Planning and Regulatory Services

Chief Planning Officer

The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended, requires every planning authority to appoint a Chief Planning Officer. This became a statutory requirement in April 2024. The role is designed to strengthen leadership on planning and raise the profile of planning within local authorities.

Building standards and warrants

Building Standards provides an independent check on building work in Orkney, from new construction to alterations, demolition, and conversions. This page explains what we do and links to detailed guidance on warrants, certificates, regulations, and grants.

Environmental health

Helping keep our communities safe and healthy - from food hygiene and air quality to noise, pests and nuisance complaints.

Noise and nuisance

This page covers noise from neighbours and other sources, antisocial behaviour, busking and nuisance vehicles.

Health and safety

Fire safety and CDM Regulations for construction projects in Orkney - what building owners and contractors need to know

Pollution

Demolitions and dangerous structures

How Orkney Islands Council handles dangerous buildings and demolition works, including legal powers and warrant requirements.

Housing standards

Building standards forms and payment advice

Building Standards forms, fee guidance, and payment options, including online payment and contact details.

Food safety, hygiene and standards

This section covers businesses' responsibilities for the safe production and sale of food. The Food Standards Scotland website also has further information.

Building Standards - Licences

How the Building Standards team supports licensing applications and how to apply.

Health and safety at work

Good health and safety management makes sound business sense, and the law recognises that businesses and organisations that create risks are best placed to manage them. This includes risks to health - such as exposure to asbestos, chemicals or work-related stress - and risks to safety, such as falls from height, workplace transport and manual handling. There are a lot of myths about health and safety. Good management is largely about identifying and managing genuine risks - the law does not require you to identify and manage every conceivable risk.

Building Standards - Certification

How building work can be certified as meeting standards, including Certificates of Design, Certificates of Construction, and completion.

Licensing and regulation

Our environmental health and trading standards teams use our enforcement policy to guide regulatory decisions. This helps ensure a consistent and proportionate approach across all officers. The policy was developed in consultation with the public and the business community. All comments were considered and incorporated before the policy was approved by committee in December 2023.

Building Standards – Customer Charter and Customer Journey

What customers can expect from Building Standards, and a guide to the roles, responsibilities, and process for building work.

Other services

Performance Matters for Building Standards

Verification performance reports, annual performance reports, and customer satisfaction results for Building Standards.

Trading standards

Radon Maps for Scotland

Guidance on radon affected areas in Scotland, radon protection measures for new buildings, and where to find radon maps.

Advice for consumers

We offer free, impartial and confidential advice to consumers who have a problem with goods, services or motor vehicles. You can get in touch by phone, email or in person at a time and place that suits you.

Search for a building warrant

Search Building Warrant applications on Orkney's public register

Advice for businesses

We provide a range of services to help businesses in Orkney comply with consumer and trading legislation. We are happy to give advice to new and existing businesses, and we work with traders to help them understand and meet their legal obligations.

Applying online

How to submit building warrant applications and related forms online through the eBuildingstandards.scot service.

Animal welfare and licences

Our trading standards team enforces legislation relating to the health and welfare of animals in Orkney. If you have concerns about the welfare or health of any animal in Orkney, please contact us.

Building Regulations

Overview of Building Regulations in Scotland, when a Building Warrant is needed, how to apply, site inspections, and where to get advice.

Public weighbridges

A public weighbridge is one that is open for anyone to use for a small charge, usually operated by a company primarily for their own purposes. Below are the public weighbridges available in Orkney, with contact details and opening times.

Building Warrants FAQs

Answers to common Building Warrant questions for homeowners, plus how to contact Building Standards for advice and guidance

Building standards - Advice

Building Standards forms, fee and payment information, guidance leaflets, and how to contact the team for advice.

Energy and regeneration

A collection of energy and climate change publications, strategies, and reports relating to Orkney and Scotland, with links to further advice and resources

Environment and heritage

Protecting Orkney's natural and built heritage, from wildlife and woodland to listed buildings and conservation areas.

Conservation and listed buildings

Find out about listed buildings, conservation areas, and how to apply for listed building consent.

Tree conservation

Find out about Tree Preservation Orders, the Orkney Woodland Group, and our Trees and Woodland Strategy.

Biodiversity

Find out about biodiversity requirements for planning applications, and our biodiversity duty.

Verge conservation

Find out why we're changing how we cut roadside verges, and the wildlife it supports.

Land development planning

Plans, policies and guidance used to manage development and land use across Orkney.

Orkney Local Development Plan

Find out about the Orkney Local Development Plan, the policy document used to assess planning applications.

Review of the Orkney Local Development Plan

Find out how we're preparing the new Local Development Plan, and how to have your say.

Local Flood Risk Management Plan

Find out about our Local Flood Risk Management Plan, covering how we manage flood risk across Orkney.

Local Place Plans

Find out about Local Place Plans, how communities can shape planning in their area, and how to prepare one.

Monitoring and audits

Find our Housing Land Audit, Employment Land Audit, Delivery Programme and Town Centre Health Check.

Development briefs

Find approved development briefs for sites across Orkney, setting out guidance for future development.

Planning documents

Guidance and policy advice used alongside the Local Development Plan to help determine planning applications.

Development Management Guidance

Find approved guidance used to help determine planning applications across Orkney.

Supplementary Guidance

Find our Supplementary Guidance for the Local Development Plan, covering aquaculture, energy, housing and more.

Planning Policy Advice

Find our Planning Policy Advice, used alongside the Local Development Plan to help determine planning applications.

Make or comment on a planning application

These pages provide guidance on searching for and submitting planning applications, application types, pre-application advice, how applications are handled, commenting on applications, planning enforcement, and other related matters.

Application search and submission

This page explains how to search for planning applications, comment on one, track its progress, and submit a new application online.

Application types

An overview of the different types of planning application, including householder applications, listed building consent, high hedges, and aquaculture, with guidance on how to apply.

Commenting on an application

Find out how to comment on a planning application, what counts as a valid representation, and which issues the Council can and cannot take into account.

Dealing with your application

Explains how to prepare and submit a planning application, how applications are classified and decided, and what applies after a decision, including appeals and conditions.

Pre-application advice

Find out about our free pre-application advice service, what it covers, and how to request written advice before you submit a planning application.

Property and road naming

Find out how to register or change a property name, how new properties are named and numbered, and how road naming works for new developments.

Appeal a decision

Find out how to challenge a planning decision or a delay, either through a review by the Local Review Body or an appeal to the Scottish Ministers.

Permitted development

Find out what "permitted development" means, what work you can do without planning permission, and how to get formal confirmation if you need it.

Planning Notices

This page lists notices and other documents that the Council must publish as part of the planning process.

Weekly extant and decision lists

Find out about the Weekly List, Extant List, and Monthly Decision List for planning applications, and how to search them online.

Enforcement

Find out what counts as a breach of planning control, how to report a suspected breach, and what action the Council can take. Includes contact details and links to our Enforcement Charter and Register.

Planning Constraints

Lists the site constraints that can affect a planning application, such as listed buildings, protected nature sites, flooding, and airport safety zones, and explains how each could affect a decision.

Marine planning

Marine planning helps manage Orkney's seas sustainably, balancing environmental, economic and community interests.

Orkney Islands regional marine plan

The statutory framework guiding sustainable use and management of Orkney's seas, with the full plan and supporting impact assessments.

Aquaculture

Planning requirements for fish and shellfish farms in Orkney, with application forms and spatial guidance.

Environmental assessment

The Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Appraisal supporting the Regional Marine Plan.

Orkney marine planning advisory group

The expert advisory group that guides marine planning in Orkney, including minutes and terms of reference.

Research and surveys

Research and survey reports supporting marine planning, including the State of the Environment Assessment and Marine and Coastal Recreation Survey.

Newsletter

Sign up for our marine planning newsletter and read previous editions.

Outdoor access

Information about access rights, walking, cycling and horse-riding in Orkney, including guidance on responsible access, the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, Core Paths, and Public Rights of Way.

Core paths

Discover Orkney's Core Paths network and how it supports access to the countryside and active travel. View information on designated routes, temporary path closures, reporting issues, and the planning and environmental processes behind the Core Paths Plan.

Right of responsible access

Learn about responsible access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, including what activities are permitted, the responsibilities of access users and landowners, and the role of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code in managing access to Orkney's countryside.

Public rights of way

Learn about Orkney's public rights of way, including their historical origins, legal status and importance for public access. Find out how rights of way are established, protected and managed, and where to access further information on access rights in Scotland.