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Planning permission is almost always required for 'development' on any significant scale. This term is defined in law and covers a wide range of building and engineering work as well as changes in the way land and buildings are used. Planning law also covers changes to listed buildings and control of advertisements.
The main planning law in Scotland is The Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997 Chapter 8 as amended by The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006. From August 3, 2009 the majority of the 2006 Act came into force.
The following are the main pieces of secondary planning legislation. The versions at the end of the links do not include subsequent amendments. The advanced search facility at www.legislation.gov.uk can be used to identify legislation which amends a set of regulations or an order (e.g. search for the legislation whose text includes the name of the regulations or order of interest).
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013
The Town and Country Planning (Schemes of Delegation and Local Review Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013
The Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2013
Town and country planning (Hazardous substances) (Scotland) Amendment regulations 2014
Natural Habitats (Conservation etc) Regulations 1994
Town and Country Planning (Charges for Publication of Notices) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
The Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
The Town and Country Planning (Temporary Stop Notice) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
The Town and Country Planning (Amount of Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
The Town and Country Planning (Modification and Discharge of Good Neighbour Agreement) (Scotland) Regulations 2010
The Town and Country Planning (Modification and Discharge of Planning Obligations) (Scotland) Regulations 2010
The Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Regulations 2010
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011
The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Scotland) Order 1997
The Town and Country (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992
National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000
Explanatory Notes to National Parks (Scotland) Act 200
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 Ch 9
Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Scotland) Act 1997
Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009
Page updated: Tuesday, September 19, 2017