Certificates of Compliance

If you are opening a new pub, hotel or off‑licence, or if you have upgraded your premises, you may need a certificate of compliance before you can sell alcohol. This confirms that your premises meet legal standards for food safety, building regulations and planning.

This certificate is required under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and only applies to premises that sell alcohol.

Who needs a certificate

You need a certificate of compliance if:

• you are opening a new licensed premises, or
• you have made changes or upgrades to an existing premises and sell alcohol

How to apply

You can apply by completing a Section 50 licence application form.

When you apply, you must also send a detailed set of plans for the premises. You can bring or post your application and plans to Environmental Services.

By applying, you confirm that your premises meet, or will meet once work is finished, the requirements of the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

What happens after you apply

We will review your application and plans. Other services will also check that the premises meet building regulations and planning conditions.

There is no automatic approval for this type of application. We must approve it before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within 28 days, contact Environmental Services for an update.

Can anyone object?

No. There is no objection process for certificates of compliance.

How much it costs

From 1 April 2026, the fee is £193.17 per certificate.

You must also pay the same fee for any certificates needed from Planning Services and Building Standards Services.