Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

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

Application fees in Fife Council run £310–£867, 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

Fife Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
1-2 guests £310 £310
3-4 guests £372 £372
5-6 guests £434 £434
7-8 guests £496 £496
9-10 guests £558 £558
11-12 guests £620 £620
13-14 guests £681 £681
15-16 guests £743 £743
17-18 guests £805 £805
19-20 guests £867 £867

Fife Council's published STL Fee Structure (dated 'April 2026', confirmed live on fife.gov.uk and cross-checked against the separate 'Licence costs' page) bands fees by MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY (guest capacity), with four fee types: Temporary Exemption, Temporary Licence, First Full Licence, and Renewed Full Licence (renewal fee = same as first full licence). Provisional licences (for construction/confirmation stage, used for new-build STLs) are charged at the same rate as First Full/Renewal. Occupancy 1-10 guests: Temporary Exemption fee is a flat £205; occupancy 11-20: flat £210. For occupancy ABOVE 20 guests, an extra charge is added per additional 1-2 guest increment: +£62 for the first extra 1-2 guests, +£124 for 3-4 extra, +£186 for 5-6 extra, and so on (this surcharge structure is stated to apply to the Temporary/First Full/Renewal fees, not the flat Temporary Exemption fee). Fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome, including where the Council refuses to determine an application because planning permission is needed. Note: an earlier fee schedule (referenced in a Fife policy update dated Feb 2025) showed lower figures (e.g. £295 first full / renewal at 1-2 occupancy) — the April 2026 schedule above supersedes it and is the current one live on fife.gov.uk.

No separate planning permission needed

Fife is NOT currently a designated short-term let control area anywhere in the council area. Fife Council's own Short-term Let Policy (update Dec 2025) states: "consideration of control areas for short-term lets in Fife will be progressed as part of the evidence gathering stage in Fife's Local Development Plan review" — i.e. still under development, not adopted. HOWEVER this is actively moving: Fife Council ran a public consultation on Short-term Let Control Areas (closed 8 Sept 2025, via haveyoursay.fife.gov.uk) covering the whole region, and in early 2026 the relevant committee agreed to proceed with a proposed control area covering St Andrews and parts of East Neuk — the areas identified as most affected by holiday-let growth (5.4% of St Andrews housing stock is STL). This still needs formal approval from Scottish Ministers before it takes legal effect, and would NOT apply retrospectively to existing lets — only to new change-of-use applications after designation. Outside any future control area, planning permission for an STL is assessed case-by-case (only required if the letting amounts to a "material change of use" of the dwelling) — it is not automatically required for every STL as it would be inside a control area. Applicants should check the current status before applying, as this could change within the shelf-life of this data.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Completed Short-term Let Licence application form (online via fife.gov.uk, or paper form for variations/transfers)
  • Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — required where the premises has a gas supply
  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
  • Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) report — for any moveable/plug-in appliance guests have access to (must be no more than 5 years old)
  • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) — required for secondary letting of a dwellinghouse, must be issued/valid within the last 10 years
  • Evidence of planning permission for the STL use, OR a Certificate of Lawfulness confirming planning permission is not needed, where relevant
  • Floor plan — may be requested by the Council
  • Self-declaration of compliance with mandatory conditions not otherwise evidenced by certificate (fire safety incl. smoke/heat/CO alarms, water safety/legionella risk assessment, maximum occupancy, day-to-day management arrangements)
  • Proof of adequate insurance (buildings and public liability)
  • Licence fee payment (non-refundable)

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your Fife 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 Fife 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.

Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) — if gas supply presentElectrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) certificate/reportEnergy Performance Certificate (EPC) — for secondary lettingWater safety / Legionella risk assessment (self-declared, may be checked)Fire risk assessment and smoke/heat/CO alarm compliancePublic liability and buildings insurancePlanning permission or Certificate of Lawfulness (where a change of use applies)

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

Local conditions

Key Rules in Fife Council

  • Every short-term let in Scotland has needed a licence since 1 October 2022 for new lets, with existing hosts required to have applied by the (subsequently extended) deadline and all STLs required to be fully licensed by 1 July 2024 — this transitional period has now passed; operating unlicensed is a criminal offence.
  • Fife is NOT currently a designated STL control area (whole council or partial) — but a control area covering St Andrews and parts of East Neuk has been consulted on (2025) and agreed in principle by committee (early 2026), pending Scottish Ministers' approval; it would not apply retrospectively to existing lets.
  • You need a separate licence for each premises/postal address; multiple lodges or units on one title deed/single site may only need one licence — check title deeds.
  • Licence fee is non-refundable whether the licence is granted or refused, including where refused for lack of planning permission (though no extra fee is charged on a resubmission made within 28 days of planning permission being granted).
  • Additional Fife-specific licence conditions include: restricting guest arrivals/departures to between 7am and 11pm where reasonably practicable, a ban on LPG room heaters, requirements to maintain a current guest/visitor record available to council officers, and waste/recycling compliance.
  • A 21-day public site notice and objection window applies to full and renewal licence applications (not to temporary licences/exemptions); objections go through the Council's Housing Decision Panel.
  • The Council applies a 'fit and proper person' test, including checks with Police Scotland.
  • Appeals against refusal, conditions, or revocation are made by summary application to the Sheriff Court within 28 days.
  • If Fife Council doesn't determine an application within the statutory timescale (up to 9 months), the licence is automatically deemed granted for one year.
  • Temporary exemptions/temporary licences are capped at 6 continuous weeks within a 12-month period (temporary exemptions limited to a maximum of 3 periods per calendar year).

Apply through Fife 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: Up to 9 months (statutory maximum) for new host applications, running from the date a valid application is made; renewals also up to 9 months per the Dec 2025 policy. If Fife Council fails to determine within this period the licence is automatically "deemed granted" for one year. (An earlier, longer 12-month timescale applied only to existing hosts' original applications made against the now-passed Oct 2023/April 2023 transitional deadlines.)

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in Fife?
Fife Council bands fees by maximum guest occupancy. For a First Full Licence or Renewal (current April 2026 schedule): £310 for 1-2 guests, rising through £372 (3-4), £434 (5-6), £496 (7-8), £558 (9-10), £620 (11-12), £681 (13-14), £743 (15-16), £805 (17-18), up to £867 for 19-20 guests. Above 20 guests, add £62 per extra 1-2 guests. Temporary licences are slightly cheaper than full licences at the same occupancy; temporary exemptions are a flat £205 (1-10 guests) or £210 (11-20 guests). All fees are non-refundable.
Do I need planning permission as well as an STL licence in Fife?
Not automatically, and not yet council-wide. Fife has no designated short-term let control area at present, so planning permission is only needed if your specific let counts as a 'material change of use' of the dwelling, decided case by case. That said, Fife Council has agreed in principle (following a 2025 consultation) to introduce a control area for St Andrews and parts of East Neuk, which is awaiting Scottish Ministers' approval — once in force, any NEW secondary letting in that area will always need planning permission first. Existing lets there would not be affected retrospectively.
How long does Fife Council take to process a short-term let application?
Up to 9 months (the statutory maximum), for both new applications and renewals, running from the date a valid application is made. If the Council doesn't decide within that window, the licence is automatically deemed granted for a year. Don't take bookings or guests until the licence (or a provisional/temporary licence number) is actually in place.
What documents do I need to apply for an STL licence in Fife?
If applicable to the premises: a Gas Safety Certificate (where there's a gas supply), an EICR (electrical safety), a PAT testing report for guest-accessible appliances, an EPC (for secondary lets), and evidence of planning permission or a Certificate of Lawfulness if a change of use applies. Floor plans may be requested. You also self-declare compliance with other mandatory conditions (fire safety/alarms, water safety, insurance, maximum occupancy) as part of the online application.
How long does a Fife short-term let licence last, and how do I renew?
A First Full Licence and a Renewed Full Licence both run for 3 years. You must apply to renew before the current licence expires — if you apply late, you must stop operating until the new licence is granted. Renewal applications are made through the same online system as new applications.
What happens if I operate a short-term let in Fife without a licence?
It's a criminal offence. Under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 framework used for STL licensing, operating without a required licence can lead to a fine (default up to Level 4 on the standard scale, historically cited as up to £2,500) and can bar you from applying for a licence for a period. Making a false statement in an application is also an offence.

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 Fife Council and can change — always confirm on the official council page before applying. This page is general information, not legal advice.