Page 1 of 12
Exhibit Index on Page 2

FORM 11-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934




(Mark One)

  [X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
        EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED].
             For the fiscal year ended:  December 31, 1996

  OR

  [     ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
        ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED].
             For the transition period from       to



Commission file number     1- 3208

  A.    Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if
        different from that of the issuer named below:

        Selig Chemical Industries Retirement Plan

  B.    Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and
        the address of the principal executive office:

        National Service Industries, Inc.
        1420 Peachtree Street, NE
        Atlanta, Georgia 30309



Page 2

REQUIRED INFORMATION

The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

1.   Financial Statements


     Plan  financial  statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  financial
     reporting requirements of ERISA include the following:

     Report of Independent Public Accountants

     Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 1996 and
     1995

     Statement  of Changes  in Net  Assets  Available  for  Benefits,  with Fund
     Information, for the Year Ended December 31, 1996

     Notes to Financial Statements

2.   Exhibits
                                                             Sequentially
                                                               Numbered
     The following exhibit is filed with this report:            Page

     23     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                        12



SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
trustees (or other persons who administer  the employee  benefit plan) have duly
caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.

                             Selig Chemical Industires Retirement Plan


Date: June 18, 1997           By:   National Service Industries, Inc.
                                    Plan Administrator

                              By:    /s/ James S. Balloun
                              Name:  James S. Balloun
                              Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



Page 3


                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS




To the Plan Administrator of
Selig Chemical Industries Retirement Plan:


We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
of SELIG CHEMICAL  INDUSTRIES  RETIREMENT  PLAN as of December 31, 1996 and 1995
and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits,  with
fund  information,  for the  year  ended  December  31,  1996.  These  financial
statements are the responsibility of the Plan's  management.  Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the changes in net assets  available for benefits
for the year ended  December  31, 1996 in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial  statements taken as a whole. The fund information in the statement of
changes in net assets  available  for benefits is  presented  for the purpose of
additional  analysis rather than to present the changes in net assets  available
for  benefits  of each fund.  The fund  information  has been  subjected  to the
auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and,
in our opinion,  is fairly  stated in all  material  respects in relation to the
basic financial statements taken as a whole.




Atlanta, Georgia
June 12, 1997



Page 4


                 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995








                                                             1996         1995

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVABLE:
    Employer .........................................   $  150,064   $  134,770
    Participant ......................................       35,499       30,652
              Total contributions receivable .........      185,563      165,422
INVESTMENT IN NSI DC TRUST, at fair value (Note 2):
    Balanced Fund ....................................    2,865,407    2,272,074
    Diversified Equity Fund ..........................    2,878,788    2,046,343
    Stable Value Fund ................................    2,764,196    3,206,482
    NSI Stock Fund ...................................      736,018      381,216
    Loan Fund ........................................      328,125      285,742
    International Fund ...............................      142,514       30,092
              Total investment .......................    9,715,048    8,221,949
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS ....................   $9,900,611   $8,387,371







        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.



Page 5

           STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,

                             WITH FUND INFORMATION,

                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996



 
                                               Diversified     Stable      NSI
                                   Balanced      Equity        Value      Stock    Loan   International
                                      Fund        Fund         Fund       Fund     Fund       Fund      Other       Total
                                                                                          

CONTRIBUTIONS:
    Employer ..................... $         0 $        0  $        0  $      0  $      0  $      0    $150,064   $  150,064
    Participant ..................    120,671     161,521      99,358    44,813         0     9,549      35,499      471,411
              Total contributions     120,671     161,521      99,358    44,813         0     9,549     185,563      621,475

NET GAIN FROM INVESTMENT
IN NSI DC TRUST ..................    351,851     472,146     196,335    87,747         0    15,465           0    1,123,544

BENEFITS PAID TO PARTICIPANTS ....    (29,920)    (35,203)   (119,170)  (17,516)  (15,623)  (14,347)          0     (231,779)

INTRAPLAN TRANSFERS ..............     99,876     178,609    (658,730)  222,339    58,006    99,900           0            0

OTHER ............................      1,255       1,343      (2,766)      278         0      (110)          0            0
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) ..........    543,733     778,416    (484,973)  337,661    42,383   110,457     185,563    1,513,240

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
 December 31, 1995 ...............  2,321,674   2,100,372   3,249,169   398,357   285,742    32,057           0    8,387,371
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
 December 31, 1996 ............... $2,865,407  $2,878,788  $2,764,196  $736,018  $328,125  $142,514    $185,563   $9,900,611



  The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.




Page 6

                    SELIG CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES RETIREMENT PLAN


                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995



  1.  PLAN DESCRIPTION

      The  following is a brief  description  of the Selig  Chemical  Industries
      Retirement Plan (the "Plan") of the Selig Chemical Industries Division(the
      "Company") of National Service Industries, Inc. of Georgia, a wholly owned
      subsidiary of National Service Industries, Inc. ("NSI").  This description
      is provided for informational purposes only.  Participants should refer to
      the plan agreement for more complete information.

      General

      The Plan,  as amended  and  restated  effective  September  1, 1989 and as
      further amended through  January 1, 1994, is a defined  contribution  plan
      established under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue
      Code ("IRC").  The Plan covers all salaried and nonunion hourly  employees
      of the Company who have attained the age of 21 and have completed one year
      of service  consisting of at least 1,000 hours of employment.  The Plan is
      subject to the provisions of the Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act
      of 1974, as amended.

      Contributions

      Contributions  are  made by the  Company  and  participants  of the  Plan.
      Participants  may elect to  contribute  between  2% and 15% of  before-tax
      compensation, as defined in the Plan, subject to certain limitations under
      the IRC. The Company  contributes an amount equal to 5% of net profits, as
      defined,  which may be increased by a resolution of the board of directors
      of NSI.  Company  contributions  are  allocated to  participants  who made
      elective  deferrals to the Plan during the plan year,  are employed on the
      last day of the plan year,  and have  completed  one year of  service,  as
      defined.  Allocations  are  made  based  on a  participant's  compensation
      relative to the  compensation of all qualifying  participants to a maximum
      of $40,000 per participant.

      Vesting

      Participants  are always fully vested in their  individual  contributions.
      Vesting of employer  contributions  occurs on an increasing scale, ranging
      from 20% vesting after three years of service, as defined, to 100% vesting
      after seven years of service.  Forfeitures of employer  contributions  are
      allocated  among the remaining  participants in the same manner as company
      contributions.

Page 7


      Administration

     The  responsibility  for  administration  of the Plan rests with the Plan's
     retirement committee,  which is appointed by the board of directors of NSI.
     All administrative expenses of the Plan were paid by the Company during the
     year ended December 31, 1996.

      Participants' Accounts

     Individual  accounts are maintained for each of the Plan's  participants to
     reflect the particular  participant's  contributions  and related  employer
     contributions as well as the  participant's  share of the Plan's income and
     any related administrative expenses.

     The Plan assigns units to its participants.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,
     994,305   and  913,625   units,   respectively,   were   assigned  to  plan
     participants.  Unit  values  for each  investment  fund were as  follows at
     December 31, 1996 and 1995:

                                                      1996          1995

          Balanced Fund ..................      $     26.40   $     22.95
          Diversified Equity Fund ........            12.05         10.57
          Stable Value Fund ..............            11.31         10.59
          NSI Stock Fund .................            14.52         12.39
          International Fund .............             5.01          4.59

      Investment in Master Trust

     Under a trust agreement dated September 1, 1993, as amended,  Wachovia Bank
     of Georgia,  N.A.  was  appointed  trustee of the NSI Defined  Contribution
     Plans Master Trust (the "NSI DC Trust").

     The Plan's  assets are  commingled  in the NSI DC Trust  together  with the
     assets of certain defined  contribution  plans of other NSI divisions.  The
     investments  of the NSI DC Trust  are  subject  to  certain  administrative
     guidelines  and  limitations  as to type and  amount  of  securities  held.
     Certain  fund  assets are  allocated  to  selected  independent  investment
     managers to invest under these general guidelines.

      Investment Options

     The  separate  investment  options  made  available  under  the Plan may be
     changed,  eliminated,  or  modified  from  time to  time by the  investment
     committee of the NSI DC Trust. Participants make their investment elections
     in 5% increments, with changes allowed on a daily basis.

     The separate investment options offered by the Plan are as follows:

     o    Diversified  Equity  Fund.  This  fund  is a  diversified  stock  fund
          designed to invest in a broad range of common stocks providing capital
          growth.

Page 8


     o    Stable Value Fund.  This is a fixed income fund  designed to provide a
          steady  level of current  income  while  focusing on  preservation  of
          principal.

     o    Balanced Fund. This fund is invested in a changing mix of high-quality
          stocks and bonds.  The fund is designed to provide  capital growth and
          current income while limiting the risk of principal loss.

     o    NSI Stock Fund. This fund is invested in NSI common stock, although it
          may hold other short-term investments from time to time. A participant
          may not direct more than 50% of his/her account balance to be invested
          in this fund.

     o    International  Fund.  This fund is  invested  in the stock of non-U.S.
          companies and is designed to provide long-term growth.

      Loans to Participants

      The Plan  permits  loans to  participants  up to the  lesser of 50% of the
      participant's  vested account balance or $50,000.  A participant has up to
      five years to repay the principal and interest, unless the loan is for the
      purchase of a primary  residence,  in which case the repayment period will
      be established at the time the loan is approved.  Loan processing fees are
      charged directly to the participant's account.  Interest rates on loans to
      participants  are  based  on  market  rates,  as  determined  by the  plan
      administrator.

      Benefits

      A participant  is entitled to receive the  distribution  of his/her vested
      account  balance upon death,  disability,  or retirement (age 65 or age 55
      with ten years of  credited  service).  These  benefits  are  payable in a
      lump-sum  amount  or can be  paid  in  installments  at the  participant's
      election.  A participant  who terminated  employment  with the Company for
      reasons other than these is entitled to receive his/her contributions in a
      lump sum as soon as administratively  feasible.  The vested portion of the
      participant's  employer  contributions  is generally  distributable on the
      first day of the first month  following  the later of his/her  termination
      date or sixty-fifth  birthday. If this vested portion is less than $5,500,
      then the  participant  may  elect  to have  his/her  interest  distributed
      immediately in a lump sum.

      Benefits are payable in cash,  except that any portion of a  participant's
      account balance which is invested in the NSI Stock Fund is  distributed in
      the form of shares of NSI common  stock, with  fractional  shares  paid in
      cash.

      Hardship withdrawals  may be made  upon  proven  financial  hardship  of a
      participant, as defined in  the  plan agreement  and  as approved  by  the
      Plan's retirement committee.

      Plan Termination

      Although  the  Company  intends  for the  Plan to be permanent,  the  Plan
      provides that the Company has the right to discontinue contributions or to
      terminate the Plan at any  time.  In the event of plan  termination,  each
      participant shall be vested in the balance of his/her  account and his/her
      proportionate share of any future adjustments or forfeitures.


Page 9


  2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Basis of Accounting

      The accounts of the Plan are  maintained  by the trustee on the cash basis
      of accounting.  The accompanying  financial  statements have been prepared
      using the  accrual  method of  accounting  by  application  of  memorandum
      entries.  The  preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with
      generally accepted accounting principles requires the Plan's management to
      use  estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the  accompanying  financial
      statements  and  disclosures.  Actual  results  could  differ  from  these
      estimates.

      Investment Valuation

      Investments  of the NSI DC Trust,  except  for the  guaranteed  investment
      contracts ("GICs"),  are stated at fair value as determined by the trustee
      from quoted market prices.  Securities  traded on a national  exchange are
      valued at the last  reported  sales price on the last  business day of the
      plan year;  investments traded in the  over-the-counter  market and listed
      securities for which no sale was reported on the last day of the plan year
      are valued at the last reported bid price.

      GICs  included  in the NSI DC Trust are fully  benefit-responsive  and are
      therefore  carried at contract  value (cost plus accrued  interest) in the
      accompanying financial statements in accordance with Statement of Position
      94-4.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,  contract  value  approximates  fair
      value. At December 31, 1996, the weighted average crediting  interest rate
      was 6.74%.  For the year ended  December 31, 1996, the annual yield on the
      GICs held by the NSI DC Trust was 6.9%.  For  certain  of the GICs held by
      the NSI DC Trust,  crediting  interest  rates may be  changed  if  certain
      events occur, such as early retirements,  plant closings,  etc., but in no
      case are  adjusted to a rate less than 0%. GICs are subject to credit risk
      based  on the  ability  of the  insurance  company  to  meet  interest  or
      principal payments, or both, as they become due.


  3.  NSI DC TRUST

      Investment Income

      Investment income of the NSI DC Trust for the year ended December 31, 1996
      is summarized as follows:

             Dividends on common stock ................    $   360,166
             Interest income ..........................      4,320,463
             Net appreciation in fair
             value of common stock ....................      1,031,354
             Net income from mutual fund ..............     10,129,284
             Net income from common/collective trust ..      7,315,993
             Net income from pooled separate account ..        160,826
                     Total investment income ..........    $23,318,086

Page 10

     The  investment  income of the NSI DC Trust for the year ended December 31,
     1996 is allocated among participating plans as follows:

          Selig Chemical Industries Retirement Plan ...    $ 1,123,544
          All other NSI plans .........................     22,194,542
                        Total .........................    $23,318,086

      Net Assets

     The net assets of the NSI DC Trust are as follows at December  31, 1996 and
     1995:

                                                    1996                1995

Mutual fund ..............................     $  63,411,122      $  47,636,487
Common/collective trust ..................        57,558,795         48,146,903
Guaranteed investment contracts ..........        55,187,898         55,129,605
Loans receivable from participants .......         6,828,607          6,104,302
NSI common stock .........................        11,279,289          7,637,554
Money market fund ........................         3,704,985          1,377,443
Pooled separate account ..................         2,723,094            871,467
                                                 200,693,790        166,903,761
Cash .....................................            13,342            127,031
                                                 200,707,132        167,030,792
Accrued investment income ................           100,534             76,779
Adjustments for pending trades ...........          (223,542)          (211,964)
Other ....................................           (54,239)            49,961
Net assets ...............................     $ 200,529,885      $ 166,945,568


     The allocation of the net assets of the NSI DC Trust to participating plans
     is based on participant units and is as follows as of December 31, 1996 and
     1995:

                                          1996                    1995
                                    Amount    Percent      Amount      Percent
  Selig Chemical Industries 
   Retirement Plan ..........   $  9,715,048     4.8%   $  8,221,949       4.9%
  All other plans ...........    190,814,837    95.2     158,723,619      95.1
              Total .........   $200,529,885   100.0%   $166,945,568     100.0%


     Investment in NSI Common Stock

     As  of  December   31,  1996  and  1995,   approximately   5.6%  and  4.6%,
     respectively,  of the NSI DC Trust's net assets were invested in the common
     stock of NSI, a party in interest to the Plan.


Page 11


  4.  TAX STATUS

      The Plan has received a favorable  determination  letter from the Internal
      Revenue Service dated February 14, 1996 stating that the Plan was designed
      in accordance with plan design  requirements as of that date. The Plan has
      been amended since receiving the determination  letter.  However, the plan
      administrator  believes  that the Plan is currently  designed and is being
      operated  in  compliance  with  the  applicable  requirements  of the IRC.
      Therefore, the plan administrator believes that the Plan was qualified and
      that the related trust was tax-exempt as of December 31, 1996 and 1995.