India Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental (STR / Airbnb / Vrbo / holiday let / vacation rental) regulations for 16 cities and regions in India. Select a location below for current permit requirements, tax obligations, and compliance details.
India at a glance
- Places tracked
- 16 places: 6 active, 8 conditional, 2 restricted
- Licence or registration
- Required in 14 of 15 places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in 9 of 15 places
- National law
- Primarily regulated by state and local laws rather than national; 'homestay' is the common STR term. National rules ›
India short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in India?
In all 16 places we track in India, short-term rentals are allowed, 10 of them with permit conditions or limits.
Do I need a licence for a short-term rental in India?
14 of 15 places we track in India require a licence, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Is there a national short-term rental law in India?
Primarily regulated by state and local laws rather than national; 'homestay' is the common STR term.
Which places in India have the strictest rules?
On our records: Mumbai, Ghaziabad.
Regions in India
India Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in India encompasses 16 tracked jurisdictions: 6 with active regulations, 8 where rentals are allowed with conditions, 2 with restrictions. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
15 of 16 tracked jurisdictions in India require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Tax obligations apply in 13 of 16 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.
Cities with significant restrictions on vacation rentals include Mumbai, Ghaziabad. These jurisdictions typically impose permit caps, zoning limitations, or primary residence requirements.
LawfulStay monitors India STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.