Short-term let rules in Falkirk (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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Licensing, planning, visitor levy and fees in Falkirk, checked against official sources. Free, unsubscribe any time.
Dates we're watching for Falkirk (2)
- 25 Nov 2026: levy consultation closes
- Jan 2027: full Council expected to decide on a levy
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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 (£157.50 to £504 on the 2025/26 table). No control area. Consultation on a 5% visitor levy runs to 25 Nov 2026; full Council expected to decide in January 2027.
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. Falkirk Council takes applications using its short-term let application pack (Licensing Board: licensing@falkirk.gov.uk, 01324 501575).
The council publishes a public register of short-term let licences.
Control area / planning
None foundNo control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). Check whether your let needs planning permission anyway; Falkirk links to a separate short-term lets planning page from its licensing page.
Visitor levy
AppliesNot approved. Formal consultation on a draft scheme runs from 2 Sep to 25 Nov 2026: 5% of the cost of overnight accommodation only (not food, parking or other extras), with providers proposed to keep 2%.
The council says it has not decided, and full Council is expected to consider it in January 2027 (the consultation page says early 2027). Any Scottish levy needs at least 18 months' notice before it starts.
Fees
From the council's published 2025/26 fee table (the latest short-term let table we found; check for a 2026/27 update). The same fee applies to new, renewal and temporary applications.
Secondary letting: £315 (up to 4 guests) / £504 (5 or more). Home letting, home sharing, or both: £157.50 / £315.
Paid as 20% at provisional grant and 80% at confirmation. Transfer £105.
Source: source
What changed in Falkirk
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
- Added 4 Scottish council pages: Falkirk (5% visitor levy consultation open to 25 Nov 2026), Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), with 2026/27 licence fees and levy status. The three island councils are not pursuing an overnight levy. 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 Falkirk: 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
- 2 Sep 2026: levy consultation opened
- 25 Nov 2026: levy consultation closes
- Jan 2027: full Council expected to decide on a levy
Falkirk short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Falkirk?
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. Falkirk Council takes applications using its short-term let application pack (Licensing Board: licensing@falkirk.gov.uk, 01324 501575). The council publishes a public register of short-term let licences.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Falkirk?
No control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). Check whether your let needs planning permission anyway; Falkirk links to a separate short-term lets planning page from its licensing page.
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in Falkirk?
Not approved. Formal consultation on a draft scheme runs from 2 Sep to 25 Nov 2026: 5% of the cost of overnight accommodation only (not food, parking or other extras), with providers proposed to keep 2%. The council says it has not decided, and full Council is expected to consider it in January 2027 (the consultation page says early 2027). Any Scottish levy needs at least 18 months' notice before it starts.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Falkirk?
From the council's published 2025/26 fee table (the latest short-term let table we found; check for a 2026/27 update). The same fee applies to new, renewal and temporary applications. Secondary letting: £315 (up to 4 guests) / £504 (5 or more). Home letting, home sharing, or both: £157.50 / £315. Paid as 20% at provisional grant and 80% at confirmation. Transfer £105.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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