The picture on the first page of the Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Scheme 2008 depicts a quintessential Himachali home located by a river. On its slate stone roof, built in the traditional Kath-kuni style, corn is drying. The image also shows people harvesting grains in their fields, cascading hills, and snowy mountaintops on the horizon.
The 2008 homestay scheme was modelled on the “Incredible India Bed & Breakfast Scheme” and aimed to expand the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh by alleviating pressure on popular destinations such as Shimla, Dharamshala, and Manali.
Under this scheme, only homeowners residing in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh—specifically regions outside the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporations, Nagar Parishads, and Nagar Panchayats—were eligible to register their homestays.
While the scheme contributed to broadening the tourism base and strengthening the rural economy, the extent of its impact remains debated. However, it is true that the scheme has facilitated self-employment opportunities with minimal investment.
The registration fee for a homestay with the Department of Tourism & Civil Aviation of Himachal Pradesh was only ₹100. Since 2021, registration and renewal have been conducted through the e-services portal of Himachal Tourism.
In theory, applicants could register their homestays online via phone or computer by submitting an application through the portal. In practice, however, the portal is not mobile-friendly, making document upload process notoriously difficult on phones. Even on computers, slow server response causes long loading times.
In rural Himachal, where internet speeds are slow, submitting applications the e-services portal is nearly impossible. Therefore, the applicants often visit a Lok-Mitra Kendra to submit their applications in person.
Lok-Mitra Kendras typically charge a convenience fee of ₹200 to ₹300, in addition to the government’s ₹100 application fee. After submission, an official from the Department of Tourism & Civil Aviation conducts a field visit.
The official submits a field visit report and recommendation to the District Tourism Development Officer (DTDO). If approved by DTDO, the homestay is registered with the Department.
Despite minimal government marketing and support, the homestay sector experienced unprecedented growth following the scheme’s introduction.
The Department has still not published a list of approved homestays under the scheme, although this was mandated. Similarly, training programs for homestay owners and staff, which the Department and DTDOs were responsible for conducting, have rarely taken place.
These training programs, conducted through the Himachal Consultancy Organisation (HIMCON), have yielded little significant impact. Whenever funds are available, HIMCON is repeatedly awarded the contract, almost as a formality.
More capable organisations, such as the Institute of Hotel Management Kufri, have not been given opportunities to conduct these trainings.
One objective of the homestay scheme was to promote ecologically sustainable tourism. The scheme’s Objective 2(e) states that “the activity shall be ecologically sustainable.” However, it remains unclear what this entails practically or how homestay owners are expected to achieve and maintain sustainability.
Draft Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025
Despite the rapid increase in homestay units, the sector remained largely unregulated. The 2008 registration guidelines were not codified into law. Initially, only three rooms per homestay were permitted, later increased to four.
Despite this cap, many homestay owners rent out 6 to 8 rooms, and in Kinnaur, one owner reportedly rents 16 rooms. This unregulated expansion has led hotel associations across the state to lobby for stricter regulation.
The draft Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025, were published in the state Gazette on February 14, 2025, with a 15-day public comment period.
Unlike the 2008 scheme, the draft rules broaden eligibility to include:
- Bonafide Himachalis owning a home in the state,
- Residents living in Himachal Pradesh for over 20 years,
- Individuals with permanent homes in Himachal Pradesh but residing elsewhere for work or business.
This expansion includes non-Himachalis who own flats in urban areas like Shimla and Dharamshala.
The draft rules faced strong opposition from homestay owners, who raised concerns about a significant increase in registration and renewal fees (a 2900% hike), the imposition of GST, and commercial rates for water and electricity.
Here is an overview of the Homestay rules 2025 proposed in the draft:
| Section | Key Provisions |
| Title & Scope | Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025. Applicable all across Himachal Pradesh. |
| Room size | Minimum room size (double: 120 sq. ft., single: 100 sq. ft.), bathroom/toilet: 30 sq. ft. |
| Urban Area | Municipal corporation, municipal councils, Nagar Parishad/Panchayats and areas within 50 meters of national highways. |
| Eligibility | → Any owner of a home in good condition can apply online for registration. → NOC from RWA (Resident Welfare Association) required for apartments/flats. → Structure stability certificate by registered professional needed. → Minimum 1, maximum 6 rooms (12 single beds) per homestay; each room with attached toilet (rural areas may allow separate toilets). → Family suites allowed (max 3 suites, 4 beds each, not exceeding 12 beds total). |
| Registration | → Application via e-Services Portal of Himachal Tourism. → Site inspection for facilities, hygiene, safety, etc. → Registration certificate issued for 1 or 3 years. → Existing homestays under previous schemes must re-register within 30 days. → Registration mandatory before operation. → Application disposed of within 60 days (excluding time for applicant’s corrections). |
| Registration Fees | → 4-6 rooms: MC limit ₹12,000, TCP/SADA/NP ₹8,000, Gram Panchayat ₹6,000 per annum → 1-3 rooms: MC ₹8,000, TCP/SADA/NP ₹5,000, Gram Panchayat ₹3,000 per annum → Renewal fee same as registration. → 10% discount for 3-year payment. → Additional 5% discount for women owners. |
| Renewal | → Renewal required every 1 or 3 years. → Processed via e-Services Portal. → Old certificate and renewal fee to be submitted. → Government may issue further guidelines considering online ratings/reviews. |
| Other Provisions | → Home stays in rural areas may have separate (not attached) toilets. → Registration for existing units under Central/State schemes valid till expiry of old registration, no fee for this period. → Register of homestays to be maintained by local bodies. → Family suites allowed (up to 3 suites, 4 beds each, within 12-bed cap). |
Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025
The final homestay rules introduced three categories of homestays and corresponding tariff, registration and renewal fees.
| Homestay Category | Tariff of one room | Yearly registration fee in MC area | Yearly registration fee in TCP/SADA/NP area | Yearly registration fee in Gram Panchayat | Renewal fee |
| Diamond | ₹10,000 and above | ₹18,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹10,000 | Same as registration fee |
| Gold | ₹3,000 to ₹10,000 max. | ₹12,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹6,000 | Same as registration fee |
| Silver | ₹3,000 max. | ₹8,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹3,000 | Same as registration fee |
- TCP: Homestays falling under Town & Country Planning area
- SADA: Homestays falling under Special Area Development Authority
- NP: Homestays falling under Nagar Panchayat area
- GSTIN: Registering for GST Identification Number is mandatory for Gold and Diamond Category homestays.
- Commercial tariff of electricity and water will be charged from Gold and Diamond Category homestays.
- Though homeowners can apply for registration under any of three categories, a concerned DTDO or Department official will decide which category of homestay is designated to the applicant based on facilities, room furnishing, location, hygiene, cleanliness, safety and security features.
- Registration and/or renewal can be done for one year or maximum three years. 10% discount is offered if registration or renewal is applied for three years.
- Women applicant will get 15% discount in registration and renewal fee of the homestay.
- Registration fee for Pangi region of Chamba district is 50% of the fee charged for rest of the regions (as mentioned in the above table) of the state.
- The owner of the homestay need not reside in the building registered as a homestay under the Tourism & Civil Aviation Department. But it does not mean that the owner can lease out the property to a third party.
- A home stay owner has to install a firefighting equipment (fire extinguisher) and CCTV camera in common areas (entry, exit, lift and lobby area).
- Apart from area falling under Municipal Corporation (MC), Nagar Parishad and Nagar Panchayats, area falling under 50 meters from National Highway (NH) and Four Lane Highway is also categorised as an Urban Area.
Under the section 8(4), the rule says “The owner may charge the rates as may be appropriate but shall not be exorbitant”. This is in contradiction to the tariff mention under the Diamond Gold and Silver category.
Comparison of Homestay Scheme 2008, Draft Rules, and Final Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025
| Section/Criteria | Homestay Policy 2008 | Homestay Policy 2008 | Final 2025 Rules |
| Scope | Only rural areas | Rural & Urban | Rural & Urban |
| Room Limit | Max 4 rooms | Max 6 rooms/12 beds | Same |
| Tariff Limit | 2500 | No limit | No limit |
| Residency condition | Mandatory residence of owner | No mandatory | No mandatory |
| Registration fee | ₹100 | ₹3K to 12K | ₹3K to 18K |
| Categories | None | Room slabs | Diamond, Gold, Silver (based on room tariff) |
| Training for Owners | Optional | Not included | Not included |
| Incentives | Domestic utility (water & electricity) rates | Domestic utility charges for Silver category homestay only | Retained |
| Safety & Hygiene Standards | Minimal | Safety and hygience checklist inluded (fire safety, RO, CCTV) | Retained |
| Penalties/De-registration | Lighter penalty measures. | Stronger: seizures, inspections | Retained |
Upsides of Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025
- Checklist for Minimum Standards: Enhances guest experience (cleanliness, fire safety, hygiene).
- 15% Discounts for Women: Encourages participation of women in tourism economy.
- The rules have come under Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002. It will bring greater accountability and transparency in the system.
- Provision of CCTV and fire extinguisers in the rules enchace security and safety of the property, guests and homeonwers.
- Incredible India Bed & Breakfast/Homestays owners have to apply under the Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules, 2025.
Downsides
- Owner optional-residency condition: Allowing optional residence of the homeowner in the registered property will lead to poorer guest experience and accountability, especially in remote regions.
- No provision of training in hospitality, hygiene and service.
- Solar power, greywater reuse, eco-building, or plastic-free practices are not mandatory—only suggested.
- No environmental or social impact audits, despite rapid growth of homestays.
- Lacks mechanisms for data collection on tourist load, waste generation, or seasonal impact.
- High registeration and renewal fee will discourage people from registering their property for homestay registeration.
- Himachal Pradesh Home Stay Rules 2025 – June 26, 2025
- HRTC Baggage Policy & Terms Decoded (Tips & Fee Chart) – April 21, 2024
- Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Kinnaur & Spiti Valley (Step-by-Step Guide) – August 3, 2023
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