Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

How Much Does a Short-Term Let Licence Cost in Aberdeenshire Council?

Application fees in Aberdeenshire Council run £364–£1,006, plus the safety certificates every Scottish short-term let needs. Confirm current fees on the official council page.

Licence valid 3 years Mandatory since Oct 2023

Licence fees

Aberdeenshire Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
1-2 guests – Home sharing/home letting £364 £331.75
1-2 guests – Secondary letting £481.50 £433.50
3-4 guests – Home sharing/home letting £481.50 £433.50
3-4 guests – Secondary letting £642 £578
5-9 guests – Home sharing/home letting £610 £545.75
5-9 guests – Secondary letting £813.50 £738.50
10-15 guests – Home sharing/home letting £727.75 £652.75
10-15 guests – Secondary letting £909.75 £824
16+ guests – Home sharing/home letting £909.75 £824
16+ guests – Secondary letting £1,006 £920.25
Duplicate/additional copy of an existing licence £53.50 —

Published fee table is split by guest capacity band AND by licence type (home sharing/home letting vs secondary letting). Figures below are exactly as published and are stated to be 'applicable until 31st March 2026' (a new schedule will follow for April 2026 onward, not yet published). Provisional licences for new-build/conversion STLs are charged at the same rate as the secondary-letting new-application column for the relevant capacity band. Duplicate/additional copy of an existing licence: £53.50 flat fee. An earlier version of the fee schedule in the October 2024 policy PDF listed a variation-of-licence/change-of-circumstances fee of £103.90 and a same-day transfer fee of £103.90 — these may since have been uprated in line with the rest of the schedule; the current-year rate for these two specific fees was not found on the live fees page, only in the (now partially superseded) policy PDF.

No separate planning permission needed

Aberdeenshire's own STL Policy Statement (amended October 2024) states explicitly: "As there are currently no Control Areas designated in Aberdeenshire, the planning service will ultimately consider whether any change of use of a house is material and requires planning permission on a case-by-case basis." So there is no blanket planning-permission trigger. Planning permission can still be required case-by-case for: converting/altering a building for secondary letting; siting unconventional accommodation (cabins, pods, yurts); or home-share arrangements depending on number of rooms used and operational period. Notably, any STL premises located within the Cairngorms National Park boundary has its planning question decided by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (which has full planning authority there), not by Aberdeenshire Council's own planning service.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — dated within 5 years of the application
  • Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate — within 12 months of application, for all appliances available to guests
  • Gas Safety Certificate from a Gas Safe registered engineer — within 12 months (if the property has gas)
  • EPC certificate — secondary lets only
  • Evidence of buildings insurance AND public liability / property owners' liability insurance, minimum £2m cover
  • SFRS (Scottish Fire and Rescue Service) fire safety checklist
  • Location and site plan — required for unconventional accommodation / rural properties with multiple units
  • Private water supply satisfactory test results within the last 12 months — only if not on mains water
  • Consent from all owners, if the applicant is not the sole owner
  • Evidence of operating as an STL before 1 October 2022, if claiming that status
  • Fire Risk Assessment and Legionella Risk Assessment — must be carried out and kept on the premises (do NOT submit these with the application)

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your Aberdeenshire Council licence application must be backed by current safety certificates. These are jobs for a certified assessor, and getting them booked early is the most common thing that holds an application up.

ReferralFree. We'll pass your details to a local certified assessor who covers your area.

Get your licence certificates sorted

A short-term let licence in Aberdeenshire Council needs a set of safety certificates. Tell us about your property and we'll connect you with a local certified assessor for a no-obligation quote.

EICR (electrical installation condition report)PAT (portable appliance test) certificateGas Safety Certificate (if gas present)EPC (secondary letting only)Buildings insurance + Public Liability/Property Owners Liability insurance (min £2m)SFRS fire safety checklistFire Risk Assessment (kept on-site, not submitted)Legionella Risk Assessment (kept on-site, not submitted)Private water supply test results (if applicable, not on mains)

No obligation. Your details go only to a local assessor covering Aberdeenshire Council.

Local conditions

Key Rules in Aberdeenshire Council

  • No STL control area is designated anywhere in Aberdeenshire (confirmed in the Council's own STL Policy Statement, amended October 2024) — so planning permission is not automatically required, but is still assessed case-by-case for material change of use.
  • STL premises within the Cairngorms National Park boundary have their planning question decided by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, not Aberdeenshire Council's planning service.
  • A separate licence is required for each premises, but multiple rooms let within the same single dwellinghouse only need one licence; unconventional multi-unit sites (e.g. glamping) can be covered by a single licence.
  • Provisional licences are available for new-build/conversion STLs at the construction stage, valid up to 3 years, but hosts cannot trade or accept bookings until the full licence is confirmed after completion certificates and safety documents are submitted.
  • Mandatory conditions include (from the 2024 amendment) displaying instructions for what guests should do if the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, and safety instructions for any mobile gas cabinet heater.
  • Maximum occupancy stated on the licence cannot be exceeded; children under 2 are not counted toward capacity.
  • A 21-day public notice must be displayed at/near the premises from the date a valid application and fee are submitted; a certificate of compliance must then be sent to the Council.
  • The Council cannot limit the number of nights a secondary letting premises may be used per year via licence conditions.
  • Licence fees are non-refundable even if the application is refused.
  • If you renew after your licence has expired, you lose 'existing host' status and must pay the higher new-applicant fee rather than the renewal rate.
  • If refused, you cannot reapply for 12 months unless there has been a material change in circumstances.
  • Fines for operating unlicensed / breaching conditions currently run up to level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000); Scottish Government has signalled an intention to raise the maximum to £50,000.

Apply through Aberdeenshire Council

Applications are made directly to the council. This guide is a summary — always check the official page for the current fee and conditions.

Typical processing time: No published "typical" turnaround for straightforward applications. The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 gives the Council up to 9 months (statute maximum) from receipt of a complete application to determine it. Uncontested applications are decided under delegated officer powers (faster); if any objection/representation is received, it must go to a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing, with at least 14 days' notice given to parties — this adds time. A 21-day public-notice display period (plus a follow-up compliance certificate) is also part of every application's timeline before determination.

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in Aberdeenshire?
It depends on your licence type and maximum guest capacity. New applications range from £364 (home sharing/home letting, 1-2 guests) up to £1,006 (secondary letting, 16+ guests). Renewals are cheaper, from £331.75 up to £920.25. These rates are published as valid until 31 March 2026. A duplicate copy of an existing licence costs £53.50.
Is Aberdeenshire a short-term let control area?
No. Aberdeenshire Council has not designated any part of the county as an STL control area, unlike City of Edinburgh (whole council) or Badenoch and Strathspey in Highland. That means there's no automatic extra planning-permission requirement. Planning permission can still be needed case-by-case though, particularly for secondary letting conversions, siting unconventional accommodation (pods, yurts, cabins), or home-share operations with a high number of rooms/nights. If your property sits inside the Cairngorms National Park, the planning decision is made by the Cairngorms National Park Authority instead of the Council.
What documents do I need to apply?
An in-date EICR (within 5 years), PAT certificate (within 12 months), gas safety certificate if you have gas (within 12 months), an EPC if it's a secondary let, buildings insurance plus public liability/property owners' liability cover of at least £2m, an SFRS fire safety checklist, and — for unconventional or multi-unit rural sites — a location/site plan. If you're on a private water supply you also need satisfactory test results from the last 12 months. Separately (not submitted, but kept on the premises) you must have a Fire Risk Assessment and a Legionella Risk Assessment.
Do I also need planning permission?
Not automatically, since there's no STL control area in Aberdeenshire. But you may still need planning permission for secondary letting conversions, siting an unconventional unit, or home-share depending on rooms used and operational period. Check with Aberdeenshire's planning team before applying for your STL licence if you're unsure — the Environmental Health team will also consult Planning on your application regardless.
How long does the licence application take?
The Council has a statutory maximum of 9 months to determine an application under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Straightforward, unopposed applications are decided under delegated officer powers and should be quicker, but every application also carries a mandatory 21-day public notice period, and if anyone objects it goes to a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing (with at least 14 days' notice to both sides), which adds time.
How long does the licence last, and how do I renew?
3 years from the date it comes into force. Submit your renewal before the current licence expires — your existing licence stays valid while the renewal is being decided. If you renew late, after expiry, you lose your 'existing host' status and would have to pay the higher new-application fee instead of the cheaper renewal rate, and you can't legally operate in the meantime.

Short-Term Let Licences in Other Councils

The Highland Council Licence cost & rules Argyll and Bute Council Licence cost & rules Perth and Kinross Council Licence cost & rules The City of Edinburgh Council Licence cost & rules Aberdeen City Council Licence cost & rules Dundee City Council Licence cost & rules

See all Scottish council STL licence guides →

Council data last reviewed 2026-07. Fees and conditions are set by Aberdeenshire Council and can change — always confirm on the official council page before applying. This page is general information, not legal advice.