a renewal route. West Bengal Legislative Assembly
23 August 2018
Notification 1338 replaces the licence fee schedule with area slabs. WB notification 1338
5 February 2020
Notification 2694 sets the per-m² fees of Groups A to D. WBXPressstudy
15 December 2020
Order 1410 sets each officer's deadline inside the 15 and 30-day limits. WB F&ES order 1410
1 March 2024
Notification 1930 moves 12 small occupancies to yearly self-certification. WB notification 1930
30 October 2025
Notification 1285 restates the RTPS limits: 15 days in KMC areas, 30 elsewhere, 60 for licences. WB RTPS notification
9 December 2025
Orders 1589, 1590 and 1591: 5-year school certificates, the Spot Fire Licence and Zonal Technical Expert Committees. WB F&ES order 1591
West Bengal hotel and warehouse fires behind the 2026 licence drive
From news reports, not yet an official source.
After two hotel fires in August 2026 the state gave hotels and restaurants 30 days to apply for fire licences and began reviewing how licences are granted. Flamekite found no notified rule change from that review as of 24 October 2026.
2 September 2026
The government gives hotels and restaurants 30 days to apply for fire licences and warns of legal action after that, following a meeting with trade associations. UNInews report
23 August 2026
With 18 dead in the two hotel fires, the state starts reviewing hotel and guest house licensing. Proposals include checks above the station officer before a certificate or licence issues. IANSnews report
19 August 2026
At least 9 people die in a hotel fire on Mirza Ghalib Street, central Kolkata, a day after 9 pilgrims died in a hotel fire at Tarapith, Birbhum. The Weeknews report
26 January 2026
Two adjoining warehouses burn at Anandapur, East Kolkata; the toll reaches 25 by 30 January and the NHRC takes notice. IANSnews report
29 April 2025
14 die at the Rituraj Hotel in Burrabazar; the fire service says its fire licence had been pending renewal since 2022. ETV Bharatnews report
9 December 2011
89 die at AMRI Hospital, Dhakuria, in a fire that began in a basement used to store flammables. Wikipedianews report
WBFES, e-District and KMC portals for a West Bengal fire NOC
You start on the WBFES site and file on WB e-District; Kolkata building plans go separately to KMC. The step-by-step e-District walkthrough is on the online-apply page.
Start here
WBFES e-services
The 7 services: FSR, revised FSR, FSC, FSC renewal, grant and renewal of fire licence, and self-certification, each with a user manual. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
wbfes.gov.in/eservices?language=enPlan stage
Issuance of Fire Safety Recommendation
The drawing list and the Group A to D fee rates per m². WBFES
wbfes.gov.in/Issuance_of_Fire_Safety_RecommendationOccupancy
Issuance of Fire Safety Certificate
The 17 documents for the certificate, 15 of them marked mandatory. WBFES
wbfes.gov.in/Issuance_of_Fire_Safety_CertificateHazardous goods
Grant of Fire License
Who must hold a licence, the site plan at 1:100 on A4 pages, and the fee basis. WBFES
wbfes.gov.in/Grant_of_Fire_LicenseFiling
WB e-District
Where every application and the yearly self-certification is actually filed and tracked. WB notification 1930
edistrict.wb.gov.inKolkata
KMC Building
Online building plans, commencement and completion notices for Kolkata Municipal Corporation. KMC
www.kmcgov.in/KMCPortal/jsp/KMCPortalBuildingHome.jsp
WBFES terms from FSR to SCFC
The 10 terms a West Bengal owner meets, in the department's own words.
- High-rise building
- A building 14.5 m or taller, measured from the average level of the centre line of the abutting street to its highest point (section 2(ha)). Indian Kanoonnews report
- High-risk building
- A high-rise building or any occupancy the state notifies (section 2(hb)); notification 279 of 2003 lists 19. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
- FSR and RFSR
- Fire Safety Recommendation on the plans, and the Revised FSR when the plans change. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
- FSC and RFSC
- Fire Safety Certificate after construction, issued in Form F, and its Renewal every 3 years. WB Rules 2003
- GFL and RFL
- Grant and Renewal of Fire Licence for hazardous storage or processing, issued in Form D by the Collector. WB Licence Rules 2004
- SCFC
- Self Certification of Fire Safety: Forms 1 to 12 under notification 1930 of 2024. WB notification 1930
- Spot Fire Licence
- An auto-generated licence for tiny one-storey low-hazard shops, valid 5 years without inspection. WB F&ES order 1590
- Licensed agency
- A firm licensed by the Director General under section 11F to install fire protection and process FSC applications in Form E. WB Rules 2003
- Requisition for fire safety (Form A)
- An agency's list of fire measures for a warehouse or workshop, endorsed by the Director General before a fire licence. WB Licence Rules 2004
- TEC
- Technical Expert Committee that recommends certificates for vulnerable buildings; Zonal TECs since December 2025. WB F&ES order 1591
Papers WBFES asks for at certificate and licence stage
The plan-stage drawing scales are on the documents page. These are the certificate, licence and self-certification papers West Bengal adds.
- For the FSC: structural drawings, a typical building plan and the roof plan at 1:100 WBFES
- For the FSC: a copy of the last FSR or revised FSR the department issued WBFES
- For the FSC: the registered deed, the building completion certificate and the PAN of the firm and owners WBFES
- Bills, vouchers and bank statements for every fire appliance installed, for the inspector WB F&ES order 1460
- Your self-declaration that every FSR condition, NBC Part IV and Rule 19 are complied with WB F&ES order 1460
- The yearly mock drill certificate in Form G, and the drill register WB Rules 2003
- For a fire licence: the landowner's consent if rented, and a site plan with section at 1:100 on A4 pages WBFES
- For a fire licence: the maximum quantity of each hazardous substance, and your fire staff and appliances WB Licence Rules 2004
- For a licence renewal: the endorsed FSC and the last licence, filed at least 1 month before expiry WB Licence Rules 2004
- For Form-1 self-certification: road width, set-backs, staircases, lift doors, an electrical safety audit and extinguishers to IS 2190 WB notification 1930
WBFES offices in Kolkata, New Town and Siliguri
Numbers are as WBFES and the state portal print them. For a fire, dial 101.
Director General, WBF&ES WBFES
Head of the Directorate; dg.wbfes@gmail.com
- Address
- 13-D Mirza Ghalib Street, Kolkata 700016
- Phone
- 2252 7172
Additional Director General, WBF&ES WBFES
adg.wbfes@gmail.com
Director in charge, WBF&ES WBFES
dic.wbfes@gmail.com
Department of Fire and Emergency Services WB RTPS notification
The state department that issues orders and notifications
- Address
- New Town Fire Station Building, 2nd and 3rd floor, CF-7, Street No. 175, Action Area 1C, New Town, Kolkata 700156
Fire Brigade Headquarters, licence section wb.gov.in
Fire licences and certificates for South Bengal districts
- Address
- 13D Mirza Galib Street, Kolkata 700016
Deputy Director, Fire Services, Siliguri wb.gov.in
Malda, Uttar and Dakshin Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Darjeeling and Cooch Behar
- Address
- Siliguri Fire Station Complex, Station Feeder Road, Siliguri
- Phone
- 0353 2502222
West Bengal fire NOC in numbers
14.5 m
Height at which any West Bengal building becomes high-rise and needs an FSC Indian Kanoonnews report
15.5 m
Self-certification ceiling for stand-alone homes in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area WB notification 1930
19
High-risk occupancies in notification 279 of 8 July 2003 West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
12
Occupancy classes moved to yearly self-certification on 1 March 2024 WB notification 1930
500 m²
Total floor area cap on every self-certification class WB notification 1930
16
Companies provisionally shortlisted as third-party agencies, out of 35 bidders WB F&ES notification 1669
West Bengal fire NOC mistakes that lead to refusal or prosecution
Most West Bengal problems come from mixing up the certificate and the licence, or the 14.5 m and 15.5 m lines.
If Reading Rule 18's 1-year FSC as current
Section 11C(3A) gives 3 years from issue; plan the renewal against that date. West Bengal Legislative Assembly
If Using the 15.5 m self-certification line outside Kolkata
It applies to stand-alone homes in the KMC area only; elsewhere homes stop at 14.5 m. WB notification 1930
If Assuming the FSC covers the LPG, paper or paint you store
A fire licence from the Collector is separate and lasts 1 year. WB Licence Rules 2004
If Letting a licence renewal sit pending
Apply at least a month before expiry; the Rituraj Hotel's renewal had been pending since 2022 when it burned. ETV Bharatnews report
If Hiring an unlicensed installer for a high-risk building
Section 11G allows only a licensed agency to do the work. Indian Kanoonnews report
If Self-certifying a building of more than 500 m²
Every 2024 self-certification class is capped at 500 m²; above it you need the FSR and FSC. WB notification 1930
If Skipping the yearly mock fire drill
Rule 22 lets the Director General revoke the FSC for it. WB Rules 2003
Five myths about fire NOC in West Bengal and Kolkata
You may have read
Kolkata Municipal Corporation issues the fire NOC in Kolkata.
Myth
What the sources say
WBFES does. KMC grants building permission for anything other than a home under 15.5 m without a basement only after consulting the Director of Fire Services (Rule 129 of 2009). KMC
You may have read
Only high-rise buildings need a West Bengal FSC.
Myth
What the sources say
19 occupancies are high-risk at any height, from restaurants and markets to housing complexes of more than 8 flats. West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services
You may have read
Small shops in West Bengal need nothing.
Myth
What the sources say
Since 2024 they self-certify every year, and since December 2025 tiny low-hazard shops can take a 5-year Spot Fire Licence. WB notification 1930
You may have read
Silpasathi issues the fire NOC.
Myth
What the sources say
Silpasathi, the state's single window, hosts the department's procedure; WBFES issues the FSR and FSC and the Collector the licence. Silpasathi, West Bengal single window
You may have read
NBC 2016's withdrawal in April 2026 rewrote West Bengal's fire rules.
Myth
What the sources say
Rule 19 of 2003 still points to NBC Part IV, and only Assam had written NBCS 2026 into its fire law by 24 October 2026. WB Rules 2003
What West Bengal hotel and restaurant owners should do in 2026
Do
- Apply for your fire licence now: on 2 September 2026 the state gave hotels and restaurants 30 days. UNInews report
- Check your FSC date: 3 years from issue, and renewal takes up to 15 days in Kolkata or 30 elsewhere. WB RTPS notification
- Keep the extinguisher count your Spot Fire Licence class names, such as 1 ABC 4.5 kg and 1 water 9 litre for a 10-seat restaurant. WB F&ES order 1590
Don’t
- Don't rely on a station officer's sign-off alone: since August 2026 the state has been reviewing that route. IANSnews report
- Don't cook on commercial LPG without a licence: even 1 to 40 kg carries a Rs 2,000 yearly fee, and only domestic use is exempt. WB notification 1338
- Don't let any FSR condition lapse after the certificate: order 1460 makes the inspector answer for missing measures before and after the FSC. WB F&ES order 1460
What Flamekite could not confirm about West Bengal fire NOC
Six points about the West Bengal regime that no official source we read settles, as of 24 October 2026.
The text of the West Bengal Fire Services (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act VIII of 2022). It is reported to raise the high-rise line to 15.5 m for a named local area, from a date to be notified. Its India Code copy refused our requests, so we show 14.5 m statewide and 15.5 m only where notification 1930 of 2024 says so.
When the 2018 amendment commenced. The Bill says it starts on a notified date, and we found no commencement notification; the department's 2025 order treats 3 years as settled.
Whether the section 11J and 11K amounts changed after 1996. The figures come from a legal database copy of the 1996 text; the consolidated current Act sits behind a paid login, which we did not get around.
The renewal fee for an FSC, and whether the Group A to D rates also apply at certificate and renewal stage. The department page publishes them under the recommendation service only.
The final list of third-party agencies after the 22 December 2025 reverse bid, and the licence fee they will pay.
What the August 2026 licensing review produced. Reports describe proposals and a 30-day licence window; we found no notified order by 24 October 2026.
Questions about West Bengal
Is fire NOC mandatory in West Bengal?
- Yes, for every high-risk building: anything 14.5 m or taller and the 19 occupancies notified in 2003, such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, markets and housing complexes of more than 8 flats. Twelve kinds of small buildings up to 500 m² self-certify every year instead.
What is the validity of fire NOC in West Bengal?
- A West Bengal Fire Safety Certificate is valid 3 years from issue under section 11C(3A) of the Act; government primary schools get 5 years under an order of 9 December 2025. A fire licence lasts 1 year, and a Spot Fire Licence 5 years.
What is the fire NOC fee in West Bengal?
- The Fire Safety Recommendation costs Rs 4.35 to Rs 13.05 per m² of total floor area: Rs 4.35 for Group A, Rs 6.52 for B, Rs 8.70 for C and Rs 13.05 for D. A fire licence is a separate annual fee from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,00,000 by storage area.
Who issues fire NOC in Kolkata?
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services, not the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, which has no fire wing. KMC consults the Director of Fire Services before approving most buildings, and WBFES must decide within 15 days in the KMC area.
What is the difference between FSC and fire licence in West Bengal?
- The FSC covers the building's fire safety and comes from the Director General every 3 years. The fire licence covers hazardous goods stored or processed inside, comes from the Collector, and is renewed every year. The FSC is a condition for the licence.
How long does WBFES take to issue a fire safety certificate?
- The time limit is 15 days in Kolkata Municipal Corporation areas and 30 days in the rest of West Bengal, under notification 1285 of 30 October 2025. A fire licence has 60 days. If the limit passes, you can appeal within the RTPS system.
Can I apply for a West Bengal fire NOC offline?
- No. Since 17 July 2017 applications go online only: you open the service on wbfes.gov.in and file it on WB e-District. Pandal and puja permissions are the exceptions with offline forms.
Does a small shop need a fire licence in West Bengal?
- A tiny one-storey shop within the order's limits, such as a tea shop of 200 sq ft with up to 40 kg of LPG, can take an instant Spot Fire Licence valid 5 years. Larger shops self-certify yearly up to 9 m and 500 m², or need the full licence.
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 residential buildingsWest Bengal's 15.5 m and basement lines beside 31 other states.
- Fire NOC fees by stateWest Bengal's per-m² groups against every other published schedule.
- Fire NOC validity by stateWhy West Bengal's 3 years beats the 1 year still printed in its Rules.
- Apply for a fire NOC onlineThe WB e-District walkthrough, from registration to download.
- Documents for a fire NOCWest Bengal's drawing scales, sheet by sheet.
- Fire NOC in DelhiThe DFS certificate and the Form K deferral to 2027.
- Fire NOC in MaharashtraForm B every January and July, licensed agencies and fire audits.
Keep exploring
More in Fire NOC guide
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Flamekite checks its sources
- West Bengal Legislative Assembly (PRS copy): West Bengal Fire Services (Amendment) Bill, 2018: section 11C(3A), 3-year fire safety certificate (opens in a new tab)
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: FAQ: fire safety certificate, 14.5 m line, compounding under section 38B (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal: Notification 1930/FES/O/MISC-08/2023, 1 March 2024: 12 occupancies moved to yearly self-certification (with forwarding letter 1961 of 5 March 2024) (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal: Notification 1285/FES-99/118/2025, 30 October 2025: stipulated time limits under the West Bengal Right to Public Services Act, 2013 (opens in a new tab)
- WBXPress (copy of order 1376/FES/O/2E-155/2016, 6 July 2017): Issuance and renewal of fire licences and NOCs through the web portal from 17 July 2017 (opens in a new tab)
- Silpasathi, West Bengal single window: Fire and Emergency Services: simplified procedure and offices (Kolkata headquarters, Siliguri) (opens in a new tab)
Show all 32 sourcesShow fewer
- Government of West Bengal portal (wb.gov.in): West Bengal Fire Service Act, 1950: fire licence and Fire Safety Certificate procedure, offices and building classes A to C (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal: Order No. 1589/FES-99/101/2025, 9 December 2025: FSC validity usually 3 years; extended to 5 years for government primary schools (opens in a new tab)
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: Issuance of Fire Safety Recommendation: document requirement with drawing scales (opens in a new tab)
- WBXPress (copy of notification 1079/FS/O/C-1/F1A-3/96, 5 April 2004): West Bengal Fire Services (Fire Licence) Rules, 2004 (opens in a new tab)
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: Contact of senior officers of the Directorate (opens in a new tab)
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: E-services: Fire Safety Recommendation, Fire Safety Certificate, renewal, fire licence (opens in a new tab)
- WBXPress (copy of notification 251/DS/FS/O/C-1/F1A-3/96 (Part II), 17 June 2003): West Bengal Fire Services (Fire Prevention and Fire Safety) Rules, 2003 (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal: Order No. 1590/FES-99/101/2025, 9 December 2025: Spot Fire Licence, auto-generated, valid 5 years, for very small low-hazard premises (opens in a new tab)
- 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)
- WBXPress (copy of order 1410/FES/O/MISC-04/2020, 15 December 2020): Mandatory time limits for each officer handling FSR, RFSR, FSC, RFSC and fire licence applications (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal: Order 1591/FES-99/101/2025, 9 December 2025: Zonal Technical Expert Committees and their delegated limits (opens in a new tab)
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal: Notification 1669/FES-15012/1/2025, 19 December 2025: 16 of 35 companies provisionally shortlisted as Third Party Agencies (opens in a new tab)
- WBXPress (copy of order 1460/FES-99/34/2020, 21 December 2020): Strict adherence to the norms of inspection before issuing a Fire Safety Certificate (opens in a new tab)
- WBXPress (copy of Health and Family Welfare notification 215/HF/O/HS(MS)/W-17/2022, 27 December 2022): Hospital Level Fire Safety Committee in every health facility down to sub-divisional hospitals (opens in a new tab)
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: Issuance of Fire Safety Certificate: eligibility and document requirement (opens in a new tab)
- West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services: Grant of Fire License: eligibility, documents and fee basis (opens in a new tab)
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation: KMC Building: online submission of building plan, commencement and completion notices (opens in a new tab)
- Kolkata Municipal Corporation: Kolkata Municipal Corporation Building Rules, 2009 (rules 129 and 130; completion notice) (opens in a new tab)
- WBXPress (legal database): Fire NOC fees, West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services (2020 notification) (opens in a new tab)
- Indian Kanoon (legal database copy of the 1996 text): West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950: sections 2(ha), 2(hb), 11C to 11K and 38B (copy predates the 2018 and 2022 amendments) (opens in a new tab)
- UNI: West Bengal gives hotels, restaurants 30 days for fire licences after deadly blazes (2 September 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- IANS via Gulf News: Kolkata-Tarapith hotel fire: Bengal govt reviewing, correcting flaws in existing system of issuing licences (23 August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- The Week: Kolkata hotel fire on Mirza Ghalib Street: nine dead, Bangladeshi nationals among them (19 August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- IANS: Death toll in Kolkata warehouse fire rises to 25, NHRC takes suo motu cognizance (30 January 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- ETV Bharat: Rituraj hotel fire, Kolkata (30 April 2025): Fire DG says the hotel's fire licence had been pending renewal since 2022; toll reported as 14, later 15 (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia (secondary): 2011 Kolkata hospital fire (AMRI Hospital, Dhakuria, 9 December 2011) (opens in a new tab)