CHANDIGARH: Struggling with its finances, the municipal corporation (MC) has increased the fire safety certificate charges by nearly 10%. Under the National Building Code (NBC) 2016, new fee has been fixed for different types of buildings by the MC’s Fire and Rescue Services. Buildings of different categories will have to pay a minimum fee of Rs 6,615. These rates come into effect from April 1, 2025.
As per the order issued by the MC, buildings of different categories will have to pay fire safety certificate fee at different rates. In Group A category (residential building), lodging houses, hostels, hotels, etc, will have to pay a fee of Rs 6,615 or Rs 14 per square metre.
For Group B category (educational institutions), from schools to higher educational institutions; Group C, hospitals, mental health centres; and all buildings under Group-D, a fee of Rs 6,615 or Rs 14 per square metre will be levied.
Group E (commercial buildings), Group F (shops and markets), and Group G (industrial) units will have to pay a fee of Rs 6,615 or Rs 12 per square metre. Group H (warehouses) will be charged at the rate of Rs 6,615 or Rs 12 per square metre. Group J buildings, which store substances like petrol, gas, explosives, and rocket propellants, will be charged at the rate of Rs 6,615 or Rs 14 per square metre.
In 2019, the corporation fixed the minimum fee at Rs 5,000 or Rs 10 per square metre (whichever is higher) for covered areas. It was revised in 2022 to Rs 6,000 or Rs 12 per square metre.
The MC has exempted religious places from this fee. Residential buildings under Group A subdivision, which is A-2 (one or two family private dwellings) and subdivision A-4 (apartment houses) of Group 1 as per occupancies are exempted from fire safety certificate charges.
