Licences and rules
Does a Kerala homestay need pollution board consent? (2026)
Quick answer
On the Kerala State Pollution Control Board's list dated 8 October 2026, a homestay with up to 6 rooms is in the White category: it needs no consent. A homestay with more than 6 rooms is Green: it needs consent to establish before building and consent to operate before opening.
Where stays fall
| Category | Stays in this category |
|---|---|
| White (no consent) | Homestay up to 6 rooms; lodge without a restaurant, up to 6 rooms; hotel or resort up to 20 rooms using only gas or another clean fuel in the kitchen (with conditions); restaurant up to 100 seats |
| Green | Homestay with more than 6 rooms; hotel, motel or resort up to 20 rooms; hotel with 21 to 100 rooms using clean kitchen fuel (with conditions); restaurant with 101 to 200 seats |
| Orange | Hotel with 21 to 300 rooms; "resorts and house boat" (a 2017 entry still on the list); restaurant above 200 seats |
| Red | Hotel, motel or resort above 300 rooms |
The 2017 "resorts and house boat" entry (Orange) still sits on the list next to the room-based hotel rows. If you run a resort, ask the board which one applies to you.
What White means
White category activities are exempt from consent under the Ministry of Environment's White list (G.S.R. 702(E), November 2024, as amended in July 2026). A homestay with up to 6 rooms does not apply to the board.
What Green means
- Consent to establish before you build. It is valid for 3 years.
- Consent to operate before you open. It is given for 5 years, and for up to 15 years in the Green category if you pay the fee for those years.
- Renewal: apply at least 3 months before it ends. Applying in the last 3 months costs 25% of the consent fee extra; after it has ended, 50%.
- Since 1 November 2025 a renewal is automatic on a self-declaration, except for Red category units, units that need environmental clearance, and temporary consents.
Apply on the board's online consent system (keralapcbonline.com), or through K-SWIFT for a new unit.
Official sources
This is a plain guide, not legal or tax advice. Rules change: check with the office named here before you act.