4-3. Warehousing Business Act (Commercial Warehouse Registration)
The Warehousing Business Act is a law that regulates and supervises businesses operating "commercial warehouses (entrusted storage)," where they hold goods from others and receive storage fees.
Unlike "private warehouses," which store only self-owned goods, it stipulates an obligation to register with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (District Transport Bureau) and strict facility and equipment standards to safely protect the property of the depositor (shipper).
1. Registration Requirements for Commercial Warehouses (Hardware & Software)
To operate as a commercial warehouse, it is necessary to clear all requirements set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ordinance and receive registration.
① Architectural / Facility Aspects (Hardware Requirements)
It is necessary to comply with the "warehouse type standards" described below according to the types of goods to be stored.
- Waterproofing & Moisture-proofing Performance: Structure preventing rain leaks and moisture intrusion from walls and floors.
- Load-bearing Performance: Proof of strength that floor slabs and shelves can withstand the weight of stored goods.
- Crime Prevention: Placement of locking equipment, security cameras, intrusion sensors, etc., to prevent external intrusion.
- Fire Resistance & Fire Prevention: Complies with the Building Standards Act and Fire Service Act, and fire compartments and fire extinguishing equipment are correctly installed (*Submission of the "Certificate of Inspection" for the building confirmation application is mandatory).
② Human / Management Aspects (Software Requirements)
- Appointment of a Warehouse Management Chief: There is an obligation to assign at least one "Warehouse Management Chief" who has certain qualifications and practical experience for each warehouse (or sales office) (supervises fire/theft prevention and safety management of on-site workers).
- No Disqualifying Reasons: The corporate officers, etc., have not been subject to cancellation of registration under the Warehousing Business Act in the past.
2. Types of Warehouses and Storable Goods
Under the Warehousing Business Act, warehouses are mainly classified into the following types according to the characteristics of the cargo to be stored.
3. Procedure and Flow of Commercial Warehouse Registration
Because the examination for commercial warehouse registration takes several months, it must be incorporated into the plan from the initial stages of architecture and design.
4. Penalties for Unregistered Operations (Unauthorized Warehouses)
⚠️ Penalties for Unregistered Operations:
The act of storing other people's goods for a fee without obtaining warehousing business registration is an "unregistered operation," and is subject to "imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine of not more than one million yen (or both)" under the Warehousing Business Act.When a tenant company moving into a rental logistics facility (multi-tenant warehouse) handles cargo of shippers other than itself as a "3PL operator," it must absolutely complete the warehousing business registration on its own for the occupied section.