Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

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

Application fees in Shetland Islands Council run £210–£530, 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

Shetland Islands Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
Home sharing / home letting - 1-6 guests £210 £210
Home sharing / home letting - 7+ guests £335 £335
Secondary letting - 1-6 guests £370 £370
Secondary letting - 7+ guests £530 £530
Admin fee (additional, applies per application - scope of new-vs-renewal unconfirmed) £37 —

Source: Shetland Islands Council 'Environmental Health - Schedule of Charges 2026-27' (finance-issued schedule, effective document dated April 2026), fetched directly from https://www.shetland.gov.uk/downloads/file/7747/environmental-health-charges. Bands are by guest-capacity, not bedroom count (Shetland switched from a bedroom-based model to a guest-based model in 2025/26). The schedule lists a single fee per band with no separate 'renewal' line (unlike the Landlord Registration section on the same schedule, which explicitly splits standard vs late-renewal fees) - so the same fee is inferred to apply at both initial application and renewal, though this is not stated explicitly and should be confirmed with the council. A further 'Admin fee' of £37 appears in the same shaded table block immediately below the four short-term-let bands, and may be an additional per-application charge on top of the relevant band fee - its exact scope (per new application only, or also renewals) is not spelled out in the schedule itself.

No separate planning permission needed

Shetland has NOT designated a Short-Term Let Control Area. Only Edinburgh (whole council area, since 5 Sept 2022) and Highland Council's Badenoch & Strathspey ward (since 4 Mar 2024) currently have designated STL control areas in Scotland. In Shetland, planning permission is only triggered in the normal way - e.g. where a let involves a material change of use (typically whole-property/secondary lets, or conversions), not as a blanket precondition for every STL licence. Applicants are still asked to confirm/obtain planning permission where it applies as part of the licence application, but it is not mandated for every applicant purely by virtue of a control-area designation.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Floor/layout plan showing room use and safety features
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service checklist / compliance confirmation
  • Annual gas safety certificate (where gas appliances are present)
  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
  • Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) report
  • Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - for dwellinghouses
  • Evidence of buildings and public liability insurance
  • 21-day public notice displayed at the property (part of the statutory neighbour-notification process)
  • Evidence of planning permission where the let requires it (e.g. material change of use)
  • Certificate of Compliance issued following a satisfactory council inspection

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your Shetland Islands 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 Shetland Islands 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 (if gas appliances present)Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) reportEnergy Performance Certificate (EPC)Public liability insurance certificateScottish Fire and Rescue Service compliance checklist

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

Local conditions

Key Rules in Shetland Islands Council

  • Fee bands are set by guest capacity (1-6 vs 7+), not by number of bedrooms - Shetland moved away from the bedroom-based model used in 2023/24.
  • Licence validity is 3 years.
  • Shetland Islands Council has not designated any part of its area as a Short-Term Let Control Area, so planning permission is not a blanket precondition of licensing (it only applies where the letting itself triggers a material change of use).
  • An additional £37 admin fee is listed on the council's charging schedule alongside the four short-term-let bands.
  • A 21-day public notice must be displayed at the property as part of the application process, and neighbours can object.
  • A Certificate of Compliance, following council inspection, is required before the licence is finalised.

Apply through Shetland Islands 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 fixed statutory week figure published by the council; official guidance states only that processing "can take several months," and cites demand far exceeding forecast (500+ applications received vs 340 originally forecast) as a cause of delay.

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in Shetland for 2026/27?
Under the council's Environmental Health Schedule of Charges 2026-27: home sharing/home letting is £210 for 1-6 guests and £335 for 7+ guests; secondary letting is £370 for 1-6 guests and £530 for 7+ guests. A further £37 admin fee is also listed against short-term lets on the same schedule.
How long does a Shetland short-term let licence last?
Three years from the date it is granted, after which you must renew.
Is the renewal fee cheaper than the new application fee?
The council's published schedule of charges lists only one fee per guest band with no separate discounted renewal line, so the same fee appears to apply at renewal. This isn't stated explicitly on the schedule, so it's worth confirming directly with Environmental Health (stl@shetland.gov.uk) before budgeting for a renewal.
Do I need planning permission as well as a licence in Shetland?
Shetland has not designated a Short-Term Let Control Area (unlike Edinburgh or part of Highland), so planning permission is not automatically required for every licence. It's only needed where the letting involves a material change of use of the property - the council will still ask you to confirm your planning position as part of the licence application.
Why did Shetland's short-term let fees go up so much?
The council says the increase reflects the real cost of running the licensing service - demand hugely exceeded forecasts (over 500 applications received against 340 originally planned for), requiring more officer time on processing, incomplete applications, and compliance checks.
How long does Shetland Islands Council take to process an application?
There's no fixed statutory turnaround published - the council's own guidance warns it "can take several months," so apply well ahead of when you intend to start letting.

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