Licences and other permissions

This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales

A licence, permit, certificate or registration is sometimes needed in Scotland for certain activities, events and jobs.

If you think you might need a licence or other type of permission that isn’t listed on this page then you should contact your local council or a relevant organisation to check.

You can find your local council on mygov.scot.

Alcohol

If you are selling alcohol then you will need an alcohol licence from your local council. There are 2 main types of licence:

  • a premises licence - for selling alcohol from a particular venue

  • a personal licence - for someone to authorise the sale of alcohol.

There is also an occasional licence which allows you to sell alcohol at special events. Find out more information about occasional licences on GOV.UK.

You can read more about alcohol licensing on the Scottish government website.

Objecting to an alcohol licence application

You can object to an alcohol licence application to the local council licensing board.

 The process is different for each local council. To find out how to object you should contact your local council. Find your local council on mygov.scot.

Animals

A licence from your local council might be needed to keep certain types of animals or run a business that involves animals.

You'll need a licence to:

  • sell animals as pets

  • run animal rehoming activities or animal accommodation

  • run a riding establishment

  • keep dangerous wild animals.

You might want to check with your local council if you need a licence. Find your local council on mygov.scot.

Catteries and kennels

A licence is required from your local council to run a cattery or kennel.

There is more information about animal boarding establishment licences on GOV.UK.

Dog breeders

You need a licence from your local council if you run a business that breeds and sells dogs. 

You can read more about dog breeding licences on GOV.UK.

Pet shops

A licence from the local council environmental health department is needed to open a pet shop. 

Complaints about the way animals are kept should be addressed to the licensing authority or to an animal welfare organisation, such as the Scottish SPCA. 

Check how to make a report about an animal on the Scottish SPCA website.

Riding establishments

Businesses which keep horses to hire out for riding or for riding instruction must be licensed by the local council.

You can read more about riding establishment licences on GOV.UK.

Businesses

You can find information about how to register a new company from Companies House on GOV.UK.

Business names

If you want to know whether a limited company is already using a name, you can check company names on GOV.UK.

Hairdressers

You might have to register with your local council if you run a hairdressers or barbers. 

This will depend on where you live. You should check with your local council if this applies to you. 

You can find your local council on mygov.scot.

Window cleaners

Most local councils require window cleaners to get a licence before they can work.

Find out more about a window cleaner’s licence on GOV.UK.

Car boot sales

A market operators licence from your local council might be needed to hold a car boot sale.

There is more information about market operators licences on GOV.UK.

Caravan sites

Planning permission for use of the land as a caravan site is needed from the local council.

A caravan site licence from the local council’s environmental health department is then necessary to operate the site.

Care homes

All care homes need to be regulated to national standards by the Care Inspectorate.

Find out more on the Care Inspectorate website.

Children and young people

If you run a business or activity that involves children and young people then you might need a licence or registration.

You might also need to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme if you do regulated work with children.

Read more about the PVG scheme.

Activity centres for young people

A licence is needed to run a centre providing the following activities for children and young people under 18:

  • caving

  • climbing - including abseiling and scrambling activities, except on purpose-designed structures

  • trekking - including walking, pony-trekking, mountain biking, off-piste skiing

  • water sports.

Licences are issued by Adventure Activities Licensing Authority. Find out more about getting an activities licence on the Health and Safety Executive website.

Childminding and children’s nurseries

Childminders who receive payment to look after children at home or anyone running a children's nursery or other daycare facility must be registered with the Care Inspectorate. 

Find out about registering as a childminder on the Care Inspectorate website.

Foster homes

To become foster parents, you must first be registered and approved by the local council social work department.

Cigarettes and vapes

Retailers who sell cigarettes or vapes (e-cigarettes) must be registered on the Scottish Register of Tobacco and Nicotine Vapour Product Retailers.

There is more information about how to register on the Tobacco Register Scotland website.

Consumer credit businesses

Authorisation or approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is needed to run many types of businesses which involve consumer credit, including a consumer credit business, a consumer hire business, credit brokerage, debt adjusting, pawnbroking, debt counselling and debt collecting. 

Find out more on the Financial Conduct Authority website.

Drones and model aircraft

There are rules in the UK that govern the flying of drones and model aircraft. You might need to register or obtain official permission. 

There is more information about flying drones on the Civil Aviation Authority website.

Entertainment

A licence from the local council might be needed to hold any public entertainments, such as music, dancing, art exhibitions, boxing or wrestling. This could be whether or not an admission charge is made.

Certain events might be exempt from the need for a licence.

Busking

You do not need a licence to busk, but you do have to be aged 16 or over.

If the police receive any complaints by people who might have been annoyed by your performance, then you could be asked to stop.

Cinemas

If you are screening a film to members of the public then you will need a licence. This is the case even if the audience has not paid to watch the film.

There is more information about licensing for cinemas on the Independent Cinema Office website.

As well as local council permission another licence may be required if music to be performed is still within copyright rules.

If the author/composer of the works performed is still alive or has been dead for less than 50 years then permission is required. 

You can check if you need a music licence on the PPL PRS website.

Film and video shows

Premises usually can’t be used for the public showing of films or videos unless they are licensed by the local council.

There is an exemption for premises used less than 6 days a year and for showings conducted by non-commercial organisations, which are covered by an exemption certificate.

Hypnotism

Demonstrations of hypnotism for public entertainment must be licensed by the local council.

Musical performances

You might need a licence if you use, play or perform copyright music in public. You can get a licence from Phonographic Performance Ltd and the Performance Rights Society (PPL PRS).

You can check if you need a music licence on the PPL PRS website.

Firearms

You need a licence to own a firearm. 

There is more information about licences for firearms on mygov.scot.

Airguns

It is an offence to own or use any air weapon without the proper certificate or permit, unless you are exempt.

Find more information about the licensing scheme on mygov.scot.

Firearms dealer

Anyone dealing in firearms or ammunition must register with the police. 

Read more about registering as a firearms dealer on the Police Scotland website.

Fireworks

Fireworks are regarded as explosives. There are strict rules about what fireworks can be sold and who they can be sold to. 

If you want to sell fireworks, you should apply to your local council which may need to refer you to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Find out more about selling fireworks on the HSE website. 

There are rules about when and where you can use fireworks. The general public can only use fireworks between 6pm and 11pm, except on:

  • 5 November - they can be used from 6pm-12am

  • New Year's Eve, the night of Chinese New Year or the night of Diwali - they can be used from 6pm-1am.

It is an offence to use fireworks outside these times. 

There are restrictions on carrying or using fireworks in certain places. Unless you have a reasonable excuse or are exempt, it's against the law to:

  • have any firework or pyrotechnic other than category 1 fireworks, like party poppers, Christmas crackers and sparklers, in a public place including the streets and parks

  • have any firework or pyrotechnic, such as handheld flares, at sport and live music events in venues that can hold 1,000 or more people

  • light or throw a lit firework in a Firework Control Zone, you can still use category 1 fireworks, like sparklers - zones are decided by the local council and might include private gardens.

You can be fined up to £5,000 or get a prison sentence of up to 6 months if you commit an offence.

The police and the courts will decide what a reasonable excuse is. You might be exempt because of your job, or if you have a distress flare and you’re a hillwalker, for example.

Find out more about the law and fireworks in the Scottish government guidance.

Firework displays and events

There are different rules for public fireworks displays or events. 

If you want to hold an organised fireworks display, you will need to apply to your local council for a dispensation. 

You can read more about how to apply for a dispensation on GOV.UK.

Fishing

If you want to fish in rivers or inland lochs then you need the permission of the landowner or an angling club. 

No permission is needed for sea fishing, except for salmon.

Food

You will need to register with the local council if you run a food business.

There is useful information about registering a food business on the Food Standards Scotland website.

Fundraising

The laws on fundraising are complex. A licence or some other form of permission might be needed for some activities. 

Find out more about fundraising on the Scottish Charity Regulator website. 

Street collections

If you are collecting money for a charity in public or by going house-to-house then you need a permit from your local council.

There is more information about public charitable collection permits on GOV.UK.

Gambling

If you run a gambling service, such as an arcade or bingo, you will need a licence.

There is more information about gambling licences on the Gambling Commission website.

Lotteries or raffles

Anyone running a public lottery on behalf of a non-commercial organisation must be registered with the local authority. 

If the value of the tickets to be sold exceeds £20,000 or annual proceeds will be over £250,000, the lottery must be registered with the Gambling Commission.

If a lottery or raffle is only incidental to an entertainment, for example, a fete or dance, or a private society holds a lottery in which the sale of tickets is restricted to members of the society, registration is not required.

Knives

Dealers of non-domestic knives, for example, hunting shops, must have a licence under the Scottish Knife Dealers Licence Scheme.

There is more information about the knife dealers licence on GOV.UK.

Marriage and civil partnership

Before a marriage or civil partnership can take place, each party must give notice at a register office in the area where the marriage or civil partnership is to be registered.

Read more about getting married or about registering a civil partnership.

Massage and special treatment

A licence is required from the local council in order to run a business that offers massages or other special treatments.

There is more information about massage and special treatment premises licensing on GOV.UK.

Metal detectors

A licence is not needed to use a metal detector, but the landowner’s permission is needed to enter, search or dig on their land.

You can read more about what to do if you find treasure or lost goods.

Radio

If you use amateur radio then a practical training course or an examination must be undertaken before a licence is issued. There are different types of amateur licence. 

Find out more about amateur radio licences on the Ofcom website. 

Processions and street parades

Anyone intending to hold a public procession must give 28 days prior notice in writing to the local council. 

The local council might decide to ban or restrict the procession in some way. Organisers can appeal to the Sheriff in such a case.

Second hand dealers

If you're a second hand dealer then you have to register with the local council. There might be some exceptions.

Read more about second hand dealer registration on GOV.UK.

Short-term lets

A licence is required to use a property to offer short-term lets. This is to make sure the property is safe and has been through all the required checks. 

Find out more about short-term let licences on mygov.scot.

Skin piercings and tattoos

A tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence is needed from the local council to do:

  • tattooing

  • piercings

  • electrolysis

  • acupuncture.

There is more information about tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licences on GOV.UK.

Street markets and street trading

Market traders in most areas require a licence from the local council.

You can read more about the street trader’s licence on GOV.UK.

The operator of the market will need a licence which is separate from a street traders licence.

TV (television) licences

For information about when you need to have a TV licence see the TV Licensing website.

If you are having difficulty paying for your TV licence there is more information about the different ways to pay on the TV Licensing website.

If you're renting, you'll have to pay for the TV Licence yourself unless your tenancy agreement states that the landlord covers this. You should still check that it has been paid for by contacting TV Licensing. 

If there's no licence, you could be liable for prosecution for watching live TV or using BBC iPlayer.

There's more information about TV licences on GOV.UK.

Taping at home

You’re allowed to record TV and radio programmes at home to watch or listen to later. However, you can't record a broadcast for any other reason.

Tree felling

If a tree is on your own property, you can usually cut it down unless the tree is in a preservation area or covered by a tree preservation order when separate permission is needed. In these cases a Scottish Forestry licence would be required to fell trees. 

There is more information about felling licences on the Scottish Forestry website.

Vehicles

A driving licence is needed to drive most vehicles on public roads. Licences are issued by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

There is more information about driving licences on GOV.UK.

Driving instructors

Anyone giving professional paid instruction in driving a motor car must either be registered as an Approved Driving Instructor or hold a trainee's licence to give instruction. 

Find out more about becoming a driving instructor on GOV.UK. 

Heavy goods vehicle drivers

A licence is required to drive a heavy goods vehicle. Licences are available from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). 

You must be aged 21 or over when you apply unless you are registered under a training scheme and are driving a vehicle owned by your registered employer or training establishment, in which case you must be at least 18 years old.

There is more information about becoming a heavy goods vehicle driver on GOV.UK.

Minibuses

If you are a driver of a minibus which can carry 8 or more passengers you might need a passenger carrying vehicle (PCV) entitlement added to your licence by the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). 

Find out more about driving a minibus on GOV.UK.

Public service vehicles

A licence from the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is required to drive a large passenger-carrying vehicle.

Taxis and private hire cars

Taxis, private hire cars and their drivers need a licence from the local council.

Waste

You might need permission or registration when it comes to getting rid of waste, such as:

  • written permission from your local council to place a rubbish skip in a public road

  • registration with your local council if you are dealing in scrap metal

  • a licence from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to run a waste disposal site.