What needs planning permission

Most kinds of development may need formal approval, such as:

• house or flat modifications: altering or extending a house or flat, or building in the garden. Check the Scottish Government website for consent requirements
• change of use: changing the use of land or buildings, like converting a home into an office
• road access: creating an access point onto a trunk or classified road
• engineering works: performing engineering or excavation activities
• agricultural or forestry buildings: constructing buildings or private ways related to agriculture or forestry
• other buildings: erecting or extending any other type of building or structure, including those for residential, industrial, commercial, or renewable energy purposes

View current regulations on changes of use and non-domestic Permitted Development Rights: Testing changes

• The Town and Country Planning (Use Class Order) (Scotland) 1997 (and 1998 amendments) 
• The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) (Order) 1992 (and amendments)

To confirm that your proposals do not require planning permission, we will require a certificate of Lawfulness of a Proposed Use or Development. 

Other issues to consider

The following highlights a number of key considerations, but is not a comprehensive list.

Listed Buildings

Works to the interior or exterior, including demolition, of Listed Buildings may require Listed Building Consent. Whether a building is listed can be established from Historic Environment Scotland. 

Conservation Areas

You can establish whether your property is in a Conservation Area from our Find It mapping system. 

Demolition

Demolition of buildings and walls within Conservation Areas will require Conservation Area Consent unless exempt (see exemptions). Demolition of buildings outside Conservation Areas will require Prior Notification to us unless exempted under Class 70 of the General Permitted Development (Scotland) Order 1992 (as amended).   

Trees

Trees within Conservation Areas, protected by Tree Preservation Order, or subject to a condition of a planning consent are afforded protection. Further information is available. 

Adverts

The need for advertisement consent for displaying signage and adverts is set out in national regulations. For the current signage regulations see The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984 (and amendments)

Footway Crossing Permits

Irrespective of the need for planning permission, a permit will be required from the Roads Authority for a footway crossing (such as where forming a new access or driveway into a property, that crosses the footway).  

Planning History

You can search for the planning history of a site using our public access portal.  

Making an application

A "which form?" wizard and planning fee calculator are available on the national eplanning website.