Factory Licence (Factories Act / DISH) — Maharashtra
Also known as: factory licence, factory registration, DISH licence, Factories Act registration, factory license Maharashtra
A manufacturing unit that crosses the 'factory' threshold must register and hold a licence under the Factories Act, 1948, issued by the Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health (DISH). You apply on the MAITRI portal with Form 1 and get your site, building and machinery plans approved first. This is one of the more involved registrations — plan approval, an occupier, worker-safety arrangements and periodic renewal — and it sits on top of MPCB consent and a local NOC.
- Issued by
- Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health (DISH), Industries, Energy & Labour Department, Maharashtra
- Official portal
- MAITRI (MahaOnline) — DISH services
- You get
- Factory Licence (Factories Act) — Renewable
- Offline options
- DISH regional office
Who can apply
- The premises must meet the 'factory' definition — in Maharashtra commonly 20 or more workers with the aid of power, or 40 or more without power, carrying out a manufacturing process (the Act's base is 10/20; Maharashtra has raised it). Below this you operate under Shop & Establishment instead
- There must be a named 'occupier' (usually a director/partner) who carries legal responsibility for the factory
- Site, building and machinery layout plans must be approved by DISH before construction/installation
What it costs
| Factory licence fee (by workers + HP)Fee is a slab based on the number of workers and installed horsepower and ranges very widely — a tiny unit pays a few thousand, a large one far more. Confirm your slab on the Maharashtra Factories Rules fee schedule. | ₹1000–₹100000 |
How long it takes
Typically 30–45 days.
Commonly ~30–45 days end to end, gated by plan approval and inspection.
The full step-by-step guide
What's inside for this procedure:
- 7 steps in exact order, with the official link at each one
- 4 documents — accepted alternatives
- 4 common reasons applications get rejected, and how to avoid each
- A 1-question intake that prunes the checklist to your situation
- Progress tracking with your deadlines, notes, and application numbers
Common questions
When does my unit count as a 'factory'?
In Maharashtra, commonly when 20 or more workers work with power, or 40 or more without power, on a manufacturing process. Below that you register under Shop & Establishment instead. Confirm the current threshold.
Do I need plan approval before building?
Yes — site, building and machinery plans must be approved by DISH before construction or installing machinery.
How long does it take?
Around 30–45 days once plans are ready, subject to scrutiny and inspection.
Part of a bigger goal
- Start a small manufacturing unit — Maharashtra— Maharashtra
After you get this: staying compliant
Would you rather have someone do this for you?
The guide above covers the full procedure. If you would prefer professional help, let us know — assisted filing is on the way, and this helps us decide which services and cities come first.
We record the service, the state and the first 3 digits of your pincode — enough to see which areas need help, not enough to identify you. No name, no phone number.
Where this comes from
This guide is put together from the official government sources listed below. We last reviewed it on 20 July 2026. Government rules and fees change often, and official websites are sometimes incomplete or unclear, so we cannot promise every detail is current. We make every effort to keep this updated, but there is no guarantee. Always check the official source linked below before you act or pay.
Recent changes
- 20 July 2026 — Re-voiced steps to the action-first step-writing standard (docs/STEP-WRITING-STANDARD.md): second-person imperative, action first, who-you-need surfaced; all facts, citations, fees and references preserved.
- 15 July 2026 — Initial authoring: factory licence under the Factories Act (MH, DISH) via MAITRI — Form 1, prior plan approval, worker/HP fee slabs, ~30–45 day processing, stacked on MPCB consent + local NOC. Threshold (20/40 vs Act's 10/20), fee slabs and renewal cycle flagged heavily for verification against DISH/MahaDISH; local variance is high.
Official sources for this guide
KaamKar is an independent guide, not a government website. Apply only on the official portal linked above. Content prepared to published requirements — no outcomes are guaranteed.