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Quick answer
Every commercial cold storage in India needs at minimum an FSSAI licence, a fire NOC, pollution Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate, a factory licence (if 10+ workers with power, or 20+ without), an HT/LT electricity sanction and building plan approval. For a new 1,000 MT facility, budget 4–8 months of overlapping approvals.
Key takeaways
- An FSSAI Central licence applies above ₹20 crore turnover or for pan-India operations, a State licence between ₹12 lakh and ₹20 crore, and basic registration below ₹12 lakh.
- Fire NOC department fees run ₹15,000–50,000, but the fire safety equipment for a 1,000 MT facility costs ₹3–8 lakh.
- Cold storage falls in the Green pollution category in most states, while ammonia plants may fall in Orange.
- Fire NOC requirements typically include a minimum of 2 exits from any cold room above 50 m².
- A cold storage that only rents space still needs FSSAI if it handles food, because the operator licence sits with the operator.
Compliance At a Glance
Every commercial cold storage in India needs (at minimum):
- FSSAI license — Central or State depending on turnover
- Fire NOC — from State Fire Department
- Pollution NOC — Consent to Establish + Consent to Operate from State PCB
- Factory Licence — if 10+ workers with power, or 20+ without
- Electricity HT/LT sanction — separate connection for refrigeration load
- Building plan approval — local municipal body
For pharma, dairy, and meat add CDSCO/Schedule M (pharma), MMPO (dairy), and APEDA (export meat).
FSSAI License
Mandatory for any cold storage handling food.
- Central licence — turnover above ₹20 crore or pan-India operations. ₹7,500/year.
- State licence — ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore turnover. ₹2,000–5,000/year.
- Basic registration — below ₹12 lakh.
Apply at fssai.gov.in. Required documents:
- Site layout with cold storage zones marked
- Water test report (potability)
- Pest control contract
- Refrigerant declaration (no banned R22, etc.)
- Operator training records
Process time: 30–60 days.
Fire NOC
State Fire Department clearance. Standard requirements:
- Hydrant system (IS 13039)
- Smoke detectors in plant rooms and corridors
- Portable fire extinguishers per IS 2190 — typically CO2 in electrical, foam in machine rooms
- Approved evacuation plan with emergency lighting
- Means of escape — minimum 2 exits from any cold room above 50 m²
- Refrigerant leak detection for ammonia plants
Fire load drives system spec — PUF panels are categorised as Class B materials. PIR is Class A and gets a softer regime. Read our PUF vs PIR vs EPS guide.
Pollution NOC
Two-stage process at State Pollution Control Board:
- Consent to Establish (CTE) — before construction
- Consent to Operate (CTO) — after commissioning, renewable 3–5 yearly
Cold storage falls in Green category for most states (minimal pollution) — simpler approval. Ammonia plants may fall in Orange category in some states.
No significant emissions, but PCB will check refrigerant type (R32, R449A, ammonia accepted; R22 not), DG stack height, and noise compliance.
Factory Licence
Required if you have 10+ workers operating with power, or 20+ without power. Apply at state Labour Department.
Includes:
- Premises plan approval
- Worker safety provisions (PPE, fire drills, emergency exit)
- Compliance with Factories Act, 1948
- Working hours, leave, wage records
Other Approvals
- HT/LT electricity sanction — power supply company, 3–6 months processing
- Building plan approval — local municipal/development authority
- Refrigerant handling certificate (RTOC) — for technicians servicing the plant
- Weights & measures licence — if you stamp bags or weigh-bill product
- APEDA registration — for export-grade meat, seafood, dairy
Compliance Timeline (New 1,000 MT Cold Storage)
| Approval | Apply at | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Building plan | Pre-construction | 1–3 months |
| Pollution CTE | Pre-construction | 1–2 months |
| HT electricity | Pre-construction | 3–6 months |
| Fire NOC | Post-civil | 1–2 months |
| Pollution CTO | Post-commissioning | 1–2 months |
| FSSAI | Post-commissioning | 1–2 months |
| Factory licence | Before staffing | 1 month |
Budget 4–8 months overlap. Read our installation service page for integrated compliance support.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need FSSAI for a cold storage if I only rent space?
Yes — any cold storage handling food, even on contract, needs FSSAI. The end-user can be your customer but the operator licence is on you.
How much does fire NOC cost for a cold storage?
Department fees ₹15,000–50,000. The bigger cost is the fire safety equipment build — ₹3–8 lakh for a 1,000 MT facility.
Is HACCP mandatory?
Only for export-oriented or large institutional buyers. Domestic FSSAI does not require HACCP but recommends Schedule 4 compliance.
Written by
HyperCold Engineering Team
Cold room and cold storage engineers at HyperCold™, a Daikin equipment partner founded in 2020 and headquartered in Sirsaganj, Firozabad (UP). We design, manufacture PUF panels for, install and maintain cold rooms across India.