What Local Authority does
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local level. Responsibilities vary by council.
Contact your specific local council. Key functions: food hygiene inspections, alcohol premises licences, noise abatement, planning permission, business rates.
Contact Local Authority
Legal framework
Legislation that Local Authority directly enforces.
Primary legislation
Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (opens in a new tab)
Public Health Act 1936
House to House Collections Act 1939
Coast Protection Act 1949
Marriage Act 1949
Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
Children and Young Persons Act 1963
Riding Establishments Act 1964
Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975
Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979
Highways Act 1980
Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
LGMPA 1982
Weights and Measures Act 1985
Environmental Protection Act 1990
Food Safety Act 1990
Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990
PLBCAA 1990
Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Part VIII
Sunday Trading Act 1994
Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996
Noise Act 1996
Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996
The Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
Building (Scotland) Act 2003
Licensing Act 2003
Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004
Housing Act 2004 (HHSRS framework)
Gambling Act 2005
Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
Housing (Scotland) Act 2006
Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011
Alcohol (Minimum Pricing) (Scotland) Act 2012
Live Music Act 2012
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Housing (Wales) Act 2014
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Planning (Wales) Act 2015
Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016
Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016
Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018
Planning (Scotland) Act 2019
Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020
Private Tenancies Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024
Secondary legislation
Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987
The Street Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulations 1992
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995
Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1998
The Children (Protection at Work) Regulations 1998
The Street Works (Records) (England) Regulations 2002
The Town and Country Planning (Enforcement Notices and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2002
Building (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004
… and 38 more statutory instruments.
Related legislation
Legislation connected to Local Authority’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Administered / monitored
Local Government Act 1988
Local Government Finance Act 1988
Street Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998
The Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000
The Street Works (Sharing of Costs of Works) (England) Regulations 2000
Licensing Act 2003 (Fees) Regulations 2005
Planning and Energy Act 2008
The Street Works (Charges for Unreasonably Prolonged Occupation of the Highway) (England) Regulations 2009
Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (England) Regulations 2012
The Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2015
Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017
Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017
Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Order 2021