Public Entertainment

Public Entertainment Events - Licensing  

Free Events

From 1 April 2012 licensing requirements for Public Entertainment events changed. Previously there was no need to have a license for Public Entertainment events if the event was free but that changed as a result of an amendment to legislation.

The Public Entertainment Resolution (a statement from the Council of its intentions and required by law) has been changed

The following small scale, free to enter public events do not require a licence and can go ahead without a licence or fee:

• premises used for functions held by charitable, religious, youth, sporting, community, political or similar organisations;
• premises used for exhibitions of art work;
• premises where live music is performed, but incidental to the main purpose of the premises (eg occasional gigs in shop premises, etc)
• premises used for oral recitals including poetry reading and story telling

"Small scale" is defined as capacity of 500 or less.  There may still be a licensing requirement for other free entry events and for larger scale free entry events (but at a reduced application fee).

The licensing requirements for paid entry events are unaffected by these changes.

People who need advice about whether their event needs a licence can obtain further information from the following pages, or by phoning the Licensing Team on 0131 529 4208.

There will be further consultation on PE licensing, with a report to the Regulatory Committee towards the end of the year.  Further information on that process will be published before the consultation begins.