Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

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

Application fees in Dundee City Council run £310–£3,100, 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

Dundee City Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
1-2 guests £310 £310
3-4 guests £620 £620
5-6 guests £930 £930
7-8 guests £1,240 £1,240
9-12 guests £1,860 £1,860
13+ guests £3,100 £3,100

Same fee schedule applies to both Home Sharing/Home Letting licences and Secondary Letting licences - fee depends only on maximum guest capacity, not let type. The same bands apply to the 3-yearly renewal as to the initial application. A 50% discount applies where the property already holds a current HMO licence. A separate flat £155 fee is charged for the actual issue of a new licence once granted (in addition to the banded application fee shown above). Temporary Licences (needed on change of ownership) are free. Temporary Exemptions (for large-scale/national events) cost £155. Extra inspection visits beyond the initial two allowed can incur an £80-per-visit charge. Fees are non-refundable except: a 50% refund is given if an application is withdrawn before Licensing Committee referral, or if the application is refused (refund paid once the refusal is final).

No separate planning permission needed

Dundee is NOT a designated short-term let control area (whole council or partial). The council's official Guidance and Standards Notes state explicitly: "No significant or city-wide issues are evident in Dundee and there is no intention to focus resources on designating a control area at this time. It is, however, our intention to monitor impact of STLs on an individual basis, and if the need arises in the future, a STL Control Area can be established." Practical effect: secondary letting does NOT automatically require planning permission on top of the STL licence. Instead, "Outside a control area, planning will consider whether any change of use of a house is material and requires planning permission on a case-by-case basis." If planning permission is needed and hasn't been obtained, the licence application is issued a "Preliminary Refusal" pending resolution.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Accurate scaled plan of the premises showing room use/dimensions and maximum guest occupancy of sleeping accommodation
  • Evidence of current Public Liability Insurance (minimum £5m per dwelling) plus buildings insurance
  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
  • Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate
  • Gas safety certificate from a Gas Safe registered engineer (if gas appliances are present)
  • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • Legionella Risk Assessment
  • Completed Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Fire Safety Checklist
  • Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Policy, Fire Action Plan and Fire Log Book kept available on the premises
  • Site notice displayed on/near the property for 21 days, followed by a signed Certificate of Compliance returned to the council
  • Evidence of operating as an STL before 1 October 2022 (existing hosts only, for transitional 'existing host' status)
  • Evidence of planning permission (or a submitted planning application) where the council determines it is required on a case-by-case basis

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your Dundee City 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 Dundee City 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)EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)Legionella Risk AssessmentScottish Fire & Rescue Service Fire Safety ChecklistPublic Liability Insurance evidence (minimum £5m per dwelling)

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

Local conditions

Key Rules in Dundee City Council

  • Every named host, operator, company director/partner and day-to-day manager on the application undergoes a Police Scotland 'fit and proper person' check.
  • A separate licence is required for each individual premises, and you may only offer the specific let type (home sharing / home letting / secondary letting) stated on your licence.
  • Operating an STL without a licence is a criminal offence - default fine up to level 4 (£2,500) on the standard scale; Scottish Government intends to raise the maximum to £50,000.
  • Listings/adverts (electronic or otherwise) must display the licence number, maximum guest capacity, and a valid EPC rating where required.
  • Dundee is not a control area, so planning permission is assessed case-by-case (whether change of use is 'material') rather than automatically required for every secondary let; a missing required planning permission triggers a 'Preliminary Refusal' of the licence application.
  • On change of ownership of an already-licensed STL, the new host/operator must apply for a free Temporary Licence within 1 calendar month (valid up to 6 weeks, extendable while a full licence application is pending).
  • Licences all expire on 1 February of the relevant year (except short/temporary licences); renewal applications are accepted from 1 November onward (up to 3 months before expiry).
  • Appeals against a licensing decision go to the Sheriff within 28 days of the decision.
  • Building Warrant may separately be required for certain conversions or fire/electrical works carried out to meet licence conditions.
  • Listed buildings may need Listed Building Consent for works such as smoke detectors, fire doors or other upgrades required for the licence.

Apply through Dundee City 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: Council aims to issue an inspection report to the applicant within about 3 months of a complete submission (subject to gaining site access); the statutory maximum time to determine an application is up to 12 months; if the application needs to go to the Licensing Committee (not granted under delegated powers), referral must happen by 10 months after receipt to allow time for a site visit if needed.

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in Dundee?
It's banded by maximum guest capacity, and the same bands apply whether you're home sharing, home letting, or doing secondary letting: £310 for 1-2 guests, £620 for 3-4, £930 for 5-6, £1,240 for 7-8, £1,860 for 9-12, and £3,100 for 13+. These figures cover both the initial application and the 3-yearly renewal. On top of that there's a separate £155 fee to actually issue the licence once granted. If the property already has a current HMO licence, you get a 50% discount.
Do I need planning permission as well as a licence in Dundee?
Not automatically. Dundee has chosen not to designate itself a short-term let control area, so there's no blanket planning requirement for secondary lets. Instead, the council's planning team decides case-by-case whether your change of use counts as 'material' and needs permission. If it turns out planning permission is needed and you haven't got it, your licence application will get a 'Preliminary Refusal' until that's sorted.
How long does a licence application take to process in Dundee?
The council aims to get you an inspection report within about 3 months of a complete application, but they have up to 12 months statutory time to determine it. If your case needs to go before the Licensing Committee rather than being handled under delegated powers, it must be referred by 10 months after they receive it.
How long does the licence last and when do I renew?
Up to 3 years. All licences expire on 1 February of the relevant year (except short-term/temporary licences), and the council will remind you in advance. Renewal applications open from 1 November, i.e. about 3 months before expiry.
What certificates do I need to apply?
An EICR and PAT certificate, a gas safety certificate if you have gas appliances, an EPC, a Legionella risk assessment, a completed Scottish Fire & Rescue Service fire safety checklist, and evidence of public liability insurance covering at least £5m per dwelling. You'll also need an accurate floor plan showing room dimensions and maximum sleeping occupancy.
What happens to the licence if I sell my short-term let property?
The new owner or operator must apply for a Temporary Licence within one calendar month of the sale. It's free and valid for up to 6 weeks, and gets extended automatically if they submit a full licence application within that window. If they miss the 6-week deadline, the property can't be used as a short-term let until a full licence is granted.

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 Aberdeenshire Council Licence cost & rules

See all Scottish council STL licence guides →

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