Lucknow: A proposal for a hike in licence fees for hotels, restaurants, nursing homes and commercial units will be tabled at the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) House meeting on Jan 27.The revision covers hospitals, pathology labs, hotels, restaurants and liquor shops with fees set to rise up to five times from April 1, 2026. Public objections were invited and addressed. The final draft will be presented. The proposal was approved at the Sept 2025 House meeting and a later decision was taken in the executive committee meeting.Municipal corporation bye-laws, 2003, require annual licences from April to March for medical facilities, hotels, restaurants, guesthouses, bars, liquor outlets, brick kilns and units within city limits. Fees depend on size and type. Operations without licences are not permitted.LMC data shows 1,800 nursing homes, hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, plus 800 liquor outlets, including English liquor shops, country liquor outlets, beer bars and model shops. Fewer than half hold valid licences. Over 2,000 units require annual renewals.Nursing homes and hospitals fees will double. Hotels and restaurants fees may rise up to 5 times. Pathology labs, liquor shops and beer bars fees will increase.Model liquor shops fees will rise from Rs 60,000 to Rs 85,000 per year. Composite model shops (English liquor and beer) will pay Rs 75,000. Nursing and maternity homes up to 50 beds will go from Rs 7,500 to Rs 13,000 per year. Pathology labs will go from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. Dental clinics will stay at Rs 10,000.Penalties are proposed for late renewals between April 1 and June 30: Rs 1,000 fines from August. Repeat offenders face sealing or confiscation. Stakeholders got 15 days to submit feedback to the municipal commissioner at LMC headquarters on Triloknath Road, Lalbagh.The meeting will address enforcement against unlicensed operations for compliance and regulation. Clearance on January 27 will lead to notification and enforcement from April 2026.
