Who needs a GHMC trade licence, and the documents most applicants forget.

By Kanoons · 5 min read · Last verified 2026-01-01

Any business operating from a physical premises within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits — shops, restaurants, offices, warehouses and most other commercial establishments — needs a trade licence from GHMC before commencing operations, regardless of whether it also holds GST or other central/state registrations.

The application typically needs proof of premises ownership or a rent agreement, a property tax receipt (PTIN), an identity and address proof of the applicant, and a layout/site plan for larger establishments; food businesses additionally need FSSAI registration and certain trades need a No Objection Certificate from the fire department depending on scale.

The licence needs annual renewal, and operating without a valid trade licence — or letting a renewal lapse — exposes the business to municipal penalties and, in some cases, closure notices, which makes it worth tracking renewal dates with the same discipline applied to GST or ROC filings rather than treating it as a one-time formality.