Trade Licensing in Colombo, HANDBOOK

" All you need to know to get a Trade License in 25 days "

Contents

Section I: Introduction

Section II: Why You Should get License Your Business

Section III: How to Obtain Your Trade License

Section IV: What You Need to do to Ensure You Get a License

Section V: Whom to Contact for Clarifications and Queries

Annexure

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What You Need to do to Ensure You Get a License

1. Do you need to do anything before applying for a Trade License?

2. How do you get to know what requirements apply to your trade?

3. Categorization by the Fire Services Department

4. Categorization by the Public Health Department

5. Requirements of the City Planning Division

6. How to identify requirements for your trade

7. What are the requirements of the Fire Services Department?

8. What are the requirements of the Public Health Department for ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Dangerous and Offensive’ Trades?

9. What are the requirements of the Public Health Department for ‘Offensive’ Trades?

10. What are the requirements of the Public Health Department for ‘Food Related’ Trades?

11. What are the requirements of the City Planning Division?

Do you need to do anything before applying for a Trade License?

Prior to applying for a Trade License, it is recommended that you refer to the requirements of the CMC with respect to your specific trade/ business and ensure that each requirement has been fulfilled. At the time of processing your application, the Departments/ Division of Public Health, Fire Service and City Planning will check compliance of your trade/ trade premises with the mandated requirements. Non-compliance with these may result in rejection of your application and the consequent service of a closure order for your trade.
In order to assist you in complying, details of the requirements of each Department are provided in this section.

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How do you get to know what requirements apply to your trade?

In order to define specific requirements for each trade, the Fire Services and the Public Health Departments have categorized the trades into various groups. The requirements have been defined by these Departments for each group/ category of trades.
The categorization of trades by each of the Departments is provided below, followed by guidelines on how to identify the specific requirements for your trade.

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Categorization by the Fire Services Department:

For the purpose of inspections, the Fire Services Department has categorized the trades requiring a Trade License to the following categories, based on the fire hazard posed by the trade:

Light Hazard	Any trade in which the manufacturing activities or goods/materials stored are such that the probability of a fire is low and only fires of a small size may be expected
Ordinary Hazard	Any trade in which the manufacturing activities or goods/materials stored such that the probability of a fire is moderate and fires of a medium size may be expected.
High Hazard	Any trade in which the manufacturing activities or goods/materials stored are of a nature such as to increase a fire probability, cause rapid burning, produce poisonous fumes or explosions in case of fire.

The categorization of trades into these groups has been provided in Table 1.

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Categorization by the Public Health Department:

For the purpose of inspections, the Public Health Department has categorized the trades requiring a Trade License to the following categories:

Dangerous	Any trade that generates extreme heat, pressure, fire or explosion or produces uncontrolled toxic/flammable mists, fumes, dusts or gases or causes sufficient corrosion or physical deterioration to damage the structural integrity of the premises.
Offensive	An offensive trade is any trade which produces odious or unpleasant product, material or substance, or causes public nuisance.
Dangerous and Offensive	Any trade which is both dangerous and offensive.
Food Related	Any trade dealing with manufacture, storage, sale etc of food products and drinks.
Other	Any trade not classified in the above categories e.g. Lodging Houses, Barber shops/salons.

The categorization of trades into these groups has been provided in Table 1

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Requirements of the City Planning Division

While the City Planning Division has not categorized trades into different groups, it has divided the City of Colombo into various zones and the trades allowed in each zone have been defined.  Additionally, a set of trades which require a machinery permit and a noise level report in addition to the other requirements has been defined.
In Table 1, for each trade, the zones in which it may operate as well as the requirement for machinery permit and noise level report has been defined.

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How to identify requirements for your trade

In order to assist you in identifying the specific requirements for your trade, Table 1 defines the following:

1. The trades which require a trade license (Column 2)

2. The category to which each trade belongs with respect to the requirements of the Fire Services Department (Column 3). The requirements of the Fire Services Department with respect to each category are listed on in this section.

3. The category to which each trade belongs with respect to the requirements of the Public Health Department (Column 4)

4. The zones in which each trade is allowed to operate as per the City of Colombo Development Plan (Column 5).

5. The trades which require a machinery permit and a noise level report (marked with a Y) (Column 6). The requirements of the City Planning Division with respect to each category are listed in this section.

Once you have located your trade from Column 2, you can identify the requirements of the three Departments with respect to your trade, the zones in which you can operate and whether you are required to obtain a machinery permit and a noise level report from Table 1.

It is recommended that you make a thorough study of all requirements listed for your trade and ensure compliance with the same prior to applying for a Trade license.
This document attempts to detail all information required by you for successfully applying for a Trade license. However, in case you find that you have queries or need clarifications, a list of key contact persons has been provided in the next section for your convenience.

Table 1: Categorization of Licensable Trades

Licensable Trades: Categorization for Each Department
		Fire Service	Public Health	Planning
S. No.	Trades	Category	Category	Zone
1	Curing and Grading of Plumbago	Ordinary	Offensive	7
2	Storing of Plumbago	Ordinary	Offensive	6,7
3	Manufacture of Manure	Ordinary	Offensive	7
4	Storing of Manure	Ordinary	Offensive	6,7
5	Storing of Hides	Ordinary	Offensive	6,7
6	Storing of Maldive Fish in quantity exceeding 250Kg's	Light	Offensive	6,7
7	Keeping of Poultry	Light	Offensive	6
8	Quarrying of Metal or Kabook	Ordinary	Offensive	N/A
9	Quarrying of Gravel	Light	Offensive	N/A
10	Keeping a Stable or Shed for Horses or Cattles	Light	Offensive	6,7,8
11	Keeping a Veterinary Infirmary	Light	Offensive	5,6,7,8
12	Curing Rubber	Light	Offensive	7
13	Curing Mica	Ordinary	Offensive	7
14	Keeping a shed or yard for 10 or more heads of sheep or goats	Light	Offensive	6,7
15	Manufacture of tiles concrete pipes or other concrete materials	Light	Offensive	7
16	Curing of cardamoms, fibre, cinnamon by the use of sulphur fumes	Light	Offensive	7
17	Storing of cement exceeding 1250Kg's	Light	Offensive	6,7
18	Milling or drying of scrap rubber	Light	Offensive	7
19	Manufacture of trunks and/or suitcases	Ordinary	Offensive	7
20	Keeping an injector pump servicing station	Ordinary	Other	6,7
21	Manufacture of disinfectants	Ordinary	Offensive	7
22	Keeping an establishment in which tyres are rebuilt or retreated	Light	Offensive	7
23	Storing of cinnamon exceeding 50Kg's	Light	Offensive	6,7
24	Storing of Cocoa exceeding 500Kg's	Light	Offensive	6,7
25	Manufacture and/or storing of furniture	Ordinary	Offensive	6,7
26	Cutting and polishing Gems and Diamonds (by gem dealers)	Ordinary	Offensive	7
27	Storing of rubber by licensed dealers	High	Offensive	6,7
28	Storing of concrete Earthenware pipes	Light	Offensive	6,7
29	Storing and/or Manufacture of Rattan articles	Ordinary	Offensive	6,7
30	Keeping a weaving mill where mechanical power is used	High	Offensive	7
31	Milling of flour of curry stuffs	Ordinary	Offensive	5,6,7,8
32	Storing grain over 1000Kg's for commercial purposes other than for animal food (except a Co-operative Stores)	Light	Offensive	6,7
33	Manufacture of Rubber goods	High	Offensive	7
34	Curing and storing of shark fins	Light	Offensive	6,7
35	Grinding bones by Machinery	Light	Offensive	6,7
36	Manufacture or storing of polythene celluloid perse-petcs	High	Offensive	6,7
37	Storing and/or selling any form of acids and/or chemicals in exceeding 25litres/20Kg's	High	Offensive	6,7
38	Manufacture of Shoes/Shoe Parts and/or Boots	Ordinary	Offensive	7
39	Manufacture of Candles	High	Offensive	7
40	Sawing of timber by the employment of steam water or mechanical power or electrical power	Ordinary	Dangerous	7
41	Manufacture or aerated water/fruit drinks/Sauces	Ordinary	Dangerous	7
42	Keeping of a Copra store	High	Dangerous	6,7
43	Manufacture of Coconut oil by the use of machinery	High	Dangerous	7
44	Manufacture of Gingerly oil by the use of machinery	High	Dangerous	7
45	Keeping of chekky or hand mill for extracting oil	Ordinary	Dangerous	7
46	Manufacture and/or storing of textile	Ordinary	Dangerous	6,7
47	Manufacture of matches	High	Dangerous	7
48	Storing of kapok	High	Dangerous	6,7
49	Storing of coconut oil in quantity exceeding 225 litres	High	Dangerous	6,7
50	Storing of methylated spirits	High	Dangerous	6,7
51	Manufacture of Acetylene or Oxygen	High	Dangerous	7
52	Keeping a store or yard for storing more than 500 Tiles	Light	Dangerous	6,7
53	Keeping a a store or yard for storing more than 250 Bricks	Light	Dangerous	6,7
54	Keeping a store or yard for storing more than 250 Kabook	Light	Dangerous	6,7
55	Manufacture of Cigarettes	High	Dangerous	7
56	Manufacture and/or storing and/or selling Beedies and/or cigars	High	Dangerous	6,7
57	Storing of wooden chests in quantity exceeding 250 Kg's	Ordinary	Dangerous	6,7
58	Manufacture of coir	High	Dangerous	7
59	Manufacture of confectionery	Ordinary	Dangerous	5,6,7,8
60	Storing coal or coconut shell charcoal in quantity exceeding 50 Kg's	High	Offensive	6,7
61	Manufacture of Boats & Barges	High	Dangerous	6,7
62	Manufacture of Repairing Wooden Chests	Ordinary	Dangerous	7
63	Keeping an establishment other than a garage where motor vehicles are repaired and where iron and metal work is done	Ordinary	Dangerous	5,6,7,8
64	Keeping an establishment other than a garage where motor vehicles are repaired in oxygen welding and electrical welding work is done	Ordinary	Dangerous	6,7
65	Keeping an establishment in which motor vehicles are re-repaired	Ordinary	Dangerous	6,7
66	Keeping an establishment in which motor vehicles are serviced	Ordinary	Dangerous	6,7
67	Keeping a printing press where mechanical power is used (number of employees of which is more than 25)	Ordinary	Dangerous	5,6,7,8
68	Storing of Oil to any description other than coconut oil in quantity exceeding 50Kg's	High	Dangerous	6,7
69	Storing of Sulphur and/or sulphur dust in quantity exceeding 50 Kg's	High	Dangerous	6,7
70	Manufacture of paint and/or varnish	High	Dangerous	7
71	Storing of cartridges in quantity exceeding 100 Nos	High	Dangerous	7
72	Manufacture and/or storing Coir or Kapok mattresses or pillows or cushions	High	Dangerous	6,7
73	Storing of more than 50 new tyres or tubes	High	Dangerous	6,7
74	Keeping an establishment where spray painting is done	Ordinary	Dangerous	6,7
75	Keeping an establishment for repairing mechanical refrigeration and air condition machines (other than electricity operations)	Ordinary	Dangerous	5,6,7,8
76	Keeping an establishment for stitching garments by using mechanical or electrical power	High	Dangerous	2,3,4,5,6,7,8
77	Keeping an establishment where shirt collars and cuff are tucked	Ordinary	Dangerous	2,3,4,5,6,7,8
78	Keeping an establishment other than a garage where mechanical power is used and in which electro plating is done	Ordinary	D&O	7
79	Manufacture, store or selling of Gas/Coal gas	High	D&O	6,7
80	Keeping an establishment where carbon dioxide is manufactured	High	D&O	6
81	Melting of Metal Ore	High	D&O	7
82	Storing of crackers (fire works)	High	D&O	6,7
83	Storing of gun powder weighing more than 2 Kg's	High	D&O	6,7
84	Storing of fats, waxes or resin	High	D&O	6,7
85	Manufacture of floor polish	Ordinary	D&O	7
86	Running an establishment for distillation of tar	High	D&O	7
87	Running an establishment for repairing, reconditioning or testing refrigerators or air conditions	Ordinary	D&O	5,6,7,8
88	Running an establishment where motor cars are assembled	Ordinary	D&O	6,7
89	Running an establishment where cycles or scooters are assembled	Ordinary	D&O	6,7
90	Melting of offal or animal blood	Ordinary	D&O	7
91	Running an establishment for manufacture of soap	High	D&O	7
92	Running an establishment for boiling oil	High	D&O	7
93	Running an establishment where clothes are dyed	Ordinary	D&O	7
94	Running a tannery	Ordinary	Food Related	7
95	Manufacturing and selling of herbal drink	Light	D&O	7
96	Manufacture of sago	Ordinary	D&O	7
97	Manufacture of gun powder	High	D&O	N/A
98	Manufacture of fire works	High	D&O	7
99	Keeping a store or yard of hay	High	Offensive	7
100	Keeping a store of bones	Light	Offensive	7
101	Keeping a store or yard for storing inflammable oil	High	D&O	7
102	Manufacture and or storing of papadam	Light	Offensive	6,7
103	Keeping a Hotel	Ordinary	Food Related	1,4,5,6,7 & 8
104