Last Updated: 10 October 2026

Farm Stay Policy 2026: farmers can run small, regulated homestays on their own farms, earning tourism income without leaving farming^[1][2]
-- Approved by the Punjab Cabinet on 1 May 2026; policy details released on 12 May 2026^[1:1][2:1]
-- Registration online through the Fast-Track Punjab portal; certificate within 21 days^[2:2]

¶ Who can open a farm stay^[2:3]

-- Owner of at least 1 acre; owner or family must live on the property
-- Construction up to 10% of the land; rest stays open and tied to farming
-- 2 to 9 rooms, up to 18 guests at a time; buildings up to 2 storeys or 9 metres

¶ Benefits for operators^[2:4]

-- No separate NOC or change-of-land-use permission needed
-- Electricity at domestic tariff
-- Proposed subsidy of up to 10% of project investment (capped at ₹5 crore) and 75% SGST reimbursement
-- Incentives for solar and biogas systems; extra support possible for organic farming projects
-- Hotel management institutes to train the owner and at least 3 employees

¶ Registration and rules^[2:5]

• Online on the Fast-Track Punjab portal; first registration valid 5 years, renewals in 3-year blocks
• Septic tank or bio-digester mandatory; no untreated wastewater; waste segregation and wet-waste composting
• Foreign guest details to be submitted to authorities within 24 hours

Impact figures (number of farm stays registered, income earned) are not yet published

• Fast-Track Punjab portal: single-window approvals and registrations
• Ranjitgarh Development Authority: eco-tourism around Ranjit Sagar and Shahpur Kandi dams
• Tourism and Culture Boost: year-round local festivals and tourism plan

References:

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1. https://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=220519 (Punjab Govt Press Release, 1 May 2026) ↩︎ ↩︎

2. https://www.thestatesman.com/india/punjab-unveils-farm-stay-policy-to-boost-rural-tourism-1503592891.html (The Statesman, 12 May 2026) ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎