Business licences

A Knife Dealer Licence is required if you wish to carry on business as a dealer in certain types of knives (generally "non-domestic" knives), swords, blades or sharply pointed articles.

A late hour catering licence is needed by all places serving food, whether on a "sit-in" or "carry-out" basis, between the hours of 11 pm in the evening and 5 am the following morning.

A second-hand dealer's licence is needed by any person carrying on a business as a dealer in second hand goods or articles. A licence is only needed by the owner or manager of the business and not by salespersons or other employees.

A sex shop licence is needed for any premises, vehicle, vessel or stall used for a business which consists to a significant degree of selling, hiring or exchanging, lending, display or demonstrating sex articles.

A skin piercing and tattooing licence is needed by all businesses who undertake tattooing or skin/body piercing.

Section 119 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 provides that any person who organises a public charitable collection requires a permit from the local authority.