Indian restaurants need 9-11 licences depending on state, format, and liquor status. Most owners discover #10 in month four, when a municipal notice arrives. Here's the complete checklist with cost, validity, authority, and lead time for each; pin it above the desk while filing.
The non negotiables (5 licences)
| Licence | Authority | Cost (₹/yr) | Validity | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSSAI State Licence | FSSAI (FoSCoS portal) | 2,000-5,000 | 1-5 years | 10-21 days |
| GST Registration | GST Department | Free | Continuous | 7-10 days |
| Shop & Establishment | State Labour Dept | 500-5,000 | 1-3 years | 7-21 days |
| Trade Licence | Municipal Corporation | 3,000-15,000 | 1 year | 14-30 days |
| Fire NOC | State Fire Service | 5,000-25,000 incl. installation | 1-3 years | 21-60 days |
The commonly required additions (4-5 licences)
| Licence | Authority | Cost (₹/yr) | Validity | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution NOC (PCB Consent) | State Pollution Control Board | 5,000-30,000 | 1-5 years | 30-60 days |
| Signage Licence | Municipal Corporation | 1,500-12,000 | 1 year | 14-30 days |
| Music Licence (PPL + IPRS) | Phonographic + Indian Performing Right | 12,000-60,000 | 1 year | Same day; 14 days |
| Professional Tax Registration | State Profession Tax Dept | Free (₹2,500 cap/person) | Continuous | Same day |
| Health Trade Licence (some metros) | City municipal corp | 1,500-25,000 | 1 year | 14-45 days |
Health Trade is mandatory in Bengaluru (BBMP), Chennai (GCC), Mumbai (BMC, for some categories), and Delhi (MCD/NDMC). Outside these metros, the municipal Trade Licence absorbs the health function.
The conditional licences (2 more if applicable)
| Licence | When required | Cost | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquor Licence | Serving alcohol | ₹2-12L upfront + monthly fees | 60-180 days |
| Eating House Licence | Delhi specific Police licence | ₹2-5k/yr | 45-90 days |
Order of filing (the sequence matters)
- Day 1 of lease; file FSSAI on FoSCoS, GST on GSTN, Shop & Establishment on state portal.
- Week 1-2; file Trade Licence, Health Trade (if applicable), Signage Licence.
- Week 2-3; file Fire NOC (after the fitout team has the layout plan), Pollution NOC.
- Week 3-4; Professional Tax registration, Music Licence (PPL + IPRS).
- If liquor; file immediately on lease signing; this is the longest lead time.
- If Delhi; Eating House Licence in parallel with Trade Licence.
Where most owners trip
- Music Licence; almost never filed at opening. PPL (recorded music) and IPRS (lyrics/composition) are separate. Notices arrive in 6-12 months with backdated fees. Easy ₹40-90k mistake to avoid.
- Pollution NOC for tandoor / generator; solid fuel tandoor or generator >5kVA needs PCB consent. Most miss it.
- Signage Licence; even a logo only board needs a licence in most metros. Cantonment areas need extra cantonment board approval.
- Professional Tax; free to register but mandatory once you have employees. Audit teams ask about this within year 1.
What changes by state
FSSAI, GST, and Professional Tax are uniform. Everything else is state administered with quirks:
- Maharashtra; Shop Act under Maharashtra Shops & Establishment Act 2017; separate eating house licence in some municipal corporations.
- Karnataka; BBMP Health Trade is mandatory; cantonment areas need extra NOC.
- Delhi; MCD/NDMC Health, DFS Fire above 100 sqm, Eating House Licence from Delhi Police, DPCC pollution.
- Tamil Nadu; GCC Health Trade in Chennai; TNPCB consent; Tamil signage requirement.
- Gujarat; Dry state for 95% of restaurants; pure veg category dropdown matters.
- Telangana / Andhra; Telangana has TS bPASS for trade licence; Andhra runs MeeSeva.
Total cost to budget
| Format | Year 1 licence cost | Year 2+ renewals |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud kitchen (dry) | ₹35,000-80,000 | ₹20,000-50,000 |
| QSR (dry) | ₹50,000-1,20,000 | ₹30,000-70,000 |
| Casual dining (dry) | ₹80,000-1,80,000 | ₹40,000-90,000 |
| Casual dining (with bar/liquor) | ₹6-12L + ₹1.5-3L | ₹2-5L + ₹40,000-90,000 |
| Fine dining (with bar) | ₹10-18L + ₹2-4L | ₹3-7L + ₹60,000-1,50,000 |
Never pay an agent for a ‘fast track’ FSSAI or Fire NOC. The legitimate timeline is 10-21 days for FSSAI and 21-60 for Fire NOC. Anyone promising 24 hours either files the wrong category or sells forged paperwork. Both end with shop seal notices.
Open the state-specific licence checklist →