FSSAI licence for a PG mess: registration or licence, and how to apply
By Giridhar Reddy, founder of Domvio, Bengaluru
Published
A PG that cooks and serves meals to paying residents is generally a food business, so it needs FSSAI registration or a licence. From 1 April 2026, FSSAI registration covers food businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore, a state licence covers ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore, and you apply online on FoSCoS.
This is a sample for general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state. It has not yet been reviewed by a lawyer. Have a lawyer examine it for your situation before you use or rely on it.
Does a PG with a kitchen need FSSAI registration?
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a "food business" includes catering services and the sale of food (section 3(1)(n)), and no one may start or carry on a food business without a licence (section 31(1)). Petty and small food businesses register instead of taking a licence (section 31(2)).
A PG that runs its own kitchen and charges residents for meals, separately or as part of the rent, is preparing and serving food as part of a business. That is why most PG owners with a mess get FSSAI registration. If you only let residents use a shared kitchen to cook for themselves, ask your district food safety officer whether you need anything.
Bengaluru: a trade licence condition too
Condition 5 of the BBMP order of 7 August 2024 on PG trade licences says a PG with its own mass kitchen must obtain an FSSAI licence within 3 months of getting its trade licence. See the other conditions on our PG trade licence page.
Registration, state licence or central licence?
FSSAI raised its turnover limits from 1 April 2026 (FSSAI order of 13 March 2026). The order supersedes all earlier turnover limits, so older guides that say ₹12 lakh are out of date.
| Type | Food business turnover | Before 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Up to ₹1.5 crore | Up to ₹12 lakh |
| State licence | Above ₹1.5 crore, up to ₹50 crore | ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore |
| Central licence | Above ₹50 crore | Above ₹20 crore |
Most PG messes fall well within registration. A PG with 40 residents paying ₹4,000 a month for meals has a food turnover of about ₹19.2 lakh a year. FoSCoS asks about your kind of business as well as turnover, so go by the category it gives you.
If meals are included in the rent
If you charge one amount for the bed and food, decide with your CA what part of it is your food turnover, and write the food charge separately in your agreement and receipts. That figure decides your FSSAI category.
How do you apply for FSSAI registration for a PG mess?
Go to FoSCoS
Apply online on FoSCoS, FSSAI's Food Safety Compliance System. It asks about your kind of business and turnover, and tells you whether you need registration, a state licence or a central licence.
Fill in the application
Enter the PG's address, the kind of food business, the food you serve and your turnover. FoSCoS lists the documents for your category and shows the fee.
Pay and track
Pay the fee online and track the application on FoSCoS. The food safety officer may inspect the kitchen.
Display the certificate
Put the registration or licence certificate up where residents can see it, near the dining area.
FSSAI's 2026 amendment regulations also make registrations and licences perpetually valid, subject to risk-based inspections (FSSAI order). Check on FoSCoS what this means for an existing registration with an expiry date.
Running a safe PG kitchen
- Plan a weekly menu and share it with residents. Our free PG food menu maker prints one.
- Keep the kitchen, storage and drinking water separate from rooms and corridors.
- Store LPG cylinders in a ventilated place, never in staircases or exits. See fire NOC for a PG.
- Work out what the mess really costs you per resident with the PG profit calculator.
General information, not legal advice
This page covers what we could confirm from FSSAI and BBMP documents on 21 October 2026. Food safety rules are enforced by your state's Commissioner of Food Safety and can change. Check your category on FoSCoS or with your district food safety officer.
Rent and mess charges, tracked per bed
Domvio reminds each PG resident on WhatsApp three days before rent is due, takes payment straight to your own UPI ID and sends a PDF receipt for every payment, UPI or cash. See PG management software.
Frequently asked questions
Is FSSAI registration required for a PG mess?
Generally yes, if you cook and serve meals to paying residents. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 counts catering and the sale of food as a food business, which needs registration or a licence.
What is the FSSAI registration limit in 2026?
From 1 April 2026, food businesses with turnover up to ₹1.5 crore need registration, ₹1.5 crore to ₹50 crore a state licence, and above ₹50 crore a central licence, under FSSAI's order of 13 March 2026.
Where do I apply for FSSAI registration?
Online on FoSCoS, foscos.fssai.gov.in. It shows the documents and fee for your category.
Do Bengaluru PGs need FSSAI for a trade licence?
A BBMP order of 7 August 2024 says a PG with its own mass kitchen must obtain an FSSAI licence within 3 months of getting the trade licence.
Does Domvio manage FSSAI or food menus?
No. Domvio handles rent reminders, UPI payments and receipts on WhatsApp. Our free PG food menu maker is a separate tool on this site.
Stop chasing rent every month
Domvio reminds your tenants on WhatsApp, takes rent straight to your UPI ID and sends PDF receipts automatically. Free during early access.