Short-term let rules in Dumfries and Galloway (updated 29 Oct 2026)
Last checked: 5 official source pages for this council scanned automatically for changes on 2 Nov 2026What changed
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Last checked 29 Oct 2026: no change logged for this council in our changes log. Get free alerts when it changes.
Licence needed (3-year licence, £324 to £454 by guest numbers and licence type). No control area. Visitor levy plans dropped in June 2026.
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 through Dumfries and Galloway Council (shorttermlets@dumgal.gov.uk).
Send a floor plan showing room sizes and bedroom occupancy, stairs or lifts, the use of each room, fire escape routes, any accessible rooms, smoke and heat detectors, and CO detectors if there is an open-flue appliance. Applications go on the public register and anyone can object during the 21-day notice period.
Renewals are every 3 years and the council sends a reminder 3 months before expiry. The council says operating without a licence is a criminal offence, with a fine of up to £2,500 and a one-year ban from applying.
Control area / planning
None foundNo control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland).
Source: source
Visitor levy
None foundNo levy: plans dropped. After early engagement (29 Sep to 21 Nov 2025), the council's economy and infrastructure committee voted 10 to 8 on 9 Jun 2026 to stop all work on a visitor levy, with no formal consultation.
Any future proposal would have to start again. (VisitScotland's list still showed Dumfries and Galloway under early engagement when we checked on 22 Oct 2026.)
Fees
3-year licence, by maximum guests. Home sharing and home letting: £324 (up to 6), £361 (7 to 12), £413 (13+).
Secondary letting: £357, £397, £454. The council says new, renewal and provisional applications currently cost the same.
From 1 Apr 2026: confirming a provisional licence £79, transfer £79. Fees are non-refundable.
Source: source
Compare Dumfries and Galloway's licence fees with other Scottish councils
What changed in Dumfries and Galloway
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
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 Dumfries and Galloway: 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
- 29 Sep to 21 Nov 2025: visitor levy early engagement
- 1 Apr 2026: confirmation and transfer fees
- 9 Jun 2026: visitor levy plans dropped
Dumfries and Galloway short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Dumfries and Galloway?
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 through Dumfries and Galloway Council (shorttermlets@dumgal.gov.uk). Send a floor plan showing room sizes and bedroom occupancy, stairs or lifts, the use of each room, fire escape routes, any accessible rooms, smoke and heat detectors, and CO detectors if there is an open-flue appliance. Applications go on the public register and anyone can object during the 21-day notice period. Renewals are every 3 years and the council sends a reminder 3 months before expiry. The council says operating without a licence is a criminal offence, with a fine of up to £2,500 and a one-year ban from applying.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Dumfries and Galloway?
No control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland).
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in Dumfries and Galloway?
No levy: plans dropped. After early engagement (29 Sep to 21 Nov 2025), the council's economy and infrastructure committee voted 10 to 8 on 9 Jun 2026 to stop all work on a visitor levy, with no formal consultation. Any future proposal would have to start again. (VisitScotland's list still showed Dumfries and Galloway under early engagement when we checked on 22 Oct 2026.)
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Dumfries and Galloway?
3-year licence, by maximum guests. Home sharing and home letting: £324 (up to 6), £361 (7 to 12), £413 (13+). Secondary letting: £357, £397, £454. The council says new, renewal and provisional applications currently cost the same. From 1 Apr 2026: confirming a provisional licence £79, transfer £79. Fees are non-refundable.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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