When does a small homestay need a fire NOC?

When its state asks for one at any size, as Goa does for every Tourism registration since 13 January 2026 and Shillong since 26 September 2024, or when the building crosses the state's line, such as 12 m in Uttarakhand, 21 m in Karnataka or 1,000 m² in Kerala. Below those, the homestay scheme's fire kit applies instead.

Is a fire NOC mandatory for homestay registration in Goa?

Yes. Goa Online's registration service lists a valid NOC from the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services as document 1, for new registration and renewal, following the Tourism order of 13 January 2026. The Initial NOC itself is free.

How many fire extinguishers does a homestay need?

It depends on the scheme. Uttarakhand asks for one fire appliance per room; Goa's Annexure III one extinguisher up to 50 m² and two up to 100 m²; the Ministry of Tourism makes one mandatory only for Gold units. Himachal and Uttar Pradesh name equipment without a count.

Does a Kerala homestay need a fire NOC?

Only above 1,000 m² of built-up area or 15 m in height. Between 300 and 1,000 m² the owner files an Appendix L self-declaration instead. The Tourism classification itself asks nothing on fire.

Do homestays in Uttarakhand need a fire NOC?

Registration under the 2026 Rules asks for one fire appliance per room, not a NOC. A NOC follows only when the building is a residential building of 12 m or more, or crosses the Act's other lines.

How much does a fire NOC cost for a homestay?

Often nothing: Goa's Initial NOC and the NOCs in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and Uttarakhand are free. Meghalaya charges A1 lodging ₹4 per m² and ₹500 a year. Tourism registration usually costs more: from ₹1,000 for 5 years in Uttarakhand to ₹18,000 a year for a Diamond homestay in Himachal.

Does a bed and breakfast in Delhi need a fire NOC?

Delhi Fire Service's certificate applies to guest houses above 12 m or 4 storeys. The draft B&B policy of May 2026 asked for DFS norms and an ABC extinguisher, but it was a draft, and a Bill to repeal the 2007 B&B Act followed in August 2026.

Fire NOC by building 29 min read

Fire NOC for a homestay or B&B: the state lines, the scheme rules and the fire kit

Updated October 2026By Flamekite Editorial DeskFacts checked against official sources on 25 October 2026

Quick answer

Most small homestays sit below the fire NOC line of 12 to 21 m or 1,000 m². Goa and Shillong want a NOC for every homestay; other states ask for extinguishers. Goa's Tourism order of 13 January 2026 lists a fire NOC for every homestay registration and renewal, and Meghalaya's notification of 26 September 2024 does the same for Shillong.

Elsewhere the homestay scheme sets the fire kit: one fire appliance per room in Uttarakhand, basic fire equipment in Himachal, fire-department-approved equipment in Uttar Pradesh, an extinguisher for a Gold unit under the Ministry of Tourism's standards. The building still needs a NOC once it crosses its state's height or area line, such as 12 m in Uttarakhand or 1,000 m² in Kerala.

States that want a NOC for every homestay: Goa and Shillong; Goa since 13 January 2026; Shillong since 26 September 2024; The 8 tests
Uttarakhand homestay fire kit: 1 appliance per room; Rule 4(7), notification 531 of 5 June 2026; Kit by state
Family dwelling exempt from fire norms: Up to 20 persons; Ladakh Schedule I, sub-division A2; The A-1 and A-2 line
Kerala homestay above 300 m²: Appendix L; A full NOC above 1,000 m² or 15 m; State lines

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Homestay fire NOC at a glance: 10 facts

Where a homestay's fire duty comes from and what it asks, with the instrument behind each fact. Last verified 25 October 2026.
What	The rule	Source
Who issues a fire NOC	The state fire service; the Tourism Department registers the homestay and, in some states, asks for the NOC first	Goa Tourism order
How fire rules class a homestay	Lodging house (A1), which Ladakh's 2025 Schedule I says "includes inns, clubs, motels, guest houses and home stays"	Gazette notification S.O. 140
The family-dwelling exemption	A one or two-family dwelling sleeping 20 or fewer, with at most 3 per rented room, is "exempted from fire safety norms" in Ladakh's Schedule I	Gazette notification S.O. 140
Goa	"Valid NOC from Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services" is document 1 for a homestay's registration or renewal on Goa Online	Goa Online TOU03
Shillong	Hotels, lodges, homestays and resorts in Shillong city and adjoining areas need a compulsory fire NOC (notification HPL.127/2023/43, 26 September 2024)	HPL.127/2023/43
Uttarakhand	One fire appliance per room (rule 4(7)); a homestay or B&B has at most 8 rooms and 24 beds	UTDB rules 2026
Uttar Pradesh	Fire safety equipment approved by the fire department is mandatory (para 4.1.4), and the District Fire Officer sits on the district committee	UP Tourism G.O.
Himachal Pradesh	"Basic fire equipments" in the units (rule 8(9)); none of the 7 registration documents is a fire NOC	HP Home Stay Rules
Ministry of Tourism standards	Fire extinguisher or firefighting system mandatory for Gold, desirable for Silver; smoke or heat detectors desirable for both (items 37 and 35)	Ministry of Tourism
Kerala	No fire item in the classification; under the building rules a homestay above 300 m² self-declares on Appendix L and needs a NOC above 1,000 m² or 15 m	KMBR amendment 2025

Homestay schemes in 11 states and the Centre: what each says on fire

Each tourism scheme's size cap, its own fire condition and whether Tourism asks for a fire NOC, read from the scheme on 24 or 25 October 2026.
Option	Scheme and date	Size cap	Fire condition in the scheme	Fire NOC asked by Tourism	Source
Goa	Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act 1982; Tourism order of 13 January 2026	Not stated on the TOU03 page	Form XXIII asks for fire-fighting or hydrant details "if any"; a fire self-declaration form is also offered	Yes, document 1, new and renewal	Goa Online TOU03
Meghalaya (Shillong)	Home (Police) notification of 26 September 2024	Any size	Not a tourism rule: the fire service's own notification	The fire service requires it in Shillong and adjoining areas	HPL.127/2023/43
Uttarakhand	Tourism and Travel Business Registration Rules 2026, No. 531 of 5 June 2026	8 rooms, 24 beds	One fire appliance per room (rule 4(7))	No	UTDB rules 2026
Himachal Pradesh	Home Stay Rules 2025, 25 June 2025	6 rooms, 12 beds	Basic fire equipment (rule 8(9))	No, not among the 7 documents	HP Home Stay Rules
Uttar Pradesh	Homestay and B&B Policy 2025, G.O. of 9 June 2025, amended to 16 June 2026	8 rooms, 16 beds since 16 June 2026	Fire safety equipment approved by the fire department (para 4.1.4)	No; the District Fire Officer or a nominee sits on the inspecting committee	UP Tourism G.O.
Karnataka	Guidelines for Registration of Homestay Establishments 2025, G.O. TOR 133 TDO 2025	6 rooms, 12 beds	Fire safety "followed without fail" (condition 9); fire authority contacts displayed (condition 17)	No	Karnataka Tourism G.O.
Kerala	Classification, G.O.(Ms) 324/15/TSM of 21 December 2015 and 03/2020/TSM	6 rooms	None in the guidelines or the marked checklist	No	Kerala Tourism G.O.
Sikkim	Registration of Tourist Trade Rules 2025, Form IV	1 to 5 rooms	None on the homestay form; a B&B must meet local fire regulations (rule 29)	No for a homestay; the B&B form asks for a fire NOC	Sikkim Tourist Trade Rules
Ladakh	Homestay Policy 2023, notification of 22 October 2023	1 to 6 rooms	Application asks for fire equipment details "if any"	No	Ladakh Tourism
Delhi (draft)	Draft Delhi Bed & Breakfast Policy 2026, circular of 26 May 2026	8 rooms, 16 beds	Delhi Fire Service norms; an ABC fire extinguisher in Gold and Silver	Not stated; the policy was a draft for comment	Delhi Tourism draft
Tamil Nadu	G.O.(Ms) No.242 of 7 July 2026, amending G.O.Ms.105 of 2022	Homestay 6 rooms (12 beds), B&B 8 rooms (16 beds)	None in the 2026 amendment; the 2022 base guidelines were not read	Not confirmed	TN G.O.(Ms) 242
Centre: Incredible India B&B and Homestay	Ministry of Tourism standards, 10 December 2018; corrigendum 3 January 2019	6 rooms, 12 beds	Extinguisher mandatory for Gold, desirable for Silver; detectors desirable	No; the application asks for fire-fighting details "if any"	Ministry of Tourism

Fire safety for a homestay in 8 steps, from the tape measure to renewal

Measure the building, not the rooms
Note the height from ground to the top floor, the number of storeys and the built-up area of all floors together. Most state lines are 12 m, 15 m, 21 m, 500 m² or 1,000 m²; only Ladakh's kit tables and Goa's officer allocation count rooms.
Count the beds and decide A-1 or A-2
A family dwelling sleeping 20 or fewer, with at most 3 guests a rented room, is A-2 under NBC-style schedules such as Ladakh's and Meghalaya's fee table. More, or run as lodging, is A-1.
Read your state's homestay scheme for its fire clause
Use the scheme table above: Goa and Shillong need a NOC at any size, Uttarakhand one appliance per room, Uttar Pradesh fire-department-approved equipment, Himachal basic equipment.
Fit the kit before the inspection
Fit the extinguishers your scheme names (one appliance per room in Uttarakhand, 1 or 2 by area in Goa), keep exits clear, and display the fire service's number for guests, as Karnataka requires.
Apply for the fire NOC where the line or the scheme asks
In Goa through the Initial NOC service on Goa Online; in Shillong through Invest Meghalaya. Below every line, keep the scheme's self-declaration or equipment proof instead.
Register with Tourism and upload the fire paper
Upload the NOC, the self-declaration or the equipment photographs the scheme asks for, with the ownership and ID documents.
Keep the escape route and the records
Do not let more rooms than registered, keep exits unlocked while guests are in, and keep extinguisher service tags and a drill note.
Diary both renewals
Tourism registration and the fire NOC expire on different dates: for example 3 years for UP registration and 5 years for a Goa fire NOC.

Homestay or family dwelling? The A-1 and A-2 line in fire rules

Fire rules built on the National Building Code split homes that take guests into two classes. Which one a homestay falls in decides whether fire norms apply at all.

Word for word

If rooms in a private dwelling are rented to outsiders, these shall be for accommodating not more than three persons per room. If sleeping accommodation for more than 20 persons is provided in any one residential building, it shall be classified as a building in Subdivision A1 or Subdivision A4 as the case may be. The subdivision is exempted from fire safety norms.

Schedule I, Group A, Sub-Division A2 (One or Two family Private dwellings), Ladakh Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2025 (S.O. 140 of 28 November 2025) Gazette notification S.O. 140

The same Schedule names home stays in A1, lodging and rooming houses, with inns, clubs, motels and guest houses, and sizes their kit by rooms: extinguishers at any size, a first-aid hose reel above 15 rooms, a manual alarm above 30 rooms in buildings of more than 2 storeys. Meghalaya's fee schedule uses the same split: A2 dwellings sleeping 20 or fewer are "not applicable", A1 lodging up to 40 persons pays ₹4 per m². Most state Acts do not spell the split out. Flamekite's reading: a fire officer will treat a family home letting 2 or 3 rooms as a dwelling, and a house run for guests, or one sleeping more than 20, as lodging.

Does your homestay need a fire NOC? 8 tests in order

Run the tests from the top; the first one that fits gives the answer.

If The homestay is in Goa and you register or renew with the Tourism Department
Yes. Since the order of 13 January 2026 a valid DFES NOC is document 1 on Goa Online, for new registration and renewal. Fire NOC Goa Goa Tourism order
If The homestay is in Shillong city or its adjoining areas
Yes, at any size, under Meghalaya's notification HPL.127/2023/43 of 26 September 2024. Fire NOC Meghalaya HPL.127/2023/43
If The building is 12 m or taller in Uttarakhand
Yes: section 15(4), as amended by Act 06 of 2022, covers residential buildings of 12 m or more. Delhi and Himachal draw their guest-house lines just above 12 m; see the table below. Fire NOC Uttarakhand Uttarakhand Gazette 2022
If The building is above 1,000 m² or 15 m in Kerala, or 300 to 1,000 m²
Above the line, a Kerala Fire and Rescue Services NOC; between 300 and 1,000 m² up to 15 m, the Appendix L self-declaration with an engineer's or architect's certificate. Fire NOC Kerala KMBR amendment 2025
If The building is 21 m or taller in Karnataka
Yes: section 13(3) catches every high-rise of 21 m or more, whatever its use. Below it, condition 9 of the homestay guidelines still asks for fire safety. Fire NOC Karnataka Government of Karnataka
If The homestay is in Uttar Pradesh and under 15 m
Rule 42 exempts residential buildings below 15 m but leaves hotels and guest houses out. The policy calls registered units wholly residential; ask the District Fire Officer which reading applies. Fire NOC UP UP Rules 2024
If The home sleeps 20 or fewer and lets at most 3 guests a room, in a state on NBC-style schedules
A-2 dwelling: exempt from fire norms in Ladakh's Schedule I. Keep the scheme's kit anyway; the scheme is a separate duty. Fire NOC Ladakh Gazette notification S.O. 140
If None of the above
No NOC is likely, but the tourism scheme's fire kit still applies. Check the building against your state's line in the table below or with the free checker. Do I need a fire NOC? UTDB rules 2026

Fire NOC lines a homestay building can cross, in 13 states

The line comes from the state's fire law, not the tourism scheme. The right column works one typical homestay through each: ground plus 1, about 7 m, 400 m² built-up, 6 rooms, 12 beds.

	Line in the state's fire law	A G+1, 400 m², 6-room homestay
Goa DFES Goa charter	Hotels, restaurants and public places at any size, and buildings over 15 m (2014 section 13 notification)	Fire NOC needed for Tourism registration since 13 January 2026
Meghalaya (Shillong) HPL.127/2023/43	Every hotel, lodge, homestay and resort in Shillong and adjoining areas	Fire NOC needed; valid 3 years
Kerala KMBR amendment 2025	Over 1,000 m² built-up or over 15 m (rule 5(4)); 300 to 1,000 m² self-declare	No NOC; Appendix L self-declaration, as 400 m² is above 300 m²
Uttarakhand Uttarakhand Gazette 2022	Residential buildings of 12 m or more (section 15(4)); listed uses above 12 m and 500 m²	No NOC at 7 m; 6 fire appliances, one per room
Himachal Pradesh HP Home notification	Hotels and guest houses above 12 m or ground plus 3 (2019 notification); any building above 15 m (section 15-A)	No NOC; basic fire equipment under the Home Stay Rules
Delhi DFS	Hotels and guest houses above 12 m or 4 storeys; residential above 15 m or 5 storeys (Rule 27)	No Fire Safety Certificate at G+1
Uttar Pradesh UP Rules 2024	Over 15 m, special occupancies, mixed use over 500 m² (section 26(3)); Rule 42 exempts homes below 15 m, not hotels	Not settled: residential or guest house; fire-department-approved kit either way
Karnataka Government of Karnataka	High-rise of 21 m or more, any use (section 13(3))	No NOC; fire safety under condition 9
Sikkim Sikkim Gazette 226	Above 15 m; listed non-residential classes at any size (section 24(3))	No NOC found for a village homestay
Ladakh Gazette notification S.O. 140	A1 lodging, home stays included: kit by rooms up to 15 m; A2 dwelling of 20 or fewer exempt	A1 if run as lodging: extinguishers, 1.25 m stair, exit signs, emergency lights
Jammu and Kashmir J&K Gazette	Hotels (C3, C4) at any size under bye-law 2.18(2); C2 guest houses not named	Not confirmed for a homestay
Tamil Nadu TNCDBR 2019	Over 18.30 m for the Director's NOC (TNCDBR rule 39(11)(iii))	No NOC at G+1
Telangana TSDRFS circular 2016	Lodging and rooming houses above 18 m (2016 renewal circular)	No NOC at G+1

Heights are measured as each instrument says, usually from ground level to the top floor's terrace. A homestay inside a taller apartment block takes the block's line, not its own. The worked column is Flamekite's reading, not an officer's decision.

Fire safety equipment homestay schemes require, item by item

What each scheme or fire rule names for a small homestay, as written. Where two apply, fit both.

Uttarakhand: "protected with fire safety equipment (one fire appliance per room)", rule 4(7) of the 2026 Rules: 8 appliances for an 8-room homestay. UTDB rules 2026
Himachal Pradesh: "basic fire equipments in the Home Stay units", rule 8(9), also mandatory item 16 of Annexure III, part A. HP Home Stay Rules
Uttar Pradesh: fire safety equipment approved by the fire department, and at least 3 working CCTV cameras keeping 15 days of recording since 7 January 2026 (90 days before). UP Tourism G.O.
Ministry of Tourism, item 37: fire extinguisher or firefighting system, mandatory for Gold, desirable for Silver. Item 35: smoke or heat detectors, desirable for both. Ministry of Tourism
Delhi draft policy: an ABC-type fire extinguisher and a first aid kit under Safety and Security, in both the Gold and the Silver category. Delhi Tourism draft
Goa, Annexure III: 1 ABC dry powder extinguisher of 4 or 6 kg or 1 CO2 extinguisher of 4.5 kg to IS 2190 up to 50 m²; 2 from 50 to 100 m²; 1 more with a commercial LPG cylinder. DFES Goa charter
Karnataka: fire safety measures "followed without fail" (condition 9), and fire authority contacts displayed and given to guests at check-in (condition 17). Karnataka Tourism G.O.
Ladakh A1 lodging up to 15 rooms: extinguishers, a staircase at least 1.25 m wide, photoluminescent exit signs within 30 m, emergency lights on the escape route and a yearly fire drill. Gazette notification S.O. 140
Every application form read (Goa Form XXIII, Himachal Annexure I, Ladakh Annexure 1, the Ministry's Annexure I) asks for fire-fighting equipment or hydrant details "if any": fill it in, with photographs. Goa Form XXIII

Four ways a homestay's fire safety gets signed off

Who looks at the fire kit differs by state. A homestay meets 1 of these 4 routes, sometimes 2.

Full NOC
A fire service NOC after inspection
Goa for every Tourism registration since 13 January 2026, Shillong since 26 September 2024, and any homestay building above its state's line. Goa Tourism order
Self-declaration
A declaration filed with the fire service or the licence
Goa's Annexure III declaration on ₹100 stamp paper for premises up to 100 m²; Kerala's Appendix L for 300 to 1,000 m² up to 15 m, copied to the fire station. KMBR amendment 2025
Inspection by a committee
Tourism inspects, with or without a fire officer
Uttar Pradesh's district committee includes the District Fire Officer or a nominee. The Ministry of Tourism's Regional Classification Committee has no fire member: Indiatourism, IATO, TAAI, an IHM and State Tourism. UP Tourism G.O.
Equipment only
The scheme names the kit and Tourism checks it
Uttarakhand's one appliance per room, Himachal's basic fire equipment and Karnataka's condition 9, checked at the registration inspection. UTDB rules 2026

Uttar Pradesh homestay registration and the District Fire Officer: 6 stops

Uttar Pradesh is the one scheme read that puts a fire officer on the inspecting committee. The route under the 2025 policy as amended to 16 June 2026:

1. Apply on the UP Tourism portal
Upload ID, ownership proof, a self-declaration affidavit and the police NOC (para 4.1.6). The local-body NOC in Form V was suspended on 7 January 2026. UP Tourism G.O.
2. Tourism Directorate review
The Directorate checks the file and forwards it online to the district office (para 4.2.1). UP Tourism G.O.
3. District committee inspection
Chaired by the District Magistrate, with the Superintendent of Police, the zonal or executive officer, the District Fire Officer or a nominee, and the senior tourism officer as member secretary (para 4.2.3). UP Tourism G.O.
4. Recommendation within 60 days
The 2025 policy gave 90 days; 30 from 25 August 2025; 60 from 7 January 2026, after which the file reaches the Directorate on its own. UP Tourism G.O.
5. Registration for 3 years
Fee ₹2,000 Silver or ₹3,000 Gold; ₹100 for rural homestays and dormitories. Since 16 June 2026 the unit renews itself on the portal from 3 months before expiry. UP Tourism G.O.
6. Cancellation on an adverse report
Breach of the policy or of the safety standards set for tourists ends the registration on the district administration's adverse report (para 4.5). UP Tourism G.O.

Homestay fire NOC and registration fees from official schedules

Fire services charge little or nothing for a small homestay; the tourism registration is usually the bigger fee. Only published rates are listed.

As published

Goa Initial NOCFree"No fees is charged towards issuance of Initial NOC" Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services, Goa
Goa licence fee for lodging₹10 per m²Where lodging exceeds 50 persons; the schedule gives no rate below that Goa Gazette 2022
Goa Annexure III self-declaration₹100 stamp paperPremises up to 100 m² DFES Goa charter
Meghalaya, A1 lodging up to 40 persons₹4 per m², then ₹500 a yearA2 dwellings sleeping 20 or fewer: not applicable Meghalaya F&ES
Fire NOC in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and UttarakhandNilUP portal, HP checklist, and Uttarakhand's first two NOCs UP Fire dashboard
Goa homestay or B&B registration₹1,000Gold or Silver, category D (2021 Rules) Goa Gazette 2021
Uttarakhand homestay or B&B registration₹1,000 or ₹5,000Valid 5 years UTDB rules 2026
Uttar Pradesh homestay or B&B registration₹2,000 or ₹3,000Silver or Gold; ₹100 for rural homestays since 25 August 2025; 3 years UP Tourism G.O.
Himachal homestay registration₹3,000 to ₹18,000 a yearBy category and area HP Home Stay Rules
Kerala homestay classification₹3,750Valid 3 years Kerala Tourism
Tamil Nadu B&B or homestay registration₹8,000 or ₹13,500 for 5 yearsSilver or Gold; ₹15,000 or ₹18,500 for 7 years; ₹5,000 a month if renewal is late TN G.O.(Ms) 242
Ministry of Tourism classification₹3,000 or ₹5,000Silver or Gold; valid 2 years Ministry of Tourism

Extinguisher, detector and installer prices are not set by any state and are not given here. Karnataka's homestay fee is "as notified by the Government" and no notification was found. Fees for other states' fire NOCs are on the fees page.

Six homestays worked through: Goa, Kerala, Shillong, Uttarakhand, UP, Coorg

Flamekite's reading of the instruments for 6 typical homestays; the fire officer's decision on your building prevails.

Case 1
A 4-room homestay in Assagao, Goa
Owner's house, ground plus 1, 250 m², registering with Tourism.
What applies A DFES NOC is document 1 on Goa Online. At 250 m² the Annexure III self-declaration, written for premises up to 100 m², does not fit, so apply for the NOC: lodging under 15 m and up to 15 rooms goes to the Assistant Divisional Officer, 10 days. Tourism fee ₹1,000. Goa Online TOU03
Case 2
A 6-room homestay near Munnar, Kerala
Two floors, 420 m² built-up, about 7 m, in a panchayat.
What applies Below 1,000 m² and 15 m, so no NOC; above 300 m², so an Appendix L self-declaration with an engineer's certificate, copied to the fire station. Classification costs ₹3,750 and asks nothing on fire. KMBR amendment 2025
Case 3
A 3-room homestay in Laitumkhrah, Shillong
Family house, 8 guests at most.
What applies A fire NOC is compulsory in Shillong at any size. Sleeping 20 or fewer it is an A2 dwelling, which the fee table marks not applicable; what DFES charges such a homestay is not published. The NOC runs 3 years. HPL.127/2023/43
Case 4
An 8-room homestay near Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand
Rural Nainital, 4 storeys stepped down a slope, 13 m.
What applies 8 fire appliances, one per room, for registration. At 13 m it crosses the 12 m residential line of section 15(4), so a fire NOC is needed too, in Flamekite's reading of a homestay as a residential building. Uttarakhand Gazette 2022
Case 5
A 6-room B&B in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Ground plus 2, 10 m, urban, owner resident.
What applies Fire-department-approved equipment and 3 CCTV cameras, inspected by the district committee with the District Fire Officer. Whether Rule 42's residential exemption below 15 m covers it is not settled: ask in writing. Fee ₹2,000 or ₹3,000. UP Tourism G.O.
Case 6
A 6-room plantation homestay in Coorg, Karnataka
Owner's bungalow and a cottage on the same survey number, 12 beds, 8 m.
What applies Far below the 21 m line: no NOC. Condition 9's fire safety, CCTV at reception with 30 days of footage, and the fire authority's contacts on display. Karnataka Tourism G.O.

Penalties a homestay owner faces for fire and registration lapses

The tourism penalties are small and certain; the fire Act penalties are larger and rarer. The heaviest is Meghalaya's: up to 2 years or ₹1 lakh.

Offence	Penalty	Law
Running a homestay or B&B without registration in Uttarakhand	₹10,000, then ₹1,000 a day while it continues	Rule 14, Tourism and Travel Business Registration Rules 2026 UTDB rules 2026
Contravening the NOC section of the Uttarakhand fire Act	Fine up to ₹1 lakh plus up to ₹5,000 a day; jail up to 2 years in the English text, 10 in the Hindi	Section 21, Act 37 of 2016 Government of Uttarakhand
Not taking precautions a Goa section 13 notification requires	Penalty up to ₹10,000	Goa Fire Force Act 1986, section 21 as substituted in December 2025 Goa Ordinance 4 of 2025
Fire systems found not working at a Goa inspection	NOC revoked after a hearing	Notification of 23 June 2025, clause 3(b) Government of Goa, Official Gazette Series II No. 14, 3 July 2025
Breaching the Meghalaya fire Act, the Shillong NOC duty included	Up to 2 years, a fine up to ₹1 lakh, or both	Section 20(1), Act 5 of 2012 Meghalaya Act 5 of 2012
Breaching the UP policy or tourist safety standards	Registration cancelled on the district administration's adverse report	Para 4.5, UP Homestay and B&B Policy 2025 UP Tourism G.O.
Running a Himachal homestay against the rules	Penal action under the Tourism Development and Registration Act, 2002	Rule 11(2), Home Stay Rules 2025 HP Home Stay Rules
Not telling the Ministry of Tourism of a change in facilities within 30 days	Classification withdrawn	Para 13, Ministry of Tourism standards of 2018 Ministry of Tourism

Penalties under each state's whole fire Act are on the penalties page. A death in a fire also brings criminal charges outside these laws, as the Delhi case of June 2026 shows.

Homestay fire traps where tourism papers and fire law disagree

7 places where the two regimes do not line up, read on 25 October 2026, each with the fix.

If Goa Online lists a DFES NOC as document 1, yet its downloads offer a "Self Declaration towards Fire NOC" for 1 or 2 extinguishers
The form is the Annexure III one, for premises up to 100 m². Above that, apply for the NOC; at any size, ask the Deputy Director (Trade) in writing which paper Tourism accepts. Goa fire self-declaration
If Uttar Pradesh's policy calls a registered unit wholly residential, while Rule 42's exemption below 15 m leaves hotels and guest houses out
Ask the District Fire Officer on the committee in writing whether your unit is treated as a residence or as a guest house. UP Rules 2024
If Kerala's classification says nothing on fire, so owners assume no fire duty
The building rules still apply: above 300 m² file Appendix L, above 1,000 m² or 15 m get the NOC. KMBR amendment 2025
If Uttarakhand units running before 5 June 2026 must apply under the new rules within 180 days
That window closes on about 2 December 2026. Fit one appliance per room before the inspection. UTDB rules 2026
If Letting more rooms than the registration allows
The Delhi B&B where 21 died in June 2026 was reported to hold a permit for 6 rooms and to run 25. Every scheme caps rooms; extra rooms also push a house from A-2 to A-1. Business Todaynews report
If Himachal officers asking for a fire NOC at renewal although the Home Stay Rules list none
Carry rule 8(9) and Annexure II. News reports say the Chief Minister ordered in February 2026 that renewals not be stalled over fire NOCs; no written order was found. HP Home Stay Rules
If Delhi's draft B&B policy asks for Delhi Fire Service norms but was never notified, and a Bill to repeal the 2007 B&B Act was introduced on 7 August 2026
Until a final policy appears, apply the DFS line for guest houses (above 12 m or 4 storeys) and keep an ABC extinguisher. ThePrintnews report

Homestay fire NOC myths set against the rules

6 claims from guides and owners' forums, checked against the instruments.

You may have read
A homestay of up to 6 rooms never needs a fire NOC.
Myth
What the sources say
Goa asks for one at every registration since 13 January 2026, and Shillong for every homestay since 26 September 2024, whatever the size. HPL.127/2023/43
You may have read
The fire NOC turns on the number of rooms.
Myth
What the sources say
Most lines are height or area: 12 m in Uttarakhand, 21 m in Karnataka, 1,000 m² or 15 m in Kerala. Rooms count only in Ladakh's kit tables and in Goa's choice of officer. KMBR amendment 2025
You may have read
Homestay registration costs ₹3,000 Silver or ₹5,000 Gold in every state.
Myth
What the sources say
That is the Ministry of Tourism's fee for its own classification. States set theirs: ₹1,000 in Goa and Uttarakhand, ₹3,750 in Kerala, ₹2,000 or ₹3,000 in Uttar Pradesh. Ministry of Tourism
You may have read
The Incredible India scheme makes smoke detectors compulsory.
Myth
What the sources say
Item 35 marks smoke or heat detectors desirable for Silver and Gold. Only the extinguisher, item 37, is mandatory, and only for Gold. Ministry of Tourism
You may have read
Himachal needs a fire NOC to register a homestay.
Myth
What the sources say
The Home Stay Rules 2025 ask for basic fire equipment; none of the 7 documents in Annexure II is a fire NOC. HP Home Stay Rules
You may have read
A homestay is a hotel for fire purposes.
Myth
What the sources say
NBC-style schedules treat a family home sleeping 20 or fewer as an A-2 dwelling, exempt in Ladakh's Schedule I; a homestay run as lodging is A-1, not a hotel (A-5). Gazette notification S.O. 140

Homestay fire terms: A-1, A-2, Appendix L, Annexure III and more

6 terms a homestay owner meets in the fire and tourism papers.

A-1 lodging or rooming house: Separate sleeping rooms let on a transient or permanent basis, without individual cooking; Ladakh's 2025 Schedule I names home stays here. Gazette notification S.O. 140
A-2 one or two-family private dwelling: A home of 1 or 2 families sleeping 20 or fewer, at most 3 guests a rented room; exempt from fire norms in Ladakh's Schedule I. Gazette notification S.O. 140
Appendix L: Kerala's self-declaration for buildings of 300 to 1,000 m² up to 15 m, with an architect's or engineer's certificate, copied to the fire station. KMBR amendment 2025
Annexure III: Goa's 2018 extinguisher rule and ₹100 self-declaration for guest houses and temporary structures up to 100 m². DFES Goa charter
Fire appliance: The unit Uttarakhand's 2026 tourism rules count per room in rule 4(7); the rule does not say which appliance, so an extinguisher per room is the practical reading. UTDB rules 2026
Gold and Silver: The 2 Ministry of Tourism categories, also used by Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi's draft; they change the fee and, under the Ministry's checklist, whether an extinguisher is mandatory. Ministry of Tourism

Homestay fire rules from 2018 to 2026

13 dated instruments and events that set where a homestay's fire duty stands today.

17 May 2018
Goa adds Annexure III: extinguishers and a ₹100 self-declaration for small guest houses and temporary structures. DFES Goa charter
10 December 2018
The Ministry of Tourism issues common national standards for Incredible India B&B and homestay establishments; corrigendum on 3 January 2019. Ministry of Tourism
22 October 2023
Ladakh's Homestay Policy: 1 to 6 rooms, fire equipment details "if any". Ladakh Tourism
26 September 2024
Meghalaya makes a fire NOC compulsory for homestays in Shillong and adjoining areas. HPL.127/2023/43
9 June 2025
Uttar Pradesh issues its Homestay and B&B Policy 2025 with fire-department-approved equipment. UP Tourism G.O.
25 June 2025
Himachal's Home Stay Rules: basic fire equipment, no fire NOC among the documents. HP Home Stay Rules
28 November 2025
Ladakh's Fire Safety Rules name home stays in A1 and exempt A2 dwellings. Gazette notification S.O. 140
6 December 2025
25 die in the Arpora nightclub fire in Goa (news reports). PTInews report
10 December 2025
Goa DFES issues fire and life safety guidelines for all occupancies. DFES Goa circular
13 January 2026
Goa Tourism lists a DFES NOC for every homestay registration and renewal. Goa Tourism order
26 May 2026
Delhi publishes a draft B&B policy for 30 days' comment, with DFS norms and an ABC extinguisher. Delhi Tourism draft
5 June 2026
Uttarakhand's 2026 Rules: one fire appliance per room, 180 days for existing units. UTDB rules 2026
16 June 2026
Uttar Pradesh raises the homestay cap to 8 rooms and 16 beds and adds self-renewal. UP Tourism G.O.

Homestay and B&B fires and the 2026 crackdowns, as reported

From news reports, not yet an official source.

News reports, not instruments; each is labelled with its publisher. The rules they led to are in the sections above.

22 August 2025
The Tribune reported Himachal's Chief Minister telling the Assembly he would consider relaxing the fire-equipment NOC condition for homestays in old heritage buildings. The Tribunenews report
8 December 2025
PTI reported 25 dead at the Arpora nightclub, which allegedly lacked a fire department NOC, and an audit of clubs and high-footfall places. PTInews report
16 January 2026
The Goan reported Assembly figures: DFES issued fire NOCs to 7 homestays in 2023, 2 in 2024 and 0 in 2025, against 1,479 guest houses in 2025. The Goannews report
January 2026
The Goan reported that residential flats and villas used for tourism must also bring a NOC from their housing society or residents' association. The Goannews report
2 February 2026
News Arena India reported Himachal's homestay portal launch and an instruction that renewals not be stalled over fire NOCs. News Arena Indianews report
4 June 2026
Business Today reported that the Malviya Nagar B&B where 21 died held a permit for 6 rooms and allegedly ran 25 without a fire NOC, and that Delhi would withdraw its B&B scheme. Business Todaynews report
7 August 2026
ThePrint reported the Delhi Bed and Breakfast Establishments (Repeal) Bill, 2026 introduced in the Assembly. ThePrintnews report

Homestays and their fire rules in numbers

Official counts behind the scale of the homestay fire question.

5,855
Registered homestay units in Himachal Pradesh, December 2025 HP Tourism statistics
23,874
Rooms in those Himachal homestays HP Tourism statistics
1,055
Homestays listed in Leh district District Leh
38
Items on the Ministry of Tourism checklist; 2 of them on fire Ministry of Tourism
20
Persons a family dwelling may sleep and stay A-2, exempt in Ladakh Gazette notification S.O. 140
180 days
For existing Uttarakhand units to register under the 2026 Rules UTDB rules 2026

Where a homestay owner files: tourism and fire portals

6 official portals, each with what you do there.

Goa Tourism
Goa Online service TOU03
Register or renew a homestay or B&B; the DFES NOC and the society NOC are uploaded here; 90 days to decide. Goa Online TOU03
goaonline.gov.in/Appln/Uil/DeptServices?__DocId=TOU&__ServiceId=TOU03
Goa fire
Goa Online service FES91
Apply for the DFES Initial NOC, the first step to the NOC Tourism asks for. Goa Online
goaonline.gov.in/Appln/Uil/DeptServices?__DocId=FES&__ServiceId=FES91
Uttar Pradesh
UP Tourism portal
Apply under the Homestay and B&B Policy 2025, with the documents of para 4.1.6. UP Tourism portal
up-tourismportal.in
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand travel trade registration
Register a homestay or B&B under the 2026 Rules, with the rules in English and Hindi. UTDB rules 2026
uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/travel-trade-registration
Kerala
Kerala Tourism homestay classification
Apply online for classification; ₹3,750, 3 years. Kerala Tourism
www.keralatourism.org/cls/homestays/guidelines.php
Meghalaya fire
Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services
Links to the Invest Meghalaya services for a Fire Safety Certificate, the route for a Shillong homestay. Fire and Emergency Services, Meghalaya
megfireservice.gov.in

Running a fire-safe homestay: dos and don'ts from the rules

Habits the instruments ask for, beyond the kit.

Do

Display the fire service's contacts and give them to guests at check-in, as Karnataka's condition 17 requires. Karnataka Tourism G.O.
Keep exits unlocked and escape corridors clear while guests are in, as Goa's December 2025 guidelines ask of all occupancies. Goa DIP release
Run a fire drill once a year and display the fire order on each floor, as Ladakh's A1 table asks. Gazette notification S.O. 140
Tell the Ministry of Tourism of any change in facilities within 30 days if you hold its classification. Ministry of Tourism
Keep at most 3 guests a rented room in a family dwelling, the A-2 condition in Ladakh's Schedule I. Gazette notification S.O. 140

Don’t

Don't store or use more than 50 kg of commercial LPG in Goa without a prior DFES NOC and an IS 6044 installation. DFES Goa charter
Don't change exits, partitions or wiring that affect escape in Goa without DFES approval. Goa DIP release
Don't let rooms beyond your registration: 6 in Karnataka, Kerala and Himachal, 8 in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka Tourism G.O.
Don't leave the "fire-fighting equipment, if any" field blank: an empty answer tells the inspector there is none. Goa Form XXIII

What Flamekite could not confirm about homestay fire rules

8 points no official source we read settles, as of 25 October 2026.

Which fire paper Goa Tourism accepts from a small homestay: the TOU03 list says a valid DFES NOC, while the same page offers the Annexure III self-declaration. No written instruction was found.

What DFES Goa charges a homestay sleeping 50 or fewer: the fee schedule prices lodging only above 50 persons.

Whether Uttar Pradesh treats a registered homestay as residential, and so exempt below 15 m under Rule 42, or as a guest house.

Jammu and Kashmir's homestay and paying guest house guidelines of July 2022 were reported in the press; the order and any fire clause were not found, and the J&K Tourism registration site did not connect on 25 October 2026.

Rajasthan's Homestay (Paying Guest House) Scheme 2026 and West Bengal's Homestay Policy 2026 were described only by secondary sites; no official text with a fire clause was found.

Tamil Nadu's 2022 B&B and homestay guidelines (G.O.Ms.105), the base the 2026 amendment changes, were not read; Karnataka's homestay fee is "as notified" and no notification was found.

Which kind of "fire appliance" Uttarakhand's rule 4(7) means: the rule does not say.

Whether Delhi's draft B&B policy will be notified, and what happens to the 2007 Act's registrations if the repeal Bill passes.

Questions about fire NOC for homestays

When does a small homestay need a fire NOC?: When its state asks for one at any size, as Goa does for every Tourism registration since 13 January 2026 and Shillong since 26 September 2024, or when the building crosses the state's line, such as 12 m in Uttarakhand, 21 m in Karnataka or 1,000 m² in Kerala. Below those, the homestay scheme's fire kit applies instead.
Is a fire NOC mandatory for homestay registration in Goa?: Yes. Goa Online's registration service lists a valid NOC from the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services as document 1, for new registration and renewal, following the Tourism order of 13 January 2026. The Initial NOC itself is free.
How many fire extinguishers does a homestay need?: It depends on the scheme. Uttarakhand asks for one fire appliance per room; Goa's Annexure III one extinguisher up to 50 m² and two up to 100 m²; the Ministry of Tourism makes one mandatory only for Gold units. Himachal and Uttar Pradesh name equipment without a count.
Does a Kerala homestay need a fire NOC?: Only above 1,000 m² of built-up area or 15 m in height. Between 300 and 1,000 m² the owner files an Appendix L self-declaration instead. The Tourism classification itself asks nothing on fire.
Do homestays in Uttarakhand need a fire NOC?: Registration under the 2026 Rules asks for one fire appliance per room, not a NOC. A NOC follows only when the building is a residential building of 12 m or more, or crosses the Act's other lines.
How much does a fire NOC cost for a homestay?: Often nothing: Goa's Initial NOC and the NOCs in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and Uttarakhand are free. Meghalaya charges A1 lodging ₹4 per m² and ₹500 a year. Tourism registration usually costs more: from ₹1,000 for 5 years in Uttarakhand to ₹18,000 a year for a Diamond homestay in Himachal.
Does a bed and breakfast in Delhi need a fire NOC?: Delhi Fire Service's certificate applies to guest houses above 12 m or 4 storeys. The draft B&B policy of May 2026 asked for DFS norms and an ABC extinguisher, but it was a draft, and a Bill to repeal the 2007 B&B Act followed in August 2026.

Keep reading

Fire NOCWhat a fire NOC is, who issues it and the 36-state map.
Fire NOC in GoaDFES stages, the 15 m line and Annexure III in full.
Fire audit in GoaThe January and July certificate and the checks after Arpora.
Fire NOC in KeralaKMBR rule 5(4), Appendix L and the fee table.
Fire NOC in UttarakhandThe 12 m line and the low-rise kits of June 2025.
Fire NOC in Himachal PradeshHotels above 12 m, the free NOC and the Home Stay Rules.
Fire NOC in MeghalayaThe Shillong notification and the fee annexures.
Fire NOC in LadakhSchedule I kits for guest houses and homestays by rooms.

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