Licences, Permits and Permissions

The impact of the Coronavirus (COVID -19) has had a significant impact on the processing of licence applications. If you require to communicate with the Licensing Team, please do so by email to the following address:-

licensingservices@westlothian.gov.uk

Email enquiries will be prioritised and responded to on a priority/urgent basis.

We are working to identify temporary changes to licensing processes. Further updates will be provided on this page as soon as possible.

If you are an event organiser you should note that when possible applicants will be able to email amended applications for events which have been postponed due to Covid-19 as long as the details of the event remain exactly the same and only the event date is changing, any other changes to event details will require a new application to be submitted in the usual manner.   

The Licensing Team administers a number of different licensing schemes on behalf of the Council and the Licensing Board. These relate mainly to:

• Alcohol licences under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005
• Gambling licences under the Gambling Act 2005, and
• Various licences and permissions granted under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

Individuals or organisations wishing to hold certain events may need several licences or permissions. Please see Entertainment Licences and Permissions

Privacy Notices

You should be aware that as part of the licensing process information provided by the applicant will be recorded within our licensing systems and for most applications a mandatory background check will be carried out as part of the vetting process. For further information about how your information will be dealt with please see our privacy notices:

• Alcohol Licensing  Alcohol Licensing [231.79KB]
• Cinema Licences  Cinema Licences [176.81KB]
• Civic Licensing and Notifications of Processions  Civic Licensing and Notifications of Processions [195.51KB]
• Fireworks Dispensation  Fireworks Dispensation [165.81KB]
• Gambling Licensing  Gambling Licensing [208.17KB]
• HMO Licensing  HMO Licences [190.12KB]
• Sex Shops  Sex Shops [192.25KB]
• Theatre Licences  Theatre Licences [175.95KB]
• Venison Dealers'  Venison Dealers' [176.16KB]

To view all current liquor licence application notices within West Lothian, please see  Current Advert for Applications [6.37KB] 

Please note that all the Licensing web pages are intended to guide you through the procedures associated with making an application for a licence. They are not intended to summarise relatively complex areas of the law. Anyone using these pages should obtain independent advice from their own solicitors or advice centre.

Further information may be obtained from the Licensing Team by emailing licensingservices@westlothian.gov.uk or by calling 01506 281632