Panaji: The Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, Government of Goa, has introduced major reforms to strengthen fire safety compliance and streamline public service delivery in line with Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) guidelines. The new measures include extending the validity of Fire Safety No Objection Certificates (NOCs), introducing fresh licensing norms for fire safety agencies, and shifting all related services to a fully online system.
Extension of Fire Safety NOC Validity
The validity of Fire Safety NOCs has been extended from one year to five years for both low-risk and high-risk buildings. Owners and occupiers will need to obtain NOCs as per regulations and submit an annual self-declaration confirming that all fire protection systems remain maintained and functional.
After five years, the NOC will be renewed following an inspection to ensure all safety systems are operational. The Directorate has also empowered its Designated Officer to conduct surprise inspections and revoke NOCs in case of non-compliance.
New Licensing & Regulation Guidelines for Fire Safety Agencies
The Government has also issued comprehensive guidelines for the licensing, regulation, and monitoring of agencies involved in:
• Third-party fire audits,
• Installation of fire protection systems, and
• Certification of fire safety compliance.
Only licensed agencies will be authorized to carry out these activities. The application, approval, monitoring, and renewal process will now be conducted entirely online through the State Single Window System.
Licensing will be granted only to qualified agencies and professionals fulfilling technical, financial, and statutory criteria. The Directorate will maintain a publicly accessible dashboard listing all licensed agencies and will conduct random quality inspections to ensure compliance.
The guidelines also mandate license renewal, enforcement, and training of technical personnel to maintain professional standards.
All Services Now Fully Online
The Directorate has announced that all its services—including NOC applications, renewals, and agency licensing—are now completely online, eliminating the need for citizens to visit fire stations.
For grievances or assistance, citizens can reach out to the designated Public Redressal Officer through official email or mobile. The Directorate also welcomes suggestions and feedback via electronic submission.
Contact details of officers, online service links, and further information are available on the official website of the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, Goa.
