diff --git a/hbd/server/cli.py b/hbd/server/cli.py
index 9bb01f2..23b35b8 100644
--- a/hbd/server/cli.py
+++ b/hbd/server/cli.py
@@ -75,6 +75,20 @@ def build_parser():
         help="Notification title (default: '[LEVEL] test')",
     )
 
+    # --- stop ---
+    stop_p = subparsers.add_parser("stop", help="Stop the running hbd instance")
+    stop_p.add_argument("-c", "--config", dest="configfile", help="Config file path (YAML)")
+
+    # --- reload ---
+    reload_p = subparsers.add_parser("reload", help="Reload configuration (SIGHUP)")
+    reload_p.add_argument("-c", "--config", dest="configfile", help="Config file path (YAML)")
+
+    # --- restart ---
+    restart_p = subparsers.add_parser("restart", help="Restart the running hbd instance")
+    restart_p.add_argument("-c", "--config", dest="configfile", help="Config file path (YAML)")
+    restart_p.add_argument("-f", "--foreground", action="store_true", help="Run in foreground after restart")
+    restart_p.add_argument("-v", "--verbose", action="store_true", help="Verbose output after restart")
+
     return parser
 
 
@@ -154,6 +168,96 @@ def cmd_notify(args):
         sys.exit(1)
 
 
+def _read_pid(configfile) -> int | None:
+    """Return the PID from the pidfile, or None if not found / not running."""
+    import os
+    config = load_config(configfile)
+    pidfile = config.get("pidfile", "")
+    if not pidfile:
+        print("Error: no pidfile configured.", file=sys.stderr)
+        return None
+    try:
+        with open(pidfile) as f:
+            pid = int(f.read().strip())
+        # Verify process is actually running
+        os.kill(pid, 0)
+        return pid
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        print(f"PID file not found ({pidfile}). Is hbd running?", file=sys.stderr)
+        return None
+    except ProcessLookupError:
+        print(f"PID file exists but process {pid} is not running.", file=sys.stderr)
+        return None
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Error reading pidfile: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return None
+
+
+def cmd_stop(args):
+    import os, signal as _signal, time
+    pid = _read_pid(args.configfile)
+    if pid is None:
+        sys.exit(1)
+    print(f"Stopping hbd (pid {pid})...")
+    os.kill(pid, _signal.SIGTERM)
+    # Wait up to 10 s for the process to exit
+    for _ in range(20):
+        time.sleep(0.5)
+        try:
+            os.kill(pid, 0)
+        except ProcessLookupError:
+            print("hbd stopped.")
+            return
+    print("Warning: hbd did not stop within 10 seconds.", file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(1)
+
+
+def cmd_reload(args):
+    import os, signal as _signal
+    pid = _read_pid(args.configfile)
+    if pid is None:
+        sys.exit(1)
+    print(f"Sending SIGHUP to hbd (pid {pid})...")
+    os.kill(pid, _signal.SIGHUP)
+    print("Reload signal sent.")
+
+
+def cmd_restart(args):
+    import os, signal as _signal, time, subprocess
+    pid = _read_pid(args.configfile)
+    if pid is not None:
+        print(f"Stopping hbd (pid {pid})...")
+        os.kill(pid, _signal.SIGTERM)
+        for _ in range(20):
+            time.sleep(0.5)
+            try:
+                os.kill(pid, 0)
+            except ProcessLookupError:
+                print("hbd stopped.")
+                break
+        else:
+            print("Warning: hbd did not stop within 10 seconds.", file=sys.stderr)
+            sys.exit(1)
+    else:
+        print("hbd does not appear to be running — starting fresh.")
+
+    # Re-launch hbd with the same config
+    cmd = [sys.executable, "-m", "hbd.server.cli", "serve"]
+    if args.configfile:
+        cmd += ["-c", args.configfile]
+    if getattr(args, "foreground", False):
+        cmd += ["-f"]
+    if getattr(args, "verbose", False):
+        cmd += ["-v"]
+
+    if getattr(args, "foreground", False):
+        # Run in foreground — replace current process
+        os.execv(sys.executable, cmd)
+    else:
+        subprocess.Popen(cmd, start_new_session=True)
+        print("hbd restarted.")
+
+
 def main(argv=None):
     parser = build_parser()
     args = parser.parse_args(argv)
@@ -166,6 +270,18 @@ def main(argv=None):
         cmd_notify(args)
         return
 
+    if args.command == "stop":
+        cmd_stop(args)
+        return
+
+    if args.command == "reload":
+        cmd_reload(args)
+        return
+
+    if args.command == "restart":
+        cmd_restart(args)
+        return
+
     # Default: run the server (supports both `hbd serve ...` and `hbd ...`)
     config = load_config(args.configfile)
 
diff --git a/hbd/server/config.py b/hbd/server/config.py
index f1e445e..494ac81 100644
--- a/hbd/server/config.py
+++ b/hbd/server/config.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ SERVER_DEFAULTS = {
 
     # Persistence
     "pickfile": os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".hb.pick"),  # File to store host state between restarts
+    "pidfile": os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".hb.pid"),    # PID file for stop/restart/reload
 
     # Logging
     "logfile": os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".hb.log"),
diff --git a/hbd/server/main.py b/hbd/server/main.py
index 85cb201..9488ac9 100644
--- a/hbd/server/main.py
+++ b/hbd/server/main.py
@@ -475,6 +475,16 @@ def run(config, config_path=None):
 
     notify_mod.initlog(logfile=config.get("logfile", "messages.log"))
     users_mod.load_users(config)
+
+    # Write pidfile
+    pidfile = config.get("pidfile", "")
+    if pidfile:
+        try:
+            with open(pidfile, "w") as f:
+                f.write(str(os.getpid()))
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("Failed to write pidfile %s: %s", pidfile, e)
+
     eventlog(None, "INFO", f"hbd version {__version__} starting up")
     
     if config_path:
@@ -497,6 +507,12 @@ def run(config, config_path=None):
         logger.info("hbd shutdown complete")
         eventlog(None, "INFO", f"hbd version {__version__} shutdown")
         notify_mod.closelog()
+        # Remove pidfile
+        if pidfile:
+            try:
+                os.unlink(pidfile)
+            except Exception:
+                pass
         # Explicitly close the loop
         try:
             # Cancel all remaining tasks