Trade Licence Registration Online

A trade licence is the permission of your local municipal body to carry on a specified trade from specified premises. Whether you need one, the fee and the validity differ by city, so we confirm your local body's requirements before we file.

Issued by: Local municipal body
Fee and validity: Set by your city
StampMitra fee: ₹5,899 starting from

What a trade licence is

A trade licence is a municipal permission to carry on a specified trade or business from specified premises. It is issued by the local body: the municipal corporation, municipality or nagar palika, or the gram panchayat in rural areas. It is issued under that State's municipal or panchayat law. There is no central Trade Licence Act.

Who generally needs a trade licence

You need one where your local body's licensing schedule lists your trade.

Cities license differently
Food businesses
Godowns and storage
Workshops and small factories
Hotels, lodges and gatherings
Animal and meat trades

How it differs from other registrations and approvals

A trade licence does not substitute for any of the others, and none of them substitutes for it. Purely online businesses with no premises often do not need one, but confirm with your local body.

Trade licence: The local municipal body or panchayat
Shop and Establishment registration: State Labour Department
GST registration: GST authorities
Udyam registration: MSME framework, Udyam portal
FSSAI licence: FSSAI and State food authorities
Fire NOC and pollution consent: Fire department and pollution control board

What differs by city, and what we do about it

Question, How it works

Is my trade licensable?: Decided by your local body's licensing schedule.
What is the fee?: Set locally by trade category, premises area and sometimes rateable value. There is no national rate, and we do not quote
How long does it take?: No central processing time applies. It depends on the local body and on whether an inspection is needed.
How long is it valid, and when is renewal due?: Set by the local body. Some issue annual licences and some for longer periods. We confirm
What is the penalty for operating without one?: Set by your city's municipal law and bye-laws, and the amounts differ. We do not quote a
Where do I apply?: On your local body's portal, which we confirm for your city.

Documents commonly asked

No official list could be retrieved for every city, and the list differs by local body. Some cities also ask for notarised rent agreements or affidavits. We confirm the exact list for your city before filing.

ID and address proof of the applicant
PAN
Proof of the premises
Recent property-tax receipt or utility bill

How a trade licence is obtained

Common reasons applications come back

Premises in a zone where the trade is not permitted, or no occupancy certificate.

Premises in a zone where the trade is not permitted, or no occupancy certificate.
A missing landlord NOC, or a rent agreement whose address differs from the application.
Missing fire, health or FSSAI approvals for food and hazardous trades.
The wrong trade category, or unpaid property tax or dues.
An applicant name that differs from the entity name across documents.

What StampMitra does for you

StampMitra is a filing assistance platform. We are not the government, the municipal body or a law firm.

Document collection and verification
Application filing
Local requirements
End-to-end assistance

How it works

Identify the local body and trade category Find the body with jurisdiction over your premises and the trade category.
Apply on the local portal File the application and upload the documents.
Scrutiny and inspection Documents are scrutinised, and officers inspect for food, factory and hazardous trades.
Pay the fee and receive the licence Pay the fee, receive the licence and display it.
Renew or update Renewal, change of trade, transfer and surrender go through the same portal.

Frequently asked questions

Is a trade licence the same as GST registration?

No. They come from different authorities and serve different purposes. A trade licence is a municipal permission for the trade at the premises, and GST is a tax registration.

Who issues a trade licence?

The local municipal body: the municipal corporation, municipality, nagar palika or, in rural areas, the gram panchayat, under that State's law.

Do I need one if I sell only online?

Often not, if you have no premises or storage. Confirm with your local body.

Do all shops need a trade licence?

It depends on the city. Some license almost every trade, and others license only specified trades. Where an ordinary shop is outside the licensing schedule it often needs the state Shop and Establishment registration instead, and we confirm which applies before filing.

How long is it valid?

It depends on the local body. Some issue annual licences and some for longer periods. We confirm yours.

What does it cost?

There is no national rate. The fee is set locally by trade category, premises area and sometimes rateable value, and we confirm it before filing.

Does one licence cover several shops?

Usually a licence is for one premises and one trade.

Do I need a trade licence before an FSSAI licence?

They are separate approvals from separate authorities. The FSSAI document list on FoSCoS says what FSSAI asks for, and a local NOC is asked for only where the authority requires it.

Can it be transferred if I sell the business?

Usually a fresh application or a transfer request is needed. We confirm with your local body.

What if I move premises?

A new licence or an address change request is usually needed, depending on the local body.

Does Udyam replace a trade licence?

No. Udyam is MSME status, and a trade licence is a municipal permission.