FSSAI for Restaurants and Cloud Kitchens
Restaurants, cafes, and cloud kitchens are all classified as food businesses under the FSS Act, and require a valid FSSAI license to operate legally.
Which License Applies?
Most standalone restaurants and small cloud kitchens fall under the State License category, unless their turnover is below ₹12 Lakh (Basic Registration) or they are part of a large chain with turnover above ₹20 Crore (Central License).
Documents Specific to Restaurants
- Self-attested declaration form by the owner
- Identity and address proof of the owner
- Food safety management plan covering kitchen hygiene
- NOC from the municipal corporation or local body
- List of food categories served (veg, non-veg, bakery, beverages, etc.)
- Water testing report from an accredited lab
Special Notes for Cloud Kitchens
Cloud kitchens, despite having no dine-in customers, are treated the same as any other food manufacturing/processing unit under FSSAI rules and need the same documentation as a standard restaurant license, plus delivery-platform-specific compliance where applicable.
Renewal Reminder
Restaurant licenses must be renewed before expiry — operating with an expired license, even briefly, can lead to fines and is treated the same as operating without a license at all.