Everything you need to know about Eating House License

Eating House License plays a crucial role in regulating the operation of eateries and restaurants in India. This license is granted by the government authorities and allows businesses to serve food and drinks to the public. The license ensures that the premises follow certain standards of safety, and hygiene and comply with local regulations. It is regulated by the Delhi Police Act. Obtaining this license is really important if you want to start a food and beverage business in India. The licensee is obliged to maintain hygiene standards and quality standards as per the food and beverage service industry. 

Eating House License - Issuing Authority & the Process

Shops, restaurants, food trucks, cafes & dhabas are all considered as eating houses since all these establishments provide food and drinks for public consumption. The Delhi Police Act makes it mandatory for food and beverage businesses to obtain Eating House License by the City/State Police Headquarters and the Police Commissioner. The License is issued upon verification of all the relevant documents of the business.

If you own a food and beverage business and want to obtain the Eating House License, follow these necessary steps:

Step 1: Visit the official portal of the police in the state/city where your eating house is located. Register as a user.

Step 2: Log in with the user ID and password.

Step 3: Fill up the application for the Eating House License and upload all the necessary documents mentioned on the portal. Make sure you fill in all the details correctly as the application fee is non-refundable.

Step 4: Upon submission of documents, visit the Additional Commissioner of Police of the state so that he can verify your application and check all the documents.

Step 5: Contact the concerned department to get an update on the application. If the application gets rejected, you will have to re-apply. 

Step 6: If the application gets approved and the documents submitted are found adequate, the Eating House License will be issued in 45-60 days.

The following documents are required for Eating House License: 

• Site plan and photos of the eating house
• Fire Safety Certification (if the seating capacity is more than 50 people)
• CCTV installation’s invoice
• Lease Agreement/Sale Deed or Rent Deed
• A No-Objection Certificate from the property’s owner (if the licensee is not the owner)
• Permission granted by the Indian Performing Right Society for DJs, live singers, guitarists, etc.

Documents related to the applicant:

• Identity Proof (PAN Card, Voter Card, etc.)
• Proof of Residence (Passport, Bank Account, etc.)
• Incorporation Certificate of the company
• GST Registration Certificate
• Applicant’s Licensing Documents, such as Trade License and FSSAI License/Registration

Documents related to directors and employees:

• A list containing names of all the directors along with Form-32
• Identity Proof of all the directors
• A list containing names of all the employees working for the Eating House
• Identity Proof of all such employees

Other necessary documents:

• Consent letter/Provisional Certificate as per the location of the Eating House. (If the business is in Delhi, a consent letter from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee would be required)
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Self Attested Certificate for the Eating House License

Operational Timings

Those with Licensed Eating Houses need to stick to the designated opening and closing hours of their business. The following timings are outlined as per the local laws that grant the Eating House License: 

• Airports, Railways and Metro are allowed to operate 24 hours a day.
• Four-star and five-star hotels are also allowed to operate 24 hours a day. Three-star hotels are allowed to operate 21 hours a day (excluding the hours between 02:00 AM - 5:00 AM).
• Other Eating Houses are permitted to operate for 20 hours a day (with the exclusion of the hours between 01:00 AM to 05:00 AM)

Renewal of Eating House License

The validity of Eating House depends on your state. It is usually 3 years for most states. After the validity period ends, the license holder needs to apply for the license renewal to be able to continue the operations legally without any interruptions. This can be done by submitting an online application on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ unified portal. 

Registrationwala team suggests you apply for license renewal 2-3 months prior to the last date of validity. Make sure you fill correct and complete details in the license renewal form and upload all the mandatory documents. Once the application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Licensing Division. If everything goes right, you will get a renewed license within 49 days from the receipt of the application.

Conclusion

The Eating House License plays a vital role in promising that businesses in the food and beverage industry maintain the hygiene and quality of their consumables. To operate legally and responsibly, it is necessary for the restaurateurs to obtain this license. If you need expert guidance in obtaining Eating House License or its renewal, do not hesitate to contact Registrationwala.

Author: Dushyant Sharma

Hey there, I'm Dushyant Sharma. With the extensive knowledge I've gained in past 8 years, I have been creating content on various subjects such as banking, insurance, telecom, and all the important registration and licensing processes for various companies. I'm here to help everyone with my expertise in these areas through my articles.