Short-term let rules in Shetland Islands (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 (£210 to £530 by guest numbers, 2026/27). No control area. Council decided against an overnight visitor levy in 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. Shetland Islands Council's Environmental Health team runs the scheme: apply through the council's online portal, by email to stl@shetland.gov.uk, or by post to Environmental Health, Gutters' Hut, 7 North Ness, Lerwick ZE1 0LZ. Fees are non-refundable whether or not a licence is granted.
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. Councillors on the Policy and Resources Committee decided against an overnight visitor levy in September 2025 after a feasibility study said the risks outweighed the benefits. The council has been looking at a point-of-entry levy instead, which would need new law.
Fees
2026/27 fees, now set by guest numbers rather than bedrooms. Home sharing or home letting: £210 (1 to 6 guests) / £335 (7 or more).
Secondary letting: £370 / £530. Admin fee £37.
From the council's 2026-27 Environmental Health charges schedule (shetland.gov.uk blocked our direct check, so read via a search index of the official file on 24 Oct 2026).
Source: source
Compare Shetland Islands' licence fees with other Scottish councils
What changed in Shetland 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 Shetland 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
- Sep 2025: council decides against an overnight visitor levy
- 1 Apr 2026: 2026/27 licence fees
Shetland Islands short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Shetland 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. Shetland Islands Council's Environmental Health team runs the scheme: apply through the council's online portal, by email to stl@shetland.gov.uk, or by post to Environmental Health, Gutters' Hut, 7 North Ness, Lerwick ZE1 0LZ. Fees are non-refundable whether or not a licence is granted.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Shetland 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 Shetland Islands?
No levy. Councillors on the Policy and Resources Committee decided against an overnight visitor levy in September 2025 after a feasibility study said the risks outweighed the benefits. The council has been looking at a point-of-entry levy instead, which would need new law.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Shetland Islands?
2026/27 fees, now set by guest numbers rather than bedrooms. Home sharing or home letting: £210 (1 to 6 guests) / £335 (7 or more). Secondary letting: £370 / £530. Admin fee £37. From the council's 2026-27 Environmental Health charges schedule (shetland.gov.uk blocked our direct check, so read via a search index of the official file on 24 Oct 2026).
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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