All planning applications are submitted through the national eDevelopment Scotland website.
We have also written 2 validation checklists to make sure you have included all the necessary information with your application:
- planning applications – validation checklist
- planning applications – validation checklist 7A, prior notification for windows
Download the validation checklists from planning application documents.
We register applications using the Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) national planning guidance.
Fees and payments
All applications must be accompanied by the appropriate planning fees which are set by the Scottish Government.
The fee for an application, unless otherwise noted, is not refundable once the planning application has been submitted. A reduced fee or no fee is required only in the following circumstances:
- if the application is made by a community council, the fee will be reduced by 50%
- no fee if the application is for works to improve access for a disabled person
- no fee if the application is submitted within 12 months of the date of refusal for an application of the same description or character, if made by the same applicant (only applies to one application following the original application) and
- no fee if the application is submitted within 12 months of the date of submission of an application of the same description or character, if made by the same applicant, which is withdrawn. (Only applies to one application following the original application)
If there is a requirement to advertise your application in the local newspaper, please note that you will have to pay an additional £30 to cover the cost and we will not register your application until the fee is paid.
Regulation 6 of The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 provides the planning authority with the power to levy a surcharge of up to 25% on retrospective applications.
A retrospective application is an application for planning permission for a development which has already commenced or has been completed without the benefit of a grant of planning permission. Retrospective applications often result from Enforcement enquiries but can also be the result of other factors. A surcharge on retrospective applications is intended primarily to provide a means of recovering the costs of undertaking enforcement investigations.
Dumfries and Galloway Council applies the maximum 25% surcharge allowed by the regulations. However, the surcharge will only be required if the development has been fully completed. It is recognised that some developments do commence in error without the benefit of planning permission, therefore, to allow mistakes to be rectified without additional financial penalties, there is no additional surcharge on partially retrospective developments. Dumfries and Galloway Council reserve the right to impose a surcharge where a developer has been advised planning permission is required but the development continues prior to a retrospective planning application being submitted or determined.
When submitting a retrospective application, it is important that this is highlighted this at the time of submission. The surcharge will not be calculated when an application is submitted using the Scottish Government’s e-planning portal. This is because e-planning is a national service which does not consider individual charges levied by local authorities, and the surcharge will therefore be requested prior to your application being registered. Your application will not be registered unless and until the additional surcharge fee has been received.
If an application is submitted without being highlighted as being retrospective, and once registered is found to be so, the application may be invalidated and in this case will not be progressed to determination. In these cases, the application will be validated again upon receipt of the surcharge fee.
If a retrospective application relating to an enforcement investigation is not determined due to failure to pay the surcharge, the Planning Service may elect to proceed to formal enforcement action to resolve the matter.
Use the Scottish Government's fee calculator to work out the estimated cost of your application.
Calculate planning fees on eDevelopment Scotland
We'll check the fee when you send in an application but you may want to confirm the fee with us beforehand.
You can also see all of our planning and building fees.
Advertising fees
We may need to advertise your application if we cannot notify neighbours as there are no premises. If this is the case, you will be advised that an additional £30 advert fee is required to be paid.
Payments
There are 2 ways to pay for an application – go to make a planning payment.
Site location plans
We no longer produce site location plans to accompany a planning application. See a list of approved Scottish Government approved providers on eDevelopment Scotland.