Short-term let rules in Orkney Islands (updated 29 Oct 2026)
Last checked: 4 official source pages for this council scanned automatically for changes on 2 Nov 2026What changed
Get an email when the rules here change
Licensing, planning, visitor levy and fees in Orkney Islands, checked against official sources. Free, unsubscribe any time.
Plus one short weekly UK "what changed" email.
Last checked 29 Oct 2026: no change logged for this council in our changes log. Get free alerts when it changes.
Licence needed (£275 to £583 for 3 years, 25% off on non-linked isles). No control area. Council decided against an overnight visitor levy on 23 Sep 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 through Orkney Islands Council: guidance notes, application form, floor and location plans, and a separate Scottish Fire and Rescue Service fire safety checklist.
You display a notice at the property (28-day objection period) only when the council asks you to. The council publishes a register of licences.
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. The council's Policy and Resources Committee decided on 23 Sep 2025 not to go ahead with an overnight visitor levy "at this time", after a feasibility study with Shetland and the Western Isles found strong local opposition, practical problems and marginal returns.
The council prefers a cruise ship or point-of-entry levy, which the current law does not allow.
Source: source
Fees
3-year licence, 2026/27 fees (3.8% up on 2025/26). Secondary letting: £354 (up to 4 guests), £434 (5 to 9), £583 (10 or more).
Home sharing and home letting: £275 / £343 / £457. Non-linked isles get 25% off: secondary £266 / £326 / £437, home sharing and letting £206 / £257 / £343.
Temporary licence (up to 6 weeks) £275 (£206 non-linked isles), transfer £138 (£103). The first £275 of each application fee is non-refundable.
Source: source
Compare Orkney Islands' licence fees with other Scottish councils
What changed in Orkney Islands
- 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 Orkney Islands: 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
- 23 Sep 2025: council decides against an overnight visitor levy
- 1 Apr 2026: 2026/27 licence fees (3.8% increase)
Orkney Islands short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Orkney Islands?
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 Orkney Islands Council: guidance notes, application form, floor and location plans, and a separate Scottish Fire and Rescue Service fire safety checklist. You display a notice at the property (28-day objection period) only when the council asks you to. The council publishes a register of licences.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Orkney Islands?
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 Orkney Islands?
No levy. The council's Policy and Resources Committee decided on 23 Sep 2025 not to go ahead with an overnight visitor levy "at this time", after a feasibility study with Shetland and the Western Isles found strong local opposition, practical problems and marginal returns. The council prefers a cruise ship or point-of-entry levy, which the current law does not allow.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Orkney Islands?
3-year licence, 2026/27 fees (3.8% up on 2025/26). Secondary letting: £354 (up to 4 guests), £434 (5 to 9), £583 (10 or more). Home sharing and home letting: £275 / £343 / £457. Non-linked isles get 25% off: secondary £266 / £326 / £437, home sharing and letting £206 / £257 / £343. Temporary licence (up to 6 weeks) £275 (£206 non-linked isles), transfer £138 (£103). The first £275 of each application fee is non-refundable.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
More council pages in Scotland
- Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- Scottish Borders
- Shetland Islands
All councils in Scotland · All Scotland rules · All councils
Get free rule-change alerts for Orkney Islands
One email when Orkney Islands short-let rules change, plus the weekly UK "what changed" email. Free. Unsubscribe any time. Prefer every Scotland change? Get Scotland alerts.