The Municipal Council Manali on March 31, 2026, issued the Municipal Council Manali Erection, Exhibition, Affixation of Advertisement and Hoarding Bye-laws 2025.
The Municipal Council Manali has notified the Erection, Exhibition, Affixation of Advertisement and Hoarding Bye-Laws 2025 under Sections 202 and 217 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act, 1994. The bye-laws were published in the Rajpatra (Extraordinary), Himachal Pradesh, and came into force upon publication. Since no public objections were received within the stipulated 30-day period, the bye-laws have been finalised and made applicable within the entire jurisdiction of Municipal Council Manali.
The bye-laws establish a comprehensive framework requiring prior written permission from the Sr. Executive Officer/Executive Officer/Secretary for erection, exhibition, or affixation of any advertisement hoarding on any land, building, wall, vehicle, or structure within the municipal area. Applications must be submitted with location and size details, followed by spot inspection and fee assessment before permission is granted. Permissions are time-specific, and hoardings must display the sanctioned location, date, and period. All existing bye-laws on advertisement hoardings stand repealed and superseded by these new bye-laws.
The key provisions are as stated:
Mandatory Permission: No advertisement hoarding can be erected, exhibited, or affixed anywhere in the municipal area without written permission — applicable to private individuals, public sector undertakings, and government agencies alike. Exception: Central/State Government hoardings highlighting government achievements do not require permission.
Size & Location Restrictions: Hoardings must not exceed the size fixed by the Municipality. They are prohibited in heritage areas, valley-side above road level, rooftops, sharp/blind curves, near water sources, trees, drains, fire hydrants, and garbage containers.
Aesthetic Preservation: All hoardings must be installed in a manner that preserves the scenic beauty, aesthetics, and hill views of Manali.
Vehicle Hoardings: Persons displaying advertisements on vehicles must carry the original permission and affix a copy on the windscreen, to be shown to authorised officers on inspection.
Penalty for Unauthorised Hoardings: ₹1,000 per square feet per day from the date of erection until removal. Repeated violations may result in disconnection of water, electricity, and other civic amenities, and withdrawal of building sanctions.
Non-Payment of Fees: If fees remain unpaid for hoardings on private land/buildings, the Authorised Officer may withdraw civic amenities and request cancellation of sanctions granted by other authorities.
Compounding of Offences: Offences may be compounded (settled) by the authorised officer before prosecution, on payment of a specified amount.
Summary Trial: Non-compounded offences shall be tried summarily by the Special Judicial Magistrate 1st Class having jurisdiction over the municipal area.
Special Circumstances: The Authorised Officer may, in exceptional or larger public interest cases, permit hoardings related to social, state, or national interest for a maximum of 7 days, including in Core/Heritage areas.
[Notification No. MCM/535]
