Short-term let rules in North Ayrshire (updated 29 Oct 2026)
Last checked: 6 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 (£300 or £480 for a new secondary let, by guest numbers; covers Arran and Cumbrae). No control area. No visitor levy decided yet. Second homes pay double council tax since April 2025.
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 to North Ayrshire Council's licensing team, using its STL licensing checklist to gather your supporting documents, and include the fee.
A licence lasts 3 years from the date of issue and is normally renewed for a further 3 years. If you apply to renew before it expires, your licence carries on until the council decides.
Processing can take up to 3 months. Where public notification is needed, a site notice is normally displayed for 21 days.
This covers the mainland and the islands of Arran and Cumbrae.
Control area / planning
None foundNo control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland).
North Ayrshire's licensing policy confirms the council does not currently have a short-term let control area and has not adopted an overprovision approach. You may still need planning permission, depending on the property.
Visitor levy
None foundNo levy yet. North Ayrshire's 2025 Visitor Management Plan says officers are looking at a possible visitor levy, including stakeholder pre-consultation and an options appraisal, with a report to Cabinet to follow.
In January 2026 the Scottish Government said the council had not yet confirmed whether it will go ahead. There is no published scheme, and any Scottish levy needs at least 18 months' notice.
Separately, second homes in North Ayrshire (including on Arran and Cumbrae) have paid a 100% council tax premium (double council tax) since 1 April 2025; a let that qualifies for business rates is not charged council tax.
Fees
Fees from 1 April 2026, by maximum occupancy (up to 4 guests / 5 or more). New licence: secondary let £300 / £480; home sharing or home letting (or both) £150 / £300.
Renewal: secondary let £240 / £420; home sharing or letting £135 / £240. Provisional licence: 25% of the new fee when you apply, 75% on confirmation.
Temporary licence: 50% of the new fee. Amendment £75, variation £90, transfer £110, replacement licence £60.
No refund if refused, withdrawn or granted for a shorter period.
Source: source
Compare North Ayrshire's licence fees with other Scottish councils
What changed in North Ayrshire
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
- Added a council page for North Ayrshire, including Arran and Cumbrae (licence £300 or £480 for a new secondary let from 1 April 2026; no control area; visitor levy not yet decided). 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 North Ayrshire: 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
- 12 Feb 2025: council approves 100% second homes council tax premium
- 1 Apr 2025: second homes premium starts
- 1 Apr 2026: current licence fees apply
- Jan 2026: Scottish Government says levy decision not yet confirmed
North Ayrshire short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in North Ayrshire?
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 to North Ayrshire Council's licensing team, using its STL licensing checklist to gather your supporting documents, and include the fee. A licence lasts 3 years from the date of issue and is normally renewed for a further 3 years. If you apply to renew before it expires, your licence carries on until the council decides. Processing can take up to 3 months. Where public notification is needed, a site notice is normally displayed for 21 days. This covers the mainland and the islands of Arran and Cumbrae.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in North Ayrshire?
No control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). North Ayrshire's licensing policy confirms the council does not currently have a short-term let control area and has not adopted an overprovision approach. You may still need planning permission, depending on the property.
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in North Ayrshire?
No levy yet. North Ayrshire's 2025 Visitor Management Plan says officers are looking at a possible visitor levy, including stakeholder pre-consultation and an options appraisal, with a report to Cabinet to follow. In January 2026 the Scottish Government said the council had not yet confirmed whether it will go ahead. There is no published scheme, and any Scottish levy needs at least 18 months' notice. Separately, second homes in North Ayrshire (including on Arran and Cumbrae) have paid a 100% council tax premium (double council tax) since 1 April 2025; a let that qualifies for business rates is not charged council tax.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in North Ayrshire?
Fees from 1 April 2026, by maximum occupancy (up to 4 guests / 5 or more). New licence: secondary let £300 / £480; home sharing or home letting (or both) £150 / £300. Renewal: secondary let £240 / £420; home sharing or letting £135 / £240. Provisional licence: 25% of the new fee when you apply, 75% on confirmation. Temporary licence: 50% of the new fee. Amendment £75, variation £90, transfer £110, replacement licence £60. No refund if refused, withdrawn or granted for a shorter period.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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