Licensing law

The Scottish Government invited views on how best to further regulate non-surgical cosmetic procedures to improve client safety.

• Find out more about the consultation
• Read our response

This consultation proposes expanding tax conditionality to new sectors. This would require licence holders in specific sectors to undertake checks that confirm they are appropriately registered for tax.

• Find out more about the consultation on the UK Government website
• Read out response

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024

The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022 requires local authorities to establish a short-term lets licensing scheme. The 2024 Order includes provisions which have a practical effect on the licensing scheme.

• Find out more about the Amendment Order on the Scottish Government website
• Read our written evidence (June 2024)

The Society's Licensing Law Sub Committee has responded to the UK Government consultation on Alcohol Licensing Age Verification.

Read the consultation document

Read our consultation response

The Society's Licensing Law Sub Committee has responded to the HM Revenue and Customs consultation on Extending tax checks to licences in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Read the consultation document

Read our consultation response

We responded to the Scottish Government consultation on short term lets: Consultation on draft Licensing Order and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)

Read our response

The Society's Licensing Law Sub-committee has responded to the HM Revenue and Customs consultation on the Hidden Economy: Conditionality and Public Sector Licensing for Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Read the consultation document

Read our consultation response

The call for views regarding the effectiveness of the current licensing system for static mobile homes parks and how well it protects permanent residents, has been motivated by a letter from Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, to the Local Government and Communities Committee Convener.

Read our response to the call for views

The Scottish Government asked for views on detailed proposals for the regulation of short-term lets, including a licensing scheme and planning control areas in Scotland. This will form the basis for secondary legislation to be laid in Parliament in December 2020.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• Read the Law Society of Scotland's response (October 2020)
• View the Local Government and Communities Committee's call for evidence on the proposals
• Read the Law Society of Scotland's submission to the Committee (January 2020)

The Scottish Government issued a consultation to seek the views on the need for further statutory regulation to ensure the safety of people considering or undergoing these procedures.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• Read our consultation response

Following a legal challenge that was made to the general licensing system in England which meant that those using these types of licences may not have been acting lawfully, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have issued a consultation on the issuing of General Licences in Scotland. 

• View the SNH General Licence consultation on their website
• Read the Law Society of Scotland's response (October 2019)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on reviewing the fee for occasional licences and considering a limit on the number and duration of occasional licences.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (July 2019)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on the regulation of short-term lets in Scotland.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (July 2019)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on adding new categories to the definition of an HMO.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government Website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (July 2019)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 – Section 142 – Draft Revised Guidance for Licensing Boards.

•  View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• View the Law Society of Scotland's response - June 2019

 The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on the use and regulation of fireworks in Scotland.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government's website
• View the Law Society of Scotland's response - May 2019

   

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on proposals to introduce new regulations for the licensing of dog, cat and rabbit breeding activities in Scotland.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (November 2018)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation to inform the legislative change required to clarify the position as regards Minimum Unit Pricing for certain wholesalers.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (October 2018)

Jeremy Balfour MSP has made a proposal for a Bill to improve animal welfare by enhancing local authority pet shop licensing powers and updating the licensing system including in relation to licence conditions, fees and inspections.

• View the proposal on the Scottish Parliament website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (June 2018)

The Licensing (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 came into force on 1st February 2008. The Scottish Government has issued a consultation regarding the sections of these Regulations which relate to the public notification process.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (June 2018)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation to seek views on animal sanctuaries and rehoming agencies to be required to hold a license or be registered to carry out these activities depending on the size of the undertaking. It looks to refine proposals surrounding thresholds for registration and licensing and enforcement.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (March 2018)

The Scottish Government has issued a consultation on guidance on the provisions for licensing of sexual entertainment venues and changes to licensing of theatres.

• View the consultation on the Scottish Government website
• The Law Society of Scotland's response (February 2018)