An eating house licence was, until 2025, the Delhi Police registration that restaurants, cafes, dhabas and food courts had to hold under regulations made under the Delhi Police Act, 1978. In June 2025 those regulations were withdrawn, so the question for a restaurant owner today is which licences still apply. This page explains what changed, what you still need from MCD, FSSAI and the fire authority in Delhi, and how restaurant licensing works in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
What is an eating house licence?
In Delhi, the term eating house licence referred to a registration granted by the Delhi Police Commissioner under section 28 of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, which empowers the Police Commissioner to regulate places of public amusement and resort. Eating houses, hotels, guest houses, discotheques and similar establishments were regulated this way, in addition to their municipal and food-safety licences. Restaurant owners knew it as the police licence, and the process involved police verification, a fire NOC and safety documents.
On 19 June 2025, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi withdrew the sanction that allowed the Police Commissioner to make those regulations, and the Commissioner then repealed the regulations for eating houses, hotels and several other activities including swimming pools, discotheques and amusement parks. The Delhi Chief Minister announced on 23 June 2025 that restaurants, hotels, motels and guest houses no longer need a police NOC to operate. Delhi's government described the change as reducing the number of licences a hospitality business has to obtain.
The practical result is that, for a Delhi restaurant, there is no longer a police eating house licence to apply for or renew. A new restaurant still needs a food-safety licence from FSSAI, and the local body, which is MCD in most of Delhi, continues to license premises for health and trade purposes. Fire safety clearance is a separate requirement that depends on the building and the seating. Sellers of alcohol still need an excise licence, which is a different regime.
Outside Delhi the term is not used in the same way. In Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, restaurants are licensed by the municipal body and by FSSAI, with police verification linked mainly to liquor or entertainment permissions. If a consultant or portal asks you for an eating house licence, ask which law and authority it refers to.
Who should check eating house compliance?
No separate eating house licence is currently needed in Delhi, but the following businesses still need the licence stack described below:
- New restaurants, cafes, QSR outlets and food courts opening in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and nearby cities
- Existing Delhi restaurants that held a police eating house licence and want to know what to renew
- Cloud kitchens and dark kitchens that cook for delivery
- Dhabas, canteens and catering units that sell food on the premises
- Hotels and guest houses that have a restaurant or banquet attached
- Businesses that plan to serve alcohol, which need an additional excise licence
Benefits of Eating House Licence
Clarity on which licences are live
Knowing that the police licence is gone, and which licences remain, avoids paying consultants for permissions that no longer exist.
Faster launch planning
A clear stack of FSSAI, municipal and fire clearances lets you plan the opening date around real approvals.
Lower inspection risk
A restaurant that holds its municipal, FSSAI and fire papers in order is rarely penalised during surveys.
Readiness for alcohol and entertainment
A clean base of food and municipal licences makes it easier to add a liquor licence later.
Better lender and platform acceptance
Banks, landlords and delivery platforms usually ask for the FSSAI licence and local-body licence, so having them ready speeds onboarding.
Eligibility and applicability
Because the police licence has been withdrawn in Delhi, eligibility questions now relate to the underlying licences. Premises and dues decide most outcomes.
- Premises that can lawfully be used as a restaurant, with conversion or mixed-use charges paid where needed
- Property tax and other municipal dues cleared
- Written proof of occupancy such as a lease or sale deed
- FSSAI licence or registration of the right tier for your turnover and activity
- Fire safety compliance where the building, floor and seating make it mandatory
- For alcohol service, eligibility under the State excise policy
Documents required
Business documents
- PAN, identity and address proof of proprietor, partners or directors
- Constitution documents such as partnership deed, LLP agreement or certificate of incorporation
- GST registration and Udyam certificate where available
- Passport size photographs and authority letter for the signatory
Premises and food-safety documents
- Rent agreement or sale deed with landlord's ownership proof
- Latest electricity bill and property tax receipt
- Layout plan showing kitchen, dining area, storage, washrooms and exits
- FSSAI licence or registration and food safety plan details
- Fire NOC or fire safety certificate where required
- Water test report and medical fitness certificates of food handlers where the FSSAI category requires them
How to licence a restaurant in Delhi now
Because there is no police step, the licensing sequence for a Delhi restaurant is shorter than it used to be, but it still needs planning.
Confirm the premises and the body
Check that the property is permitted for restaurant use and find out whether MCD, NDMC or a cantonment board covers it. Residential or mixed-use premises usually need conversion charges first.
Apply for FSSAI
File for FSSAI registration or licence on FoSCoS, choosing the Kind of Business that matches restaurant or catering. Pick the tier by turnover and activity, since a wrong tier causes rework.
Assess fire safety
Ask the fire service or your architect whether your building size and seating trigger an NOC. Where required, obtain it before the municipal licence is finalised. See our fire NOC page.
Apply for the municipal health trade licence
File the health trade application with the MCD or local body, with layout, FSSAI and property documents. Our health trade licence page covers the details.
Register for other basics
Register under shop and establishment law if you have employees, and GST registration as your turnover requires.
Add alcohol licence if needed
If you will serve liquor, apply for the State excise licence after the base licences are in place, since excise authorities ask for them.
Display licences and set up renewals
Display FSSAI and municipal licences, and track the renewal and annual fee dates of each.
Government fees
There is no government fee for the withdrawn Delhi Police eating house licence because it no longer exists, so any consultant who quotes one for Delhi should explain the legal basis. Other licences have their own fees, which we do not state without verification.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi Police eating house licence | Not applicable | Regulations withdrawn in June 2025 |
| FSSAI registration or licence | Tier-wise annual fee | See our FSSAI page and FoSCoS for the current fee for your Kind of Business |
| MCD health trade licence | Per MCD category schedule | Confirm on the MCD portal |
| Fire NOC | Per fire service schedule | Depends on building and State rules |
Professional charges are quoted separately after reviewing your case. Government fees are paid directly to the authority.
How long does licensing take?
No single timeline applies because the licences are issued by different bodies. FSSAI registration is quick, an FSSAI licence depends on scrutiny and inspection, and municipal and fire approvals depend on the premises. Run applications in parallel where the rules allow, and do not open for business until the mandatory licences are in hand.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Premises and documents readiness | A few working days to weeks |
| FSSAI registration or licence | Days for registration; longer for State or Central licence |
| Fire clearance where required | Varies by authority and building |
| MCD health trade licence | Varies by inspection and dues |
Validity and renewal
There is nothing to renew for the withdrawn police licence. FSSAI approvals issued or renewed from 1 April 2026 are perpetual, but the annual fee and annual return obligations continue. Municipal health trade licences are usually annual and MCD licences are understood to run to 31 March. Fire NOCs have their own validity set by the State. Keep a single register of expiry dates for all licences.
Compliance after approval
- Display FSSAI and municipal licences at the premises
- Pay the FSSAI annual fee and file annual returns where applicable
- Renew the municipal licence before the financial year ends
- Keep fire extinguishers serviced and exits unobstructed as per the NOC
- Maintain hygiene records, pest control and staff health records
- Do not serve alcohol or run entertainment without the specific permissions
Delhi restaurant licences: before and after June 2025
| Licence | Before June 2025 | From June 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Police eating house licence | Required under Delhi Police Act regulations | Withdrawn; no police NOC for restaurants |
| MCD health trade licence | Required | Continues under municipal law |
| FSSAI licence or registration | Required | Continues; perpetual validity from April 2026 subject to fee |
| Fire NOC | Required where building rules apply | Continues where applicable |
| Excise licence for alcohol | Required to serve alcohol | Continues |
Common mistakes
Paying for a police licence that no longer exists
Some portals and agents still list it. Check the Delhi Police Act regulations status and ask for the legal basis before paying.
Assuming the repeal removes all licences
Only the police regime was withdrawn. MCD, FSSAI, fire and excise requirements continue under their own laws.
Wrong FSSAI tier
Applying for registration when turnover or activity needs a State licence leads to rejection or later penalties.
Ignoring fire safety
A restaurant on an upper floor or in a crowded building can be sealed for lack of fire compliance even with a valid FSSAI licence.
Opening before the municipal licence
Starting service while an application is pending exposes you to challans and closure.
Using residential premises without conversion
Unpaid conversion charges block the municipal licence and invite notices.
Penalties for non-compliance
Running a restaurant without a valid FSSAI licence or registration is an offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and operating without a municipal licence can lead to fines and sealing under municipal law. We have not verified current penalty amounts for each regime, so no penalty table is given. Check the Act and the local body's notification for your case.
Practitioner tips
- Before paying anyone for an eating house licence in Delhi, ask for a copy of the notification under which it is issued. Since June 2025 the Delhi Police regulations have been withdrawn.
- If you hold an old police licence, keep it on file, but do not renew it. Spend that effort on FSSAI and MCD renewals.
- Fire safety is the item most likely to hold a restaurant up. Speak to a fire consultant at the layout stage rather than after the fit-out.
- In Noida and Greater Noida, check whether the Authority or a Nagar Nigam covers the plot, and whether fire and health licensing is handled by the Authority or the district.
- If you plan a bar or live music, plan the excise and entertainment permissions at the same time as the base licences.
How Lawgical Guru helps
Licence stack assessment
We tell you which licences your restaurant needs at your address in Delhi, UP or Haryana, and which no longer apply.
FSSAI filing
We prepare and file your FSSAI licence application in the correct tier and category.
Municipal licence filing
We prepare your health trade licence application and respond to municipal queries.
Fire and building coordination
We coordinate the documents you need for fire NOC and help you plan the sequence.
Alcohol licence planning
If you plan to serve alcohol, we help you prepare for the excise licence once base licences are ready.
Renewal calendar
We track expiry and annual fee dates so none of your licences lapses.
Eating House Licence: frequently asked questions
Is an eating house licence required in Delhi in 2026?
No separate police eating house licence is required, because the Delhi Eating Houses Registration Regulations, 2023 were withdrawn in June 2025. A restaurant still needs FSSAI approval, a municipal licence from MCD or the relevant body, and fire clearance where applicable.
What happened to the Delhi Police eating house licence?
The Lieutenant Governor withdrew the sanction that let the Police Commissioner make eating house regulations under the Delhi Police Act, 1978, and the regulations were then repealed. The government announced that restaurants and hotels no longer need a police NOC.
Which licences do I need to open a restaurant in Delhi?
Usually FSSAI registration or licence, an MCD health trade licence, GST registration as your turnover requires, shop and establishment registration if you hire staff, and a fire NOC where applicable. If you serve alcohol, you also need an excise licence.
Do I need a police NOC for a restaurant in Delhi?
Not for operating the restaurant, since June 2025. A police step may still arise for other permissions such as events, loudspeakers or liquor, so check the specific permission.
Is the eating house licence required in Uttar Pradesh or Haryana?
The Delhi eating house regime was specific to Delhi. In UP and Haryana restaurants are licensed by the municipal body and by FSSAI, with fire safety and excise permissions where relevant.
Should I renew my old Delhi Police eating house licence?
There is no renewal to make since the regulations were withdrawn. Keep the old licence for your records and focus on FSSAI, MCD and fire renewals, which are the live requirements.
Does a restaurant need FSSAI even if it has an MCD licence?
Yes. FSSAI regulates food safety nationwide and the municipal licence regulates the premises locally. Neither replaces the other, and a restaurant normally holds both.
Is a fire NOC compulsory for every restaurant?
It depends on the building, its height and the seating and floor area, as set by the State fire rules. Small ground-floor premises may fall outside, but we recommend a written confirmation from the fire authority.
Can I serve alcohol with an eating house licence?
No. Alcohol needs a State excise licence, such as the hotel, club and restaurant categories in Delhi. Excise authorities usually ask for FSSAI, municipal and fire clearances first.
How much does it cost to licence a restaurant in Delhi?
The cost depends on the FSSAI tier, the MCD category and area, and any fire NOC fee, and each is set by the concerned authority. We confirm the current figures before you pay, and professional charges are quoted separately.
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Reviewed by Satyam Gupta, Company Secretary (CS) & Advocate
8+ years of industry experience. This page was last reviewed on 16 October 2026 against the official sources below. Rules and fees change — confirm on the official portal before you apply.