Short-term let rules in Moray (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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What changed (2 Sep 2026): Moray opens a consultation on whether to introduce a visitor levy (to 31 Oct 2026). Source · Get free alerts
Licence needed (£540 new or renewal from 1 Apr 2026). No control area. Consultation on whether to have a visitor levy at all runs to 31 Oct 2026; no decision made.
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. Email the application to licensing@moray.gov.uk (or post it to the Licensing Team, Council Offices, High Street, Elgin IV30 1BX) and pay the full fee at the same time; the council will not process it until everything is in.
Moray does not grant temporary exemptions; it may grant a temporary licence of up to six weeks. Each property needs its own licence.
Control area / planning
None foundNo control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland).
Moray says you must check whether you need planning permission (or a certificate of lawfulness) before applying for a licence, and if you do, apply for it first. Provisional licences need the relevant planning certificate.
Visitor levy
None foundNo decision. Consultation on whether Moray should introduce a visitor levy at all opened 2 Sep 2026 and runs to 31 Oct 2026. If the council goes ahead, a draft scheme would get a further public consultation before any final decision.
Source: source
Fees
From 1 Apr 2026: licence or renewal £540 (same for new and existing operators); temporary licence £540; provisional licence £220; confirmation of a provisional licence £320; transfer £309; variation £30; copy of licence £24; inspection £220.
Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health charge separately. Fees are not refunded if an application is refused.
What changed in Moray
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
- Moray opens a consultation on whether to introduce a visitor levy (to 31 Oct 2026). 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 Moray: 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
- 1 Apr 2026: current licence fees
- 31 Oct 2026: levy consultation closes
Moray short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Moray?
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. Email the application to licensing@moray.gov.uk (or post it to the Licensing Team, Council Offices, High Street, Elgin IV30 1BX) and pay the full fee at the same time; the council will not process it until everything is in. Moray does not grant temporary exemptions; it may grant a temporary licence of up to six weeks. Each property needs its own licence.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Moray?
No control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). Moray says you must check whether you need planning permission (or a certificate of lawfulness) before applying for a licence, and if you do, apply for it first. Provisional licences need the relevant planning certificate.
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in Moray?
No decision. Consultation on whether Moray should introduce a visitor levy at all opened 2 Sep 2026 and runs to 31 Oct 2026. If the council goes ahead, a draft scheme would get a further public consultation before any final decision.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Moray?
From 1 Apr 2026: licence or renewal £540 (same for new and existing operators); temporary licence £540; provisional licence £220; confirmation of a provisional licence £320; transfer £309; variation £30; copy of licence £24; inspection £220. Planning, Building Standards and Environmental Health charge separately. Fees are not refunded if an application is refused.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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