Hyderabad, October 3, 2026: The Telangana government has revised fire-safety clearance rules for new residential apartment buildings, raising the height threshold for obtaining a provisional Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) from 18 metres to 24 metres.
The revised regulation will come into effect on October 7, 2026. Under the earlier system, residential apartment buildings taller than 18 metres—generally around ground plus five floors (G+5)—were required to obtain a provisional NOC from the Telangana Fire Services Department.
With the revised threshold, the provisional Fire NOC requirement will apply to residential apartment buildings exceeding 24 metres, roughly corresponding to ground plus seven floors (G+7), according to the report.
The change is expected to reduce regulatory requirements for some mid-rise residential projects while allowing the Fire Services Department to focus its scrutiny on taller structures where evacuation and firefighting operations can present greater challenges.
However, the higher threshold for a provisional Fire NOC does not mean that apartment projects below 24 metres are exempt from all safety requirements. Buildings must continue to comply with other applicable building, electrical and fire-safety regulations.
The decision comes amid wider discussion over fire-safety standards in Hyderabad. Recent concerns have focused on electrical faults, ageing wiring, blocked exits, inadequate firefighting equipment and the need for stronger inspections and preventive measures.
For builders and developers, the revised 24-metre threshold represents a significant change in the approval process for new mid-rise residential apartment projects in Telangana. The new rule is scheduled to take effect from October 7.