Starting a pet clinic in Delhi requires suitable premises, a qualified and registered veterinary practitioner, appropriate medical facilities and compliance with the registrations applicable to veterinary practice and clinic operations.
The requirements can differ depending on whether you plan to operate a basic consultation clinic, diagnostic facility, vaccination centre, surgical facility, inpatient facility or a clinic with pharmacy and imaging services. Therefore, it is important to identify the applicable registrations before starting operations.
At Remind Legal LLP, we assist businesses with registrations, documentation and regulatory compliance required for setting up a pet clinic in Delhi.
Planning to start a pet clinic in Delhi? Get professional assistance with the applicable registrations and compliance requirements.
A pet clinic provides veterinary healthcare services and may involve medical treatment, medicines, diagnostic procedures, biomedical waste and specialised equipment.
The Delhi Veterinary Council regulates veterinary practice in the NCT of Delhi and maintains the register of veterinary practitioners. Veterinary doctors practising in Delhi are required to be registered with the Delhi Veterinary Council under the applicable framework.
The clinic may also be subject to municipal, biomedical-waste, drug-control, environmental and other requirements depending on its activities.
Step 1: Choose Business Structure
The first step is to choose a suitable legal structure for your pet clinic.
Common options include: -
The choice basically depends on factors such as ownership, liability, investment, taxation and future expansion plans.
Step 2: Complete PAN, TAN & Basic Business Registration
Obtain PAN for the proprietor or business entity, as applicable, for the taxation and business-related transactions.
If you establish an LLP or company, complete the applicable incorporation process and obtain the relevant incorporation documents.
TAN, Where Applicable
TAN is not required simply because you operate a pet clinic. It applies only when the business must deduct or collect tax at source (TDS/TCS) under applicable tax provisions.
Step 3: Ensure a Qualified Veterinary Doctor & Delhi Veterinary Council Registration
A pet clinic should have appropriately qualified veterinary professionals providing veterinary services.
The Delhi Veterinary Council was established to regulate veterinary practice in the NCT of Delhi and provides for registration of veterinary practitioners. The Delhi Government also states that veterinary doctors registered with the Veterinary Council of India and practising or serving in Delhi need to register with the Delhi Veterinary Council.
Therefore, the veterinary practitioner associated with the clinic should hold the required recognised veterinary qualification and applicable registration.
Step 4: Select a Suitable Clinic Premises
Choose premises suitable for the proposed veterinary services.
The premises should provide adequate space and arrangements for: -
If the clinic will provide surgery, inpatient care, diagnostic imaging or other specialised services, additional premises and equipment requirements may apply.
Before taking the premises on rent or purchase, it is advisable to verify whether the proposed veterinary activity is permitted at that location.
Step 5: Obtain Health Trade Licence / MCD Permission, Where Applicable
Depending on the nature of the clinic, premises and applicable municipal requirements, a Health Trade Licence or other MCD permission may be required.
MCD operates a Health Trade Licensing framework for specified trades covered under its public-health policy. The applicable requirement should therefore be assessed based on the exact nature of the veterinary clinic and its premises.
The clinic should not assume that every veterinary establishment falls under exactly the same municipal licensing category.
Step 6: Complete PC-PNDT Registration, Where Applicable
Delhi's official PC-PNDT framework specifically provides for registration of veterinary clinics and the Delhi Government's PC-PNDT portal lists veterinary-clinic registration under the applicable framework.
Therefore, where the clinic falls within the applicable PC-PNDT registration requirements, the required registration should be obtained before undertaking the relevant services.
This is particularly important where the clinic uses applicable ultrasound or imaging equipment covered by the regulatory framework.
The clinic should also comply with applicable record-keeping and equipment-related requirements.
Step 7: Comply with Biomedical Waste Management Requirements, Where Applicable
A veterinary clinic can generate biomedical waste through activities such as treatment, injections, dressings, blood or sample collection, sharps and animal anatomical waste.
DPCC specifically lists veterinary institutions, dispensaries and animal houses within its biomedical-waste framework and provides for authorisation under the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules.
Where applicable, the clinic should obtain the required Biomedical Waste Management Authorisation and ensure proper segregation, storage, collection and disposal of biomedical waste through the prescribed system.
Step 8: Obtain Drug Licence, Where Applicable
A separate Drug Licence may be required where the clinic stocks, dispenses or sells medicines in the circumstances that are covered by the applicable drug-control requirements.
The requirement should be assessed based on how medicines are stored, supplied and dispensed by the clinic.
A consultation-only veterinary practice should not automatically be treated as requiring every category of drug licence.
Step 9: GST Registration, Where Applicable
GST Registration should be obtained where required under the applicable GST provisions.
The requirement depends on factors such as turnover, nature of supplies and other compulsory-registration provisions.
The GST treatment should be assessed based on the actual services and supplies provided by the clinic.
Step 10: Fire Safety Compliance, Where Applicable
A Fire Safety NOC/Fire Safety Certificate, where applicable, should be obtained based on the premises, building, size and nature of the clinic.
Additional fire-safety considerations may arise where the clinic has: -
The applicable requirements should be assessed before commencing operations.
Step 11: DPCC Compliance, Where Applicable
DPCC compliance should be assessed depending on the nature and scale of the veterinary clinic, its waste generation, equipment and other activities falling within the applicable pollution-control framework.
Biomedical-waste compliance is particularly relevant to veterinary healthcare establishments and DPCC maintains a specific biomedical-waste framework for healthcare establishments, including veterinary institutions and dispensaries.
A small consultation clinic should not automatically be represented as requiring every category of DPCC consent.
Step 12: Labour Compliance, Where Applicable
If the pet clinic employs veterinary assistants, receptionists, attendants, cleaners or other staff, it should comply with applicable labour requirements.
Depending on the establishment and workforce, this may include requirements relating to: -
Step 13: EPF & ESI, Where Applicable
EPF and ESI requirements depend on the establishment, employee strength and other applicable statutory conditions.
They are therefore where-applicable requirements and are not mandatory merely because the business operates a pet clinic.
Step 14: Udyam Registration – Recommended for Eligible MSMEs
If the pet clinic qualifies as a Micro, Small or Medium Enterprise, it can consider Udyam Registration.
Udyam Registration is not mandatory merely because the business operates a veterinary clinic. However, eligible MSMEs may consider registration for applicable government benefits and schemes.
Step 15: Trademark Registration – Optional but Advisable
Trademark Registration is optional but highly advisable if the pet clinic operates under its own brand name or logo.
A registered trademark can help to protect the clinic's brand identity and also minimize the risk of others using a similar or identical name or mark for the related services.
Additional requirements may apply if the pet clinic provides specialised services.
For example: -
The Delhi Government separately provides registration services for pet shops and dog-breeding centres, so these activities should be treated separately if the business intends to undertake them.
Documents Required
The documents required depend on the business structure, premises, veterinary services and applicable registrations.
Basic Documents
Business Registration Documents
Veterinary Professional Documents
Clinic & Compliance Documents
A properly established pet clinic can help entrepreneurs: -
Estimated Timeline
The overall timeline depends on the type of registrations required, completeness of documentation and processing time taken by the respective government authorities.
Since different registrations and approvals are issued by separate departments, the time required may vary depending on the nature, size and services of your pet clinic.
Government Fees
Government fees vary depending on the applicable registration, licence category and regulations applicable at the time of application.
Professional fees depend on the scope of services required and the specific compliance requirements of your pet clinic.
Starting a pet clinic involves coordinating veterinary-practice, municipal, biomedical-waste, drug-control, tax and other applicable regulatory requirements.
Remind Legal LLP can assist businesses with identifying applicable registrations, preparing documentation and completing the required compliance process for setting up a pet clinic in Delhi.
Our Services Include: -
Planning to start a pet clinic in Delhi? Get professional assistance with the applicable registrations and compliance requirements.