India, July 25 -- In a move aimed at enhancing fire safety measures, the Karnataka Cabinet has approved a proposal to introduce a 1% fire cess on newly constructed multi-storey buildings across the state. The decision comes as the Cabinet approved the new Karnataka Fire (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and marked a key update to the Karnataka Fire Force Act, 1964.

The new levy will apply to both commercial and residential high-rise buildings that are governed by the provisions of the Fire Services Act.

"This cess will be collected from high-rise buildings, hospitals, industrial companies and so on," law minister H K Patil told reporters on July 24. He specified that the cess would be compulsory for all eligible buildings, with the obligation to ...