Any Chennai building taller than 18.3 metres, roughly a stilt-plus-five block and above, is a multi-storied building (MSB) in fire law and needs the Director of Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services to sign off on it at three stages. The same MSB tag applies to a shorter building with more than one basement, according to the department’s procedure page. For residents, the most important of these papers is the fire licence, which has to be renewed with a copy of the previous year’s licence, as the department’s renewal checklist shows.
If you live in a high-rise, your association is usually the body that holds the licence after the builder hands over. Below is what the rules require, what to check in your building, and who to call in an emergency.
The three fire approvals for a high-rise
- NOC at planning stage. Before the plan is approved, the fire department checks the drawings, with copies certified by a panel engineer.
- Compliance certificate. For MSBs only, issued after construction and before occupation, based on the NOC and the approved plan.
- Fire licence, and renewal. Issued after inspection of the installed systems, using the approved plan from CMDA or the local body, then renewed with the previous licence attached.
Applications are made online. The department says there is no fee payable to it for these applications. The published timelines for an MSB are 30 days each for the NOC, fire licence and compliance certificate, against 15 days for smaller buildings, which are handled by the District Officer. Clarifications may be raised within seven working days. At an e-Sevai centre, the state IT department’s service list shows a ₹15 service charge for MSB fire licence registration and renewal.
What the fire rules ask of apartment blocks
The department’s requirements table for apartment houses sets out installations by height. A summary:
| Height | Key requirements |
|---|---|
| Up to 15 m | 2 extinguishers a floor, hose reels, 5,000-litre terrace tank, two staircases, one fire lift |
| 15 to 35 m | Hose reels and downcomers each floor, manual call points, 25,000-litre terrace tank, 7 m setback, refuge area near 24 m if there is no balcony |
| 35 to 45 m | Wet riser, 75,000-litre underground tank, electric and diesel pumps with a jockey pump |
| 45 to 60 m | Sprinklers for the whole building, yard hydrants every 30 m |
| Above 60 m | Automatic detection and alarm throughout, fire control room, public address system, helipad provision |
All bands need glow-type exit signs, emergency lights on staircases, sealed cable ducts and a fire drill once a year. Basements larger than 200 square metres need sprinklers at every height. The department notes that this table should be read with the building rules, so treat it as a checklist, not the final word.
A checklist for residents’ associations
- Licence on file. Keep the current fire licence and the compliance certificate in the association office, and diarise the renewal.
- Pumps that start. Test the main, diesel and jockey pumps every month. A diesel pump with an empty tank is a common failure.
- Water in the tanks. The fire reserve must stay full. Check that domestic draw-off pipes are set above the fire reserve level.
- Clear staircases. No shoes racks, cycles, plants or stored furniture on stairs or landings. Fire doors must close on their own.
- Extinguishers in date. Check the refill date on every cylinder and the pressure gauge.
- Alarm and call points. Test the panel and a sample of manual call points; make sure the panel is not silenced.
- Electrical rooms. Keep meter rooms and shafts locked, dry and free of junk, and get the wiring checked, especially after monsoon leaks.
- EV charging. If residents charge vehicles in the basement, get an electrician to check the circuits and keep chargers away from exits.
- The drill. Hold the yearly drill, and make sure security staff know how to call the fire service and where the hydrant valves are.
Tamil Nadu also has a High Rise Building Inspection Committee that inspects multi-storied buildings and hospitals and reports to the licensing authorities, according to the department’s 2021-22 policy note.
In an emergency: 101 and 112
Call 101 for the fire service, which the Chennai district helpline list gives as Fire Control, or 112, the national emergency number, whose ERSS site lists fire among the services it dispatches. The 2021-22 policy note counted 42 fire stations in Chennai, including a rescue station at Marina.
When you call, give the building name, the street and a landmark, the floor where the fire is, and whether anyone is trapped. Send someone to the gate to guide the engine in, and move cars that block the driveway. Use the stairs, never the lift.
For questions of liability after a fire, such as a builder who never obtained a licence, consult a lawyer.
Quick answers
When does a Chennai building need a fire NOC from the Director?
When it is taller than 18.3 metres, or has more than one basement.
Is there a fee for a fire licence in Tamil Nadu?
The department says no fee is payable to it; an e-Sevai centre charges ₹15 to file.
How often must a fire licence be renewed?
Renewal requires the previous year’s licence, so plan for it every year.
What number do I call for a fire in Chennai?
101 for the fire service, or 112.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Procedure for obtaining No Objection Certificate and Fire License (Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services)
- What is procedure to get NOC/Fire License? (TNFRS)
- Documents to be attached for NOC / Completion Certificate / Fire Licence (TNFRS)
- Requirements for various types of buildings (TNFRS)
- Policy Note 2021-22, Fire and Rescue Services (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- e-Sevai services and charges (Tamil Nadu IT Department)
- Helpline numbers (Chennai District Administration)
- Emergency Response Support System 112 (Ministry of Home Affairs)
