Council Licensing Guide · Scotland

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

Application fees in West Dunbartonshire Council run £61–£929, 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

West Dunbartonshire Council Fees

Fee band Application Renewal
Grant and renewal application (all types/sizes) £929 £929
Provisional licence application £697 —
Confirmation of provisional licence £232 —
Transfer of licence £61 —
Environmental Health inspection fee (additional) £60 —

West Dunbartonshire does not band fees by property capacity, number of guests, or let type (home sharing / home letting / secondary letting) - a single flat fee applies regardless of size or type. Current fees per the Council's official short-term let licences page: Grant and renewal application £929.00; Provisional licence application £697.00; Confirmation of a provisional licence £232.00; Transfer of licence £61.00; Environmental Health inspection fee £60.00 (additional, where an inspection is required). Note: the Council's Short Term Let Licensing Policy PDF (reviewed February 2025) quotes slightly lower legacy figures - Full licence £842.50, Provisional £631.88, Confirmation £210.63, Transfer £55.00, Minor variation £55.00, Major variation £154.50, Inspection £60.00 - the live webpage figures (£929/£697/£232/£61/£60) appear to be a subsequent fee uprating and should be treated as the more current figure, though this discrepancy could not be dated precisely.

No separate planning permission needed

West Dunbartonshire is not a designated short-term let control area. Its Short Term Let Licensing Policy (reviewed February 2025) states the Committee "recognises the current position...could change and will ensure this Policy is reviewed to take account of any Short-Term Control Areas that may be introduced in West Dunbartonshire in the future" - i.e. none exist now, but the door is open. Only two control areas currently exist in Scotland: the whole of City of Edinburgh Council, and a partial zone in Badenoch and Strathspey (Highland Council). Because there is no control area here, secondary letting does not trigger the extra control-area planning requirement. However, applicants must still supply "a copy of planning permission or certificate of lawfulness (where applicable)" with every application - ordinary planning law (e.g. change of use) can still apply to a specific property regardless of control-area status.

Before you apply

Documents You'll Need

  • Layout/floor plan at scale 1:50 showing room sizes, fire escapes, alarm locations, fire doors, and stairs/lifts
  • Copy of planning permission or certificate of lawfulness (where applicable)
  • Evidence of prior operation if trading before 1 October 2022 (e.g. past booking dates, payment receipts/confirmations)
  • Letter of consent signed by the owner(s) or a person authorised to act on their behalf (if applicant is not the owner)
  • Gas safety certificate (Gas Safe registered engineer, if gas appliances present)
  • Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
  • Fire safety checklist (council-provided form) and electrical safety checklist
  • Public liability insurance (and buildings insurance where applicable)
  • Fire risk assessment
  • Legionella/water risk assessment
  • Guest information sheet/pack
  • Private water supply sample results (if not on mains water)

Safety certificates

Certificates Required

Your West Dunbartonshire 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 West Dunbartonshire 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)Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)Legionella/water risk assessmentFire risk assessmentPublic liability insurance certificateBuildings insurance (where applicable)Planning permission or certificate of lawfulness (where applicable)

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

Local conditions

Key Rules in West Dunbartonshire Council

  • Every short-term let in West Dunbartonshire has required a licence since the national scheme began; operating unlicensed is a criminal offence.
  • West Dunbartonshire is NOT a designated control area (whole or partial) as of the February 2025 policy review, unlike Edinburgh (whole-council) or Badenoch and Strathspey (partial).
  • The Council uses a single flat fee per licence type - it does not band fees by guest capacity or by home-sharing/home-letting/secondary-letting distinction.
  • Licences are normally granted for 3 years, and renewals are normally granted for a further 3 years.
  • Statutory timescale: the council must consider an application within 3 months, and must issue a final decision within 9 months of a valid application.
  • Applicants must submit a scaled (1:50) layout plan showing fire safety features as part of every application.
  • Both Scottish Government mandatory conditions and West Dunbartonshire's own local additional licence conditions apply to every granted licence.
  • An Environmental Health inspection fee (£60) is charged separately/additionally where an inspection of the premises is carried out.
  • Existing operators trading before 1 October 2022 must supply evidence of prior operation (e.g. booking/payment records) with their application.

Apply through West Dunbartonshire 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) - the council must consider an application within 3 months and reach a final decision within 9 months of receiving a valid application

Official council licensing page

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a short-term let licence cost in West Dunbartonshire?
The standard grant/renewal fee is £929. A provisional licence application costs £697, with a further £232 to confirm it once conditions are met. Transferring a licence to a new person costs £61, and if the council carries out a physical inspection there's an additional £60 Environmental Health inspection fee. These fees are flat rate - they don't change based on how many guests your property sleeps or which type of let (home sharing, home letting or secondary letting) you run.
Do I also need planning permission for my short-term let in West Dunbartonshire?
Not automatically. West Dunbartonshire is not a designated short-term let control area (unlike Edinburgh, where secondary lets always need planning permission). You still need to supply a copy of planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness with your application only where your specific property/change of use already requires one under normal planning law - most existing home-sharing or home-letting arrangements won't.
How long does a West Dunbartonshire short-term let licence application take?
The Council must consider your application within 3 months, and by law must reach a final decision within 9 months of receiving a valid application. In practice this can run close to the statutory maximum, especially if the case needs a committee decision or an Environmental Health inspection, so apply well ahead of when you plan to start letting.
What documents and certificates do I need to apply?
You'll need a scaled (1:50) layout plan showing fire safety features, a gas safety certificate (if you have gas appliances), an Electrical Installation Condition Report, fire and electrical safety checklists, evidence of public liability (and buildings) insurance, a fire risk assessment, and a legionella/water risk assessment. If you don't own the property you'll also need a signed letter of consent from the owner, and if you were letting before 1 October 2022 you need evidence of that prior operation.
How long does a West Dunbartonshire short-term let licence last, and how do I renew it?
Licences are normally granted for 3 years, and renewals are normally granted for a further 3-year term. The renewal fee is the same £929 flat fee as a new grant application - apply for renewal in good time before expiry, since decisions can take several months.
Is West Dunbartonshire a short-term let control area?
No. As of the Council's February 2025 policy review, West Dunbartonshire has not designated any part of its area as a short-term let control area, though the Council has said it will review this if that changes. Only Edinburgh (whole council) and part of Badenoch and Strathspey (Highland Council) currently have control areas in Scotland.

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