Accommodation compliance for hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets
- 3 steps
UK Act of Parliament
1982
Scotland
Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
88 compliance obligations, 4 practical guides across 2 topics · 4 journeys
Penalty landscape
19 of 88 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 28 carry different penalties and 41 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 52
- Trader 6
- Licence Holder 4
- Landlord 2
- Occupier 2
- Director or Officer 1
Plus 21 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Starting a short-term lets business in Scotland
- 2 steps
Scotland Airbnb compliance checklist
- 1 step
Fix Scottish licence renewal problems
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
2 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
1 guidesMentioned in related content
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Licence Holders also bound by 221 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Petroleum (Current Model Clauses) Order 1999 1999 317 duties
- The Petroleum Licensing (Exploration and Production) (Seaward and Landward Areas) Regulations 2004 2004 123 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 76 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 68 duties
- The Petroleum (Production) (Landward Areas) Regulations 1991 1991 65 duties
Landlords also bound by 216 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 2016 74 duties
- Housing Act 1985 1985 53 duties
- Housing Act 1996 1996 30 duties
- The Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003 2003 27 duties
- The Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2004 2004 26 duties
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
Directors and Officers also bound by 425 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 161 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 108 duties
- Insolvency Act 1986 1986 72 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 55 duties
- The Housing Administration (England and Wales) Rules 2018 2018 26 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — Licensing—General Provisions
Rights of entry and inspection.
Fine up to £1,000- Obstructing licensing inspections or failing to produce records Any Person
Powers of entry to and search of unlicensed premises.
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct or refuse a search of unlicensed premises Any Person
Offences, etc.
2 years imprisonment- Operate without a required civic licence or breach licence conditions Any Person
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application of Parts I and II of this Act.
Licensing authorities.
Discharge of functions of licensing authorities.
Mandatory licence conditions
Standard licence conditions
Further provisions as to licensing.
Interpretation of Parts I and II.
Part II — Licensing and Regulation—Particular Activities
Taxi and private hire car licences.
Fine up to £500- Fail to return taxi or private hire licence and plates after sale Any Person
Inspection and testing of vehicles.
- Present taxi or private hire vehicle for inspection and testing Any Person
Fees for taxi and private hire car licences.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must set taxi and private hire fees to cover costs Local authority
Signs on vehicles other than taxis.
Fine up to £1,000- Improperly marking a private hire vehicle as a taxi Any Person
Taxi fares.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authorities must review and fix taxi fare scales every 18 months Local authority
Publication and coming into effect of taxi fares
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must publish and set start dates for taxi fare scales Local authority
Regulations relating to taxis and private hire cars and their drivers.
Fine up to £1,000- Breach of private hire car regulations regarding disabled passengers Any Person
Offences.
Fine up to £2,500- Operate an unlicensed taxi or private hire vehicle Any Person
Second-hand dealers’ licences.
Fine up to £1,000- Fail to record mileage when buying second-hand vehicles for resale Any Person
Disposal of stock-in-trade.
Fine up to £1,000- Unlawful early disposal of second-hand stock Any Person
Sellers of second-hand goods: offences etc.
Fine up to £1,000- Providing false details when selling to a second-hand dealer Any Person
Functions of the court in relation to second-hand dealers convicted of offences.
60 days imprisonment- Breach of a court order regarding the sale of second-hand goods Any Person
Applications for knife dealers' licences: notice
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must give public notice of knife dealer applications Local authority
Knife dealers' licences: conditions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must attach specific conditions to knife dealers' licences Local authority
Provision of information to holder of knife dealer's licence
Fine up to £1,000- Provide false information to a licensed knife dealer Any Person
Powers of constables and authorised officers
- Refuse entry to or obstruct constable/authorised officer executing a warrant Any Person
Power to inspect documents
Fine up to £1,000- Fail to produce documents for knife dealer inspection Any Person
Offences by partnerships
2 years imprisonment- Partner liable for partnership knife‑related offences Any Person
Appropriate licence required
- Obtain both second-hand and knife dealer licences if applicable Trader
Duty to avoid conflict between conditions of licences
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must prevent conflicting dealer licence conditions Local authority
Metal dealers: licensing and regulation.
- Obtain a licence and specify premises to trade as a metal dealer Trader
Itinerant metal dealers.
- Obtain a licence to work as an itinerant metal dealer Trader
Acceptable forms of payment for metal
Unlimited fine- Making or receiving illegal cash payments for scrap metal Any Person
Form of records
- Maintain scrap metal records in the prescribed format Trader
Metal dealer to keep records for each place of business
- Maintain separate records for each metal dealing business location Trader
Offences relating to metal dealing.
Fine up to £1,000- Buy metal from or sell metal to a child Any Person
Functions of the court in relation to metal dealers convicted of offences.
60 days imprisonment- Breach of a court order regarding metal processing or disposal Any Person
Appropriate licence required.
- Obtain separate licences for each type of metal or second-hand dealing Trader
Boat hire licences.
Fine up to £2,500- Operate a hire boat without valid insurance Any Person
Market operators’ licences.
- Obtain a licence to operate a private market Any Person
Window cleaners’ licences.
- Obtain a licence to work as a window cleaner Any Person
Additional activities.
60 days imprisonment- Carry out a designated activity without a required licence Any Person
Browse 31 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application of sections 10 to 27 and 38 to 44.
Taxi and private hire car driving licences.
Persons disqualified by reason of immigration status
Operation of taxis outside licensing areas.
Journeys in England and Wales by vehicles and drivers licensed under this Act.
Appeals in respect of taxi fares.
Taxi stances.
Exemptions
Interpretation of sections 10 to 22.
Knife dealers' licences
Knife dealers' licences: warrants to enter, search and seize articles
Sections 27E to 27G: interpretation
Forfeiture orders
Effect of forfeiture order
Remote sales of knives etc.
Sales and dispatches in different local authority areas
Offences in relation to knife dealers' licences: exceptions
Orders under sections 27A to 27R
Metal dealers’ exemption warrants.
Keeping of records.
Retention of metal.
Receipts and invoices: itinerant metal dealers.
Acceptable forms of payment: meaning of “bank or building society account”
Requirement to keep records
Register of metal dealers and itinerant metal dealers
Interpretation of sections 28 to 36.
Exemptions
Street traders’ licences.
Public entertainment licences.
Indoor sports entertainment licences.
Late hours catering licences.
Part 3A — CIVIC LICENSING STANDARDS OFFICERS
General functions of a civic licensing standards officer
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Civic licensing standards officers must supervise and support licence holders Local authority
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Civic licensing standards officers
Part III — Control of sex shops and sexual entertainment venues
Control of sex shops.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must notify the public before regulating sex shops Local authority
Statements of policy in relation to sexual entertainment venues
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must create and publish a sexual entertainment venue policy Local authority
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Licensing of sexual entertainment venues: interpretation
Licensing of sexual entertainment venues
Deemed grant of applications
Mandatory licence conditions
Standard licence conditions
Part IV — Offences, Powers of Constables, etc.
Urinating etc.
Fine up to £500- Urinating or defecating in a public place Any Person
Dangerous and annoying creatures.
Fine up to £1,000- Failure to control dangerous or annoying creatures Any Person
Drunkenness.
Fine up to £500- Public drunkenness while in charge of a child or a firearm Any Person
Obscene material.
5 years imprisonment- Display, publish, or distribute obscene material Any Person
Extreme pornography
3 years imprisonment- Possession of extreme pornographic images Any Person
Indecent photographs etc. of children.
10 years imprisonment- Create, distribute, or advertise indecent images of children Any Person
Possession of indecent photographs of children.
5 years imprisonment- Possession of indecent images of children Any Person
Obstruction by pedestrians.
Fine up to £500- Pedestrian obstruction of public passage Any Person
Playing instruments, singing, playing radios, etc.
Fine up to £50- Cause annoyance through loud music or noise Any Person
Touting.
Fine up to £500- Aggressive touting or failure to stop touting when asked Any Person
Fires.
Fine up to £1,000- Lighting a fire in a public place that causes danger or alarm Any Person
Being in or on building etc. with intent to commit theft.
3 months imprisonment- Unauthorised presence on premises with intent to steal Any Person
Convicted thief in possession.
3 months imprisonment- Possession of tools for theft by a person with prior convictions Any Person
Powers of search and seizure.
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct search or fail to stop vehicle for police Any Person
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Soliciting and importuning by prostitutes.
Dogs: fouling of pavements.
Extreme pornography: excluded images
Extreme pornography: defences
Sections 52 and 52A: exceptions for photographs of 16 and 17 year olds
Section 52B: proof of exceptions
Powers of arrest and apprehension.
Protection of insecure premises.
Part V — Public Processions
Functions of regional and islands councils in relation to processions.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must notify event organisers of procession orders or changes Local authority
Appeals against orders under section 63.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Sheriff must determine appeals against procession orders Tribunal / Court
Offences and enforcement.
3 months imprisonment- Organising or participating in an illegal public procession Any Person
Guidance to local authorities
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must follow Scottish Ministers' guidance on civic functions Local authority
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part VI — Lost and Abandoned Property
Duty of finder.
Fine up to £200- Failure to report or hand over lost property found on premises Any Person
Functions of chief constable.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Chief Constable must manage and return lost property Statutory regulator
Browse 11 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Claims by owner etc. prior to disposal.
Powers of chief constable regarding rewards.
Right arising on disposal of property.
Rights to compensation.
No right of ownership conferred by finding.
Living creatures.
Stray dogs.
Appeal to sheriff.
Financial provisions.
Crown application of Part VI.
Interpretation of Part VI.
Part VII — Property in Possession of Persons Taken into Police Custody
Chief constable to take charge of property.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Chief Constable must manage and record lost or found property Statutory regulator
Provision as to property where the person in custody is the owner etc.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Police must manage or return property belonging to persons in custody Statutory regulator
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part VIIA — Property In Unlawful Possession of Persons Taken Into Police Custody and Certain Other Property to which Part VII does not apply
Duty of care etc.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Chief constable must care for property and notify potential owners Statutory regulator
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Application of Part VIIA to property.
Certification by prosecutor.
Claims by owner etc. prior to disposal.
Disposal of relevant property.
Retention of relevant property by Scottish Police Authority
Appeals.
Crown application of Part VIIA.
Further financial provision.
References in this Part to “chief constable”.
Part VIII — Buildings, etc.
Safety of platforms etc.
Fine up to £2,500- Use of unauthorized raised structures or platforms Any Person
Lighting of common stairs etc.
- Provide and maintain lighting in common stairs and passages Landlord
Cleaning and painting of common stairs, etc.
Fine up to £500- Failure to clean or maintain common property Occupier
Fire precautions in common stairs etc.
Fine up to £1,000- Fail to comply with a fire safety notice for common areas Occupier
Private open spaces.
- Maintain private open spaces and boundaries safely Landlord
Offences relating to powers of entry and carrying out of works.
Fine up to £1,000- Obstructing local authority access or works Any Person
Contents of notices.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must include specific details in land-related notices Local authority
Recovery of expenses incurred under section 87 by charging order.
Amended 1 timeBrowse 15 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Local authorities’ powers in relation to buildings in need of repair.
Installation of pipes through neighbouring property.
Installation of lights in private property.
Disused petrol containers.
Statues and monuments.
Street names and house numbers.
Luminous tube signs.
Power to enter, execute works and recover expense.
Interest on expenses.
Entry warrants.
Execution of owner’s works by occupier.
Powers of entry: occupier and owner.
Appeals.
Time for enforcing certain notices.
Replacement of provisions of this Part by Health and Safety Regulations.
Part IX — Miscellaneous and General
Publication of management rules.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must publish and display management rules Local authority
Inspection and copies of management rules.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local Authority must allow public inspection of management rules Local authority
Offences.
Fine up to £200- Breach of local authority land management rules or exclusion orders Any Person
Regulation of charitable collections.
Fine up to £1,000 Amended 6 times- Organise an unauthorised public charitable collection Any Person
Savings for Crown and other rights.
Amended 2 timesControl of the seashore, adjacent waters and inland waters.
Fine up to £200 Amended 12 times- Breach of local seashore or water byelaws Any Person
Power to execute works on seashore.
Amended 11 timesInterpretation of sections 120 to 122.
Amended 7 timesOffences by bodies corporate.
Unlimited fine- Personal liability for directors and officers for corporate offences Director or Officer
Application to Crown.
Amended 1 timeInterpretation.
Amended 4 timesBrowse 17 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.110
Cessation of certain byelaws and saving for certain byelaws.
Making of management rules.
Evidence of management rules.
Expulsion or exclusion for breach of management rules.
Exclusion orders.
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Repeal of sections 124 and 125, savings and transitional provisions.
Advertising on local authority lands, vehicles etc.
Control of stray dogs.
Killing of or injury to dogs worrying livestock.
Expenses.
Postponement of repeal of Burgh Police (Scotland) Acts and local statutory provisions.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Consequential, transitional and supplementary provisions.
Citation, commencement, repeals and extent.
Schedules
Control of Sex Shops
- Obtain a licence to operate a sex shop Any Person
(1) A holder of a licence may at any time...
- Return your licence to the council within 7 days if suspended, revoked, varied, or activity given up Licence Holder
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a person who may,...
- Appeal licensing decisions within 28 days after exhausting pre-appeal procedures Any Person
(1) Where an application for the grant or renewal of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Licensing authority must decide licence applications fairly and notify within 7 days Local authority
(1) Sub-paragraph (2) applies if— (a) a taxi driver's licence...
Fine up to £1,000- Fail to return taxi or private hire licence after expiry or disqualification Any Person
(1) Where there is a material change of circumstances affecting...
- Notify licensing authority of material changes to your licence activity Licence Holder
(1) The local authority shall, in accordance with sub-paragraph (2)...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authority must notify licensing decisions within 7 days Local authority
The holder of a licence under this Schedule shall keep...
- Display your licence copy at the specified location Licence Holder
(1) A holder of a licence may at any time...
- Return licence to local authority within 7 days if revoked, varied, or shop closes Licence Holder
(1) A person who— (a) without reasonable excuse uses any...
Fine up to £20,000- Operating an unlicensed sex shop or breaching licence conditions Any Person
(1) Without prejudice to any other provision of this Schedule...
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct inspection of licensed premises Any Person
(1) If a justice of the peace or sheriff is...
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct entry or search of unlicensed sex shop premises Any Person
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, a person who may,...
- Follow local authority's case-stating procedures before appealing a licence decision Any Person
Subject to the provision of this Schedule, no person shall...
- Obtain a licence to operate a sex shop from the local authority Any Person
Browse 55 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Repeals
Licensing—Further Provisions as to the General System
(1) An application to a licensing authority for the grant...
(1) A licensing authority may, at any time, whether or...
(1) A licensing authority may, whether upon a complaint made...
(1) A licensing authority shall, whether upon a complaint made...
(1) A licensing authority shall cause to be kept a...
(1) A licensing authority shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below—...
When a licensing authority sends by post, for the purposes...
(1) A licensing authority may determine to accept—
(1) A licensing authority shall, within 10 days of being...
(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision as...
(1) A licensing authority may determine that a hearing is...
In this Schedule, “relevant objection or representation” means—
(1) A licensing authority shall, as soon as an application...
(1) In this Schedule “ immigration offence ” means an...
(1) In this Schedule– (a) “booking office licence” means a...
(1) Any objection or representation relating to an application for...
(1) In considering an application for the grant or renewal...
Where a licensing authority have refused an application for the...
(1) A licensing authority may grant a licence to have...
(1) Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of...
Nothing in this Schedule— (a) shall afford a defence to...
(1) Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of...
(1) The local authority may at any time revoke a...
(1) Where there is a material change of circumstances affecting...
(1) A local authority may, at any time, whether or...
(1) A local authority shall cause to be kept a...
(1) A local authority shall, subject to sub-paragraph (2) below—...
(1) In this Schedule “sex shop” means any premises, vehicle,...
When a local authoritysends by post, for the purposes of...
(1) A local authority may determine to accept—
(1) A local authority shall, within 10 days of being...
(1) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision as...
(1) A local authority may determine that a hearing is...
(1) Without prejudice to any enactment other than this Schedule...
In this Schedule— ... “ authorised civilian employee ” means...
(1) Any person who— (a) uses in any area any...
(1) An application for the grant or renewal of a...
(1) An applicant for the grant or renewal of a...
(1) The local authority shall, as soon as an application...
(1) Where an application for the grant or renewal of...
Retention and disposal of property seized under section 54(2A) of this Act
This schedule applies to property seized under section 54(2A) of...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, property to which this...
(1) Subject to section 17(3)(a) of the Police and Fire...
Where the period of retention permitted by paragraph 2 above...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (5) and (6) below, the owner...
(1) Where this sub-paragraph applies, the chief constable may—
(1) A claimant under sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 5 above...
In this Schedule— “ chief constable ” means the chief...
Minor and Consequential Amendments
In Schedule 2 to the Firearms Act 1968 (offences to...
In the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973—
In section 79 of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Society lotteries (Gambling Commission) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- House to house charitable collections licence (Northern Ireland) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- House to house collection licence (England and Wales) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Street collection licence (England and Wales) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Follow the Code of Fundraising Practice and your trustee duties (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- CCNI fundraising guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Public charitable collection permit (Scotland) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Register a charity with OSCR (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Edinburgh visitor levy - edinburgh.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Short-term let legislation - VisitScotland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- ... and 7 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Local Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
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