Factory managements in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu must renew their licences for 2027 by October 31, 2026, or face penalties and possible legal proceedings, the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) has said.
Additional Director of Industrial Safety and Health, Chennai, C. Saravanan issued the instruction to factories operating within the jurisdiction of the four districts. The renewal requirement applies under the Factories Act, 1948, and the Tamil Nadu Factories Rules, 1950.
Factory managements can complete the process online through the DISH portal at dish.tn.gov.in by paying the prescribed fees. Once payment is successfully made, the renewed licence will be generated automatically and can be downloaded from the portal, according to the notice.
The department said factory representatives do not need to visit its offices in person to complete the renewal process. The online procedure is intended to allow establishments to submit applications and obtain their renewed licences digitally.
Applications received after October 31 will attract penalties under the applicable Acts and Rules. The department has advised factory managements to complete the process before the deadline to avoid additional financial liabilities and delays linked to late applications.
The licensing requirement is part of the regulatory framework governing factories in Tamil Nadu. A valid licence is required for covered establishments to operate under the provisions of the Factories Act and the state rules. The process places responsibility on individual factory managements to maintain current licences and comply with the applicable safety and operating regulations.
The notice also carries a direct legal warning. Factories operating without a valid licence will be liable for legal proceedings before the competent court, according to the DISH instruction. The notice does not specify the number of factories covered across the four districts or the amount of penalties that may apply in individual cases.
Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu form a major industrial and employment belt around the metropolitan region, making the deadline relevant to a large number of establishments and their workers. However, the supplied notice does not provide a district-wise list of factories, details of licence categories or a separate schedule for different types of industrial units.
Factory managements have been directed to use the DISH online portal, pay the prescribed fee and download the automatically generated licence after successful payment. The October 31 deadline remains the department’s stated cut-off for renewal for the 2027 licensing year.
