Licences required to open a restaurant in India (2026)

To open a restaurant in India you need, at minimum, an FSSAI food licence or registration, GST registration, a local trade/health licence from your municipal body, a Shop and Establishment registration, and a fire safety NOC. Depending on your city and what you serve, you may also need an eating house licence from the police, a liquor licence from the state excise department, and a pollution (Consent to Operate) clearance. Apply for the FSSAI and fire clearance first, because the municipal and police licences ask to see them.

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This guide lists each licence, who issues it, the 2026 fee where it is published centrally, and the order to apply. Licence names, fees and processes vary by state and municipal body, so treat state-level figures as indicative and confirm with your local authority.

The licence checklist at a glance

The five licences almost every restaurant needs

1. FSSAI food licence or registration

This is the non-negotiable one. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India classes every food business into one of three tiers by annual turnover (from 1 April 2026):

• Basic Registration — turnover up to ₹1.5 crore a year. Fee ₹100 per year.
• State Licence — turnover from ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore. Fee for a restaurant ₹5,000 per year.
• Central Licence — turnover above ₹50 crore, or operations in multiple states. Fee ₹7,500 per year.

The 1 April 2026 reform raised the Basic Registration ceiling from ₹12 lakh to ₹1.5 crore, so most single-outlet restaurants now qualify for the cheap, lighter Registration rather than a State Licence. See our FSSAI licence guide for documents and the step-by-step application.

2. GST registration

GST registration is compulsory once your aggregate turnover crosses ₹20 lakh a year (₹10 lakh in special-category states). It is also effectively compulsory from day one if you list on Zomato or Swiggy. A standalone restaurant charges 5% GST on its food, without input tax credit. Our GST on restaurant food guide explains the 5% vs 18% split, the composition scheme and how the aggregators collect GST for you.

3. Trade licence / Health Trade licence

Issued by your municipal corporation (for example the MCD in Delhi, BMC in Mumbai, GHMC in Hyderabad, BBMP in Bengaluru). It confirms the premises may legally run a food business at that address and meet local health and hygiene rules. The name, fee and renewal cycle differ by city — confirm with your local body.

4. Shop and Establishment registration

Required under your state's Shops and Establishments Act once you employ staff. It regulates working hours, weekly offs, leave and conditions. Register with the state labour department, usually online.

5. Fire safety NOC

A No Objection Certificate from the State Fire Services, confirming the premises meet fire-safety norms (extinguishers, exits, electrical load). Whether you need one, and the conditions, depend on your state and the size/seating of the restaurant.

Licences that depend on your city or model

Eating House licence (police)

In Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and some other cities, a restaurant that serves food for consumption on the premises needs an Eating House licence from the police (in Delhi, the Delhi Police Licensing Unit). The Delhi licence is valid for three years. Delhi announced in 2025 an intent to phase out the police eating-house licence to cut duplication, but applicants should confirm current status before opening. See our eating house licence guide.

Liquor licence (state excise)

Only if you serve alcohol. Issued by the state excise department, category and fee depend on the state and the type of premises. Fees are often substantial and the process lengthy — budget time for it.

Consent to Operate (pollution board)

Larger kitchens, or those using diesel generators or kitchen chimneys that discharge to the outside, may need Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board.

What order to apply in

A sensible, practical sequence:

1. Register the business (proprietorship, LLP or private limited) and get a PAN.
2. FSSAI registration or licence — many later licences ask for your FSSAI number.
3. GST registration — needed before you can invoice or onboard to aggregators.
4. Trade / Health Trade licence and Shop and Establishment registration.
5. Fire safety NOC — the municipal and police licences often want to see it.
6. Eating House licence (if your city requires it) and liquor licence (if applicable).
7. Pollution, signage and music licences as relevant.

Sequence beats speed: FSSAI and fire clearance tend to be asked for by the municipal and police authorities, so getting them first avoids back-and-forth.

In short

Once you are open: take orders commission-free

Your licences let you open the doors. To take orders without paying 20–30% to an aggregator, you can run your own ordering page. Menuthere gives you an online ordering system for India, a QR code menu with UPI at the table, and WhatsApp ordering — card and UPI money goes to your own Razorpay or Cashfree account, and you can start free. For your own branded Android and iOS app, see the Branded App plan.

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