Short-term let rules in Stirling (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 Stirling, checked against official sources. Free, unsubscribe any time.
Dates we're watching for Stirling (2)
- 1 Jan 2027: bookings made from this date are liable to the levy
- 14 Jun 2027: levy starts
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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.
3% visitor levy from 14 Jun 2027 (bookings made from 1 Jan 2027); Stirling residents and nights beyond 7 refunded. No control area. Licence fees from £113 (home letting/sharing, up to 4) and £283 (secondary letting, up to 4), as published for 2025-26.
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. Stirling Council application steps: email or post the forms to the Private Rented Housing team, then pay once you get a reference number.
Control area / planning
None foundNo control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland).
Check planning permission before you apply. If the property is in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, the park authority is the planning authority; you may also need a building warrant for alterations.
Visitor levy
AppliesApproved: 3% (charged before VAT) on paid overnight stays from 14 Jun 2027, for bookings made on or after 1 Jan 2027. Applies all year across the whole council area.
Exemptions (Stirling residents on the council tax register, nights beyond the first 7, some disability benefits, carers) are handled by refund to the visitor after the stay. Providers keep 3% of the levy collected.
Fees
As published on the council page (which says these apply 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 and are reviewed each year; 2026-27 figures not shown there). 3-year licence, first-time: home letting and/or sharing £113 (4 people or fewer) / £283 (5 or more); secondary letting £283 / £453.
Renewal: £85 / £227 and £227 / £397. Temporary licence or exemption (up to 6 weeks): £91 / £170 and £142 / £227.
Source: source
Compare Stirling's licence fees with other Scottish councils
What changed in Stirling
- Rules on this page last checked in full against the official sources listed above.
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 Stirling: 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 Jan 2027: bookings made from this date are liable to the levy
- 14 Jun 2027: levy starts
Stirling short-let rules: quick answers
Do I need a short-term let licence in Stirling?
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. Stirling Council application steps: email or post the forms to the Private Rented Housing team, then pay once you get a reference number.
Do I need planning permission for a short-term let in Stirling?
No control area. mygov.scot lists only two in Scotland (all of Edinburgh, and Badenoch & Strathspey in Highland). Check planning permission before you apply. If the property is in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, the park authority is the planning authority; you may also need a building warrant for alterations.
Is there a visitor levy (tourist tax) in Stirling?
Approved: 3% (charged before VAT) on paid overnight stays from 14 Jun 2027, for bookings made on or after 1 Jan 2027. Applies all year across the whole council area. Exemptions (Stirling residents on the council tax register, nights beyond the first 7, some disability benefits, carers) are handled by refund to the visitor after the stay. Providers keep 3% of the levy collected.
How much does a short-term let licence cost in Stirling?
As published on the council page (which says these apply 1 Apr 2025 to 31 Mar 2026 and are reviewed each year; 2026-27 figures not shown there). 3-year licence, first-time: home letting and/or sharing £113 (4 people or fewer) / £283 (5 or more); secondary letting £283 / £453. Renewal: £85 / £227 and £227 / £397. Temporary licence or exemption (up to 6 weeks): £91 / £170 and £142 / £227.
Answers summarise the sections above. Follow each section's official source before acting.
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