Short-term let rules in Aberdeen City (updated 29 Oct 2026)
Last checked: 3 official source pages for this council scanned automatically for changes on 2 Nov 2026What changed
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Licensing, planning, visitor levy and fees in Aberdeen City, checked against official sources. Free, unsubscribe any time.
Dates we're watching for Aberdeen City (1)
- 1 Apr 2027: levy starts
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What changed (1 Oct 2026): Aberdeen (7%) and West Dunbartonshire (5%) visitor levies: bookings made from today are liable for stays from 1 Apr 2027 and 1 Jul 2027. Source · Get free alerts
7% visitor levy on the whole stay from 1 Apr 2027 (bookings made from 1 Oct 2026). No control area. Licence fees from £470.40 (home sharing/letting, 1–2 guests) and £492.80 (secondary letting, 1–2 guests), effective 1 Jan 2026. No temporary licences or exemptions granted.
Licensing or registration
AppliesLicence needed (Scotland-wide). All short-term lets (secondary letting, home letting, home sharing) need a licence from the council before taking bookings or guests. Step-by-step licence guide and checklist. Apply online: Aberdeen City Council application (one application per property).
The council does not grant temporary licences or temporary exemptions.
Control area / planning
None foundNo control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). The council says that if the let is a whole dwelling that is not your main home, you may need planning permission as well as a licence, so check before applying.
Visitor levy
AppliesApproved: 7% of the accommodation cost on the whole stay, for stays from 1 Apr 2027. Applies to bookings made from 1 Oct 2026 for those stays.
Approved by the council's Finance & Resources Committee on 6 Aug 2025 under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.
Fees
Same fee for first-time applications and renewals, effective from 1 Jan 2026. Home sharing and/or home letting: £470.40 (1–2 guests), £705.60 (3–4), £940.80 (5–6), £1254.40 (7–8), £1668.80 (9–12), £3337.60 (13+). Secondary letting: £492.80 / £739.20 / £985.60 / £1310.40 / £1752.80 / £3505.60.
Source: source
Compare Aberdeen City's licence fees with other Scottish councils
What changed in Aberdeen City
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
- Aberdeen (7%) and West Dunbartonshire (5%) visitor levies: bookings made from today are liable for stays from 1 Apr 2027 and 1 Jul 2027. Official source
Newest first. Every UK change is in the changes log. Nothing here is legal advice: check the official source before acting.
Scotland tools
- Compare licence fees across all 32 Scottish councils
- How to get a short-term let licence (steps and checklist)
- Business rates or council tax? 140/70 nights checker
- Fire safety for short-term lets (alarms, doors, checklist)
- Insurance: the buildings and public liability licence condition
- Visitor levy map
Not sure what applies to your let? Use the free licence checker: pick your nation, council and type of let for a plain-English answer with the official source.
Buying here? See the buyer checks for Aberdeen City: licence or registration, planning, visitor levy, business rates or council tax, plus the lender, insurance and title checks to make before you buy.
Key dates
- 6 Aug 2025: 7% levy approved
- 1 Jan 2026: current licence fees took effect
- 1 Oct 2026: bookings made from this date are liable to the levy
- 1 Apr 2027: levy starts
Aberdeen City short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Aberdeen City?
Licence needed (Scotland-wide). All short-term lets (secondary letting, home letting, home sharing) need a licence from the council before taking bookings or guests. Step-by-step licence guide and checklist. Apply online: Aberdeen City Council application (one application per property). The council does not grant temporary licences or temporary exemptions.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Aberdeen City?
No control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). The council says that if the let is a whole dwelling that is not your main home, you may need planning permission as well as a licence, so check before applying.
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in Aberdeen City?
Approved: 7% of the accommodation cost on the whole stay, for stays from 1 Apr 2027. Applies to bookings made from 1 Oct 2026 for those stays. Approved by the council's Finance & Resources Committee on 6 Aug 2025 under the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Aberdeen City?
Same fee for first-time applications and renewals, effective from 1 Jan 2026. Home sharing and/or home letting: £470.40 (1–2 guests), £705.60 (3–4), £940.80 (5–6), £1254.40 (7–8), £1668.80 (9–12), £3337.60 (13+). Secondary letting: £492.80 / £739.20 / £985.60 / £1310.40 / £1752.80 / £3505.60.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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