Restaurant Licence Checklist
Plan restaurant licensing in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, including dependencies and indicative timelines.
Worked example
Delhi · QSR · 1,200 sq ft · 40 seats · No alcohol · Recorded music
Timelines are planning estimates, not commitments. Confirm applicability and sequence with the local authority.
| Order | Licence / permission | Issuing authority | Planning estimate | Dependencies & applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Premises use & building permissions | MCD / relevant Delhi local authority | 2–8 weeks | Before fit-out and other premises approvals. Check sanctioned use, landlord permissions and occupancy documents. |
| 2 | Pollution consent / applicability check | Delhi Pollution Control Committee | 2–8 weeks if consent is required | Consent sometimes gates fire NOC; confirm local sequence. Check cooking fuel, exhaust, effluent and equipment for a QSR; consent or exemption depends on category. |
| 3 | Fire NOC / fire-safety applicability | Delhi fire service / competent fire authority | 2–6 weeks if NOC is required | Fire NOC commonly gates trade licence. 1,200 sq ft and 40 seats: confirm local building, height and occupancy criteria; size alone does not determine exemption. |
| 4 | Municipal trade / health licence | MCD / relevant Delhi local authority | 2–6 weeks | Premises documents; fire NOC and pollution clearance where required. Check the local eating-house / food-trade category and municipal requirements. |
| 5 | FSSAI registration / licence | FoSCoS — local, State or Central authority by category | 1–8 weeks | Premises and food-business documents; before operations. Basic up to ₹1.5 crore turnover, State above ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore, Central above ₹50 crore; activity-category exceptions apply. |
| 6 | Shops & Establishments registration | State labour department / designated authority | 1–4 weeks | Business and premises details; check state commencement deadlines. Registration or intimation requirements depend on state law and employee count. |
| 7 | Eating-house / police permission check | Local police licensing unit / relevant authority | 2–8 weeks if required | Trade, premises and fire documents as locally required. Check current local applicability; cloud kitchens and customer-facing outlets may be treated differently. |
| 8 | Recorded-music public-performance permissions | Relevant music rights holders / authorised licensing organisations | 1–3 weeks | Before playing the relevant repertoire publicly. Confirm rights for sound recordings and underlying works; coverage depends on the repertoire used. |
Educational guidance, not legal or tax advice. Confirm licensing requirements with the relevant authority for your city.