Legal Metrology Dealer Licence for Weights and Measures
If you sell weighing scales, weights, measuring tapes or any other weight or measure, Section 23 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 requires permission from your state’s Controller of Legal Metrology before you sell or even keep them for sale. Since 1 May 2026 the dealer licence is called a registration certificate. We prepare and file the application, then follow it up until the certificate is issued.
What it is
A Legal Metrology dealer licence is the permission a trader needs to buy and sell weights and measures: weighing scales, weights, measuring tapes, volume measures and similar instruments. It keeps unapproved instruments off shop counters.
Section 2(b) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 defines a dealer as a person who carries on the business of buying, selling, supplying or distributing weights or measures, for cash, on credit or on commission. Section 23(1) says no one may sell, or offer, expose or possess for sale, any weight or measure without a registration certificate issued by the Controller. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 replaced the word “licence” with “registration certificate” from 1 May 2026. Under Section 23(2), the form, conditions, period, area and fee come from each state’s Enforcement Rules. In Haryana, these are the Haryana Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011.
Who it applies to
Shops selling weighing instruments
Any shop or showroom that sells weighing scales, weights or measures needs dealer registration before it stocks them. A Ballabgarh hardware store adding kitchen scales and measuring tapes to its shelves is a dealer too.
Distributors, agents and importers
Section 2(b) expressly includes commission agents and importers, and a manufacturer who sells its own instruments to anyone other than a dealer.
Not shops that only use a scale
A kirana shop or jeweller that only uses a scale does not need a dealer licence. Its scale needs verification and stamping under Section 24, and that is all.
Why it matters
Stay clear of Section 46
Section 46 covers selling or keeping weights and measures for sale without registration. From the third offence, fines run from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Win distributorships and orders
Manufacturers appointing a distributor, and institutional buyers placing orders, often ask to see your Legal Metrology certificate first.
Keep inspections short
Officers can inspect your premises. With the certificate and records in order, the visit is short.
Documents required
About the business
- PAN of the business and of the proprietor, partners or directors
- Proof of constitution: certificate of incorporation, partnership deed or proprietorship proof
- GST registration certificate
- Shop or trade licence, where your local body issues one
About the premises
- Ownership proof or rent agreement
- Address proof of the shop or godown
- Photographs of the premises and the applicant
About what you sell
- List of weights and measures you will deal in, with brands
- Dealership or supply letter from the manufacturer
- Copies of the manufacturer’s registration and model approval, where asked
- Self-declaration of compliance with the Act
Dealer registration vs other Legal Metrology approvals
| Approval | Who needs it | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer registration (Section 23) | Anyone buying and selling weights and measures | State Controller of Legal Metrology |
| Manufacturer registration (Section 23) | Anyone making weights and measures | State Controller |
| Repairer registration (Section 23) | Anyone repairing weights and measures for others | State Controller |
| Importer registration (Section 19) | Anyone importing weights or measures | Director of Legal Metrology (Central) |
| LMPC registration (Rule 27) | Packers and importers of pre-packaged goods | Director or Controller |
Here is the catch: these approvals stack. A Faridabad trader who imports electronic weighing scales and sells them to shops needs importer registration with the Director under Section 19 and dealer registration from the state. If it also packs and sells the scales in retail cartons, LMPC registration comes into the picture too.
How it works
List every instrument you will sell
We list the instruments you will sell and check that each is of an approved model under the Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011 and comes from a registered manufacturer or registered importer.
Prepare the state application
We fill the dealer application in your state’s prescribed form and attach the documents and fee.
File with the Controller
The application goes to the Controller through the district Legal Metrology office or the state’s online system, depending on the state.
Get ready for the premises check
An officer may check your premises and records. In practice, most queries are about the product list and supplier papers, so we keep those ready and answer in writing.
Follow the conditions and diarise renewal
Once issued, you follow the conditions written on the certificate and in your state’s rules, such as display and record-keeping. We diarise the expiry date, where your state sets one.
Timelines
Before the first sale
Section 23 bars even offering or keeping weights and measures for sale without registration. Apply before stock arrives.
Check validity under your state’s rules
Section 23(2) leaves the period to the state’s rules. Say a Faridabad distributor also opens a godown in Noida: two Controllers, two sets of rules, possibly two renewal dates.
Watch for state rule changes
States may revise their forms and terms after the 1 May 2026 amendment. We check the current rule before filing.
What happens if you sell without registration
First offence: improvement notice
Under Section 46 as amended from 1 May 2026, selling or possessing for sale without valid registration first draws an improvement notice to set the default right.
Second and later offences
A second offence is liable to a penalty of up to ₹5,000. Subsequent offences carry a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh, which may go up to ₹5 lakh.
Related offences follow the same ladder
Importing without Section 19 registration (Section 38) and manufacturing without registration (Section 45) also start with an improvement notice, then a penalty up to ₹25,000 and ₹20,000 respectively, then fines of ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a Legal Metrology dealer licence?
Anyone who buys, sells, supplies or distributes weights or measures as a business needs one. That covers shops selling weighing scales, distributors, commission agents and importers who sell. Section 23 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 bars selling, offering or even possessing them for sale without a registration certificate, the name used since 1 May 2026. We confirm whether your trade falls within it.
Does a shop that only uses a weighing scale need a dealer licence?
No, dealer registration is only for those who sell weights and measures. A grocery store, sweet shop or jeweller that uses a scale to weigh goods needs the scale verified and stamped by the Legal Metrology department under Section 24 instead. We can help with both if you also sell scales.
Who issues the dealer licence in Haryana?
The Controller of Legal Metrology, Haryana, issues it under the Haryana Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011. Legal Metrology in Haryana sits with the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, which works through district Legal Metrology offices. Every other state has its own Controller and rules. We file with the right office for each premises you operate.
How long is a dealer licence valid?
Your state decides, not the Act. Section 23(2) lets the Controller issue the certificate for the period, area and fee prescribed in the state’s Enforcement Rules. So a dealer in Faridabad and one in Noida may face different renewal cycles. States may also revise their rules after the 1 May 2026 amendment. We check the current position before you apply.
What is the penalty for selling scales without a dealer licence?
A first offence now draws an improvement notice under Section 46, as amended by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 from 1 May 2026. A second offence is liable to a penalty of up to ₹5,000. Subsequent offences carry a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh, up to ₹5 lakh. The notice gives you time to register, and doing it early avoids the higher steps.
Can I sell any brand of weighing scale once I have the licence?
Only instruments of an approved model, made by a registered manufacturer or brought in by a registered importer. Model approval is granted under Section 22 and the Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011. The Controller issues your certificate on conditions set by the state rules, so if you add a new type of instrument, check whether the certificate needs amending. We review your product list at the start.
I import weighing scales. Is a dealer licence enough?
No, an importer of weights or measures must also register with the Director of Legal Metrology under Section 19. Since 1 May 2026, importing without it draws an improvement notice under Section 38, then a penalty up to ₹25,000, then a fine of ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh. Dealer registration then covers selling the scales in your state. We file both together.
Do I need a separate licence for each shop or state?
Yes for each state, because the certificate is issued by that state’s Controller under its own rules and for a stated area of jurisdiction under Section 23(2). Within a state, the rules decide whether a new branch needs an amendment. If you open a branch, ask us before you stock it. We will tell you whether an amendment or a fresh licence is needed.
What records must a licensed dealer keep?
You keep whatever records your state’s Enforcement Rules and the conditions on your certificate require, usually covering instruments received and sold. Keep purchase invoices showing the manufacturer or importer, since each instrument must be of an approved model. Officers can ask to see these during an inspection. We set up a simple format once so day-to-day upkeep is easy.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The government fee for dealer registration is set in a schedule to each state’s Enforcement Rules, so it differs from state to state. We confirm the current fee with the state department before you pay.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what you sell and where your shop or godown is, and we will file your dealer registration with the right Legal Metrology office.