Apply for planning permission

Planning permission means that we’ve given you our approval to move forward with a development project that requires our consent.

‘Development’ includes but is not limited to:

• constructing new buildings
• changing the use and appearance of existing buildings
• making other changes to the way land is used.

You should always check with us if you need planning permission before moving forward with a development.

Not all developments will need planning permission. These cases are called permitted development. We’ll be able to tell you if you need planning permission for your development.

Learn more about how the planning system works in Scotland (Scottish Government website).

You can apply for planning permission yourself, or you can ask an agent (such as a planning consultant, architect, or the contractor doing the work) to apply and progress the application on your behalf.

You’ll have to pay a fee with your planning permission application. The amount depends on the type and scale of your project.

Get an estimated fee for your planning permission application (ePlanning Scotland website).

Supporting documents

When filling in your application, you’ll need to provide relevant supporting documents. These must comply with the relevant planning regulations for your application to be valid.

These usually include information such as:

• a location plan
• a site plan
• existing and proposed elevations
• existing and proposed floor plans
• roof plans
• existing and proposed site sections.

Many applicants choose to hire a professional to prepare these documents – for example, since plans must be metrically scaled.

If you’re applying for planning permission for a residential property, download our householder development guidance. It includes more details about the requirements for supporting documents.

Getting advice

You can ask for our advice before you apply for planning permission. We can help you:

• understand which policies apply to you
• clarify site constraints and, if appropriate, engage relevant stakeholders
• identify any issues early on.

There’s no cost to asking for our advice before you apply for planning permission.

Fill in the online form to ask for advice before applying

You can also contact us by:

If you’d like to contact us by phone, our duty planner is available Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Apply for planning permission on the ePlanning Scotland website. You’ll need to log in or create an account to start your application.

Apply for planning permission (ePlanning Scotland website)

Contact us if you have any questions about your application:

We’ll aim to respond to you within 14 days. If our response will take longer than 14 days, we’ll let you know how long you can expect to wait and will keep you updated on your application’s progress.

If you’d like to contact us by phone, our duty planner is available Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 12:30pm.