PKC Planning Portal: Search, Applications & Permission
Use this guide to search PKC planning applications online, use the Perth & Kinross PublicAccess map, understand the login, comment on applications, check planning permission, estimate fees and apply through ePlanning Scotland.
PKC planning search and PKC planning applications are not the same task. PublicAccess is for existing records, comments and tracking. New planning applications are normally prepared through the application guidance and submitted online through ePlanning Scotland.
Quick answer: the PKC Planning Portal normally means Perth & Kinross Council’s PublicAccess online planning system. Use it to view planning applications, read documents, submit comments on eligible application types, follow progress and search current or past cases. Use ePlanning Scotland when you need to submit a new planning application and pay a fee.
For comments, Perth & Kinross Council says you can comment or object within 21 days of the formal notification date. Comments must include your name and full postal address because anonymous comments are not taken into account. There is no third-party right of appeal if you are unhappy with a planning decision.
Choose the Correct PKC Planning Route
Most searchers need one of four things: find an application, use the map, login to comment/follow, or submit a new application. These are separate tasks.
I want to search PKC planning applications
Use PublicAccess and search by reference, address, postcode, proposal keyword, Community Council area, weekly list or map.
I need the PKC planning portal map
Use the interactive map when an address is unclear, the site is rural, the land is outside a numbered street, or you want to understand nearby applications.
I need the PKC planning portal login
Register or sign in to follow application progress and manage your online planning activity. Use the online planning system account, not a generic search page.
I want to comment or object
Open the application, check the live comment date, use the comment tab, include name and full postal address, and write planning-based reasons.
I need planning permission advice
Check whether the work is permitted development, needs full permission, needs listed building consent, or would be better confirmed through a lawful development certificate.
I want to apply for permission
Use PKC application guidance, validation checklists and ePlanning Scotland. Prepare plans, certificates, drawings and fees before submitting.
What the PKC Online Planning Portal Does
PublicAccess is the main route for viewing and commenting on Perth & Kinross planning applications. It is not the same as the ePlanning Scotland application submission account.
| Portal feature | What it helps with | User-friendly note |
|---|---|---|
| Application search | Find current and past planning applications. | Start with the reference number if you have one. |
| Interactive map | Find cases by location, land area or nearby geography. | Best for rural sites, farms, estates, Perth city plots and village-edge land. |
| Comment tab | Submit support, objection or comment where the application type allows public comment. | Comments on some application types are not accepted, such as certificates of lawfulness and most prior notifications. |
| Documents tab | Read drawings, reports, public comments and decision information. | Always check document dates and revisions before commenting. |
| Registration/login | Follow application progress and use account-based features. | Use a planning system account for PublicAccess activity. |
| Weekly lists and site notices | Monitor applications validated, decided or advertised. | Useful for Community Councils, residents’ groups and local monitoring. |
PKC Planning Applications Search: Best Order
Use this search order for “PKC planning applications”, “PKC planning applications online” and “PKC online planning portal” intent. It helps avoid wrong records and missed rural sites.
Search the reference first
Use the application reference from a site notice, neighbour notification, council letter, email, weekly list, committee report or decision notice. Search the reference by itself first.
Use a clean address or postcode next
Try one postcode, one property name, one road, one village or one part of the address. Rural and estate applications may not use the wording you expect.
Use Community Council or map search for local monitoring
PKC’s Public Access guidance specifically helps users search by Community Council and use the interactive map. This is useful for village, rural and local-representation searches.
Open the correct case and check the status
Confirm whether the case is live, decided, withdrawn, amended, at committee, appealed or only a related application.
Read documents before acting
Open plans, statements, consultee comments, neighbour representations and decision documents before you comment, object, buy or start building.
PKC Planning Portal Map and Login Help
The map and login solve different problems. The map helps you find applications by geography. Login helps you follow progress and use account-based planning features.
Use the PKC planning applications map when
- The site is described as land near a farm, estate, road or settlement.
- The property name has changed.
- You need to check applications near a village or Community Council area.
- You want to see nearby cases, not only one address result.
- The application involves rural land, tracks, renewables, tourism, forestry, estates or edge-of-settlement land.
Use the PKC planning portal login to
- Follow progress on an application.
- Keep track of planning records you care about.
- Use account-based PublicAccess features.
- Return to applications without repeating the same search.
- Monitor progress over months where applications take longer to decide.
Weekly Lists, Site Notices and Comment Deadlines
Weekly lists and site notices are important for neighbours, Community Councils and local groups because they show what has been validated, decided or advertised.
Weekly valid application lists
Use weekly lists to see applications validated during the week. PKC says paper copies of weekly lists are no longer provided at public locations; they are published online instead.
Weekly decided lists
Use decided lists to track decisions in an area and identify approvals, refusals or permissions with conditions.
Site notices
Site notices may be required for conservation areas, listed buildings, incomplete neighbour notification, Environmental Impact Reports and other advertised applications.
Documents to Read Before You Comment, Buy or Build
The application title is never enough. Read the newest drawings, reports and decision material before taking action.
| Document or tab | What it tells you | Micro-check |
|---|---|---|
| Application summary | Proposal, address, reference, status, dates and case type. | Check whether public comments are still open and whether the application type allows comment. |
| Location plan | The land included in the application. | Check the red-line boundary, access route, tracks, estate roads and blue land where relevant. |
| Site or block plan | How the proposal fits on the site. | Look for parking, access, levels, trees, neighbouring buildings, drainage and visibility. |
| Drawings and elevations | Existing and proposed design. | Check scale, orientation, roof form, materials, windows and revised plan dates. |
| Supporting reports | Design, access, heritage, ecology, transport, drainage, flooding, landscape or species details. | For sensitive reports, check whether redacted and non-redacted versions are needed for submission. |
| Public comments | Neighbour and community representations. | Separate planning issues from private disputes or repeated template comments. |
| Decision notice | Approval, refusal, conditions or reasoned decision. | Check approved plan numbers, conditions, expiry dates and whether further approval is needed before starting work. |
Comment, Object or Support a PKC Planning Application
PKC allows comments on certain application types, including planning permission, listed building consent and conservation area consent. There is no public comment opportunity for some other types, such as advertisement consent, certificates of lawfulness and most prior notifications.
Check whether comments are accepted
Open the application and confirm the type and deadline. If the comment period has ended, your submission may be treated as a late comment and not formally recorded.
Use the comment tab, email or post
You can comment through the online planning system, write to Development Management at 2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH, or email DevelopmentManagement@pkc.gov.uk. Include the application reference.
Include name and full postal address
Anonymous comments are not taken into account. PKC also states that from 1 May 2026, contributor postal addresses for representations will be published on the website to meet statutory planning obligations.
Write planning reasons, not questions
PKC says comments should be clear statements about areas of concern rather than questions, because the Council must consider comments but does not enter detailed correspondence with each objector.
| Material planning points | Usually non-planning points |
|---|---|
| Planning policy, local plan, NPF4 and development plan issues | Loss of property value |
| Overlooking, privacy, daylight and sunlight | Loss of a private view |
| Traffic, access, parking and road safety | Private boundary, covenant or ownership disputes |
| Noise, design, appearance, materials and local character | Problems only during the construction period |
| Impact on listed buildings, conservation areas and previous appeal decisions | Building regulations issues such as structural stability or fire precautions |
PKC Planning Permission: Check Before You Apply
Not all development needs planning permission, but Perth & Kinross includes listed buildings, conservation areas, rural sites, National Park areas, short-term lets, business-from-home questions and sensitive landscapes where assumptions can be risky.
Building works
Extensions, outbuildings, hardstanding, fences, roof changes, access changes and alterations may be permitted in some cases but restricted in others.
Business or short-term let use
Running a business from home or using a property for short-term lets can raise planning-use questions. Check PKC’s “what needs permission” guidance first.
Certificate of Lawful Development
If you apply for planning permission but it is not actually needed because the work is permitted development, PKC says it may change the application to a lawful development certificate and refund any overpayment.
Apply Online Through ePlanning Scotland
For “planning portal process” and “planning portal fee” searches, the important point is that Scotland uses ePlanning Scotland for online planning applications. PKC also has local checklists and submission rules that must be followed.
Create or use your ePlanning Scotland account
Scotland’s official guidance says you can create an account, create and complete your planning proposal, and pay the application fee through ePlanning Scotland.
Use “Which Form?” if the application type is unclear
Use the ePlanning Scotland form guidance before choosing planning permission, permission in principle, listed building consent, certificate or another route.
Prepare the legal basics
Applications normally need a development description, applicant and agent details, site address or land description, ownership certificate, notices where required, site location plan, other drawings and a fee.
Check PKC local validation requirements
PKC’s checklists explain what information, drawings, plans and fees are needed for applications, permission in principle, approval of matters specified in conditions and related consents.
Pay through the accepted route
PKC says payments can be made online via ePlanning, using the Council’s online payment system, or by credit/debit card through the Customer Service Centre. Cheques are no longer accepted.
Planning Portal Process and PKC Planning Fees
The exact fee depends on application type and can change, so do not rely on an old screenshot. Use the live ePlanning Scotland fee calculator and PKC’s latest planning fees charter before submitting.
| Step | What happens | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Choose form | You select the correct application type. | Use ePlanning “Which Form?” if unsure. |
| Prepare proposal | You add site, applicant, ownership and proposal information. | Check land ownership and agricultural holding notices where relevant. |
| Upload documents | You upload plans, drawings and supporting information. | Use individual single-page PDFs for drawings, clear titles and correct orientation. |
| Calculate fee | You calculate and pay the planning application fee. | Use live fee calculator and PKC fees charter; do not rely on old fee values. |
| Validation | PKC checks whether the application has the information needed to process. | Missing or unclear documents can delay validation. |
| Decision route | The application is assessed, consulted on and decided by officers or committee where required. | Track the application on PublicAccess and read reports/conditions. |
PKC Validation and File Rules Applicants Should Follow
A quality submission reduces the time it takes for PKC to review, validate and process an application. This is where many weak applications lose time.
Plans and drawings
- Upload plans and drawings as individual, single-page PDFs.
- Clearly title every plan and drawing.
- Use the relevant application checklist.
- Make sure drawings are correctly orientated.
- Use plans and drawings that clearly describe the proposal.
- Do not bundle drawings into one confusing PDF pack.
Personal and sensitive information
- Remove signatures before submission where appropriate.
- Remove personal email addresses and phone numbers from supporting documents.
- Clearly title reports and studies.
- For sensitive information such as protected species surveys, provide redacted and non-redacted versions where required.
- Remember that submitted information will be published online.
Perth & Kinross National Park Boundary Planning Trap
Perth & Kinross includes land affected by National Park planning authority boundaries. This is a local detail many generic pages miss.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
PKC says that for sites located within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area, the National Park is the planning authority. Enquiries and applications should go directly to that National Park authority.
Cairngorms National Park area
PKC says it is the planning authority for the part of Perth & Kinross that also lies within the Cairngorms National Park. Applications should be submitted to PKC, and PKC will refer to the Cairngorms National Park development plan when considering proposals.
Pre-Application Advice and Pre-Validation Checks
PKC offers pre-application services, but these are not the right route for every question. Use them when early feedback can improve a proposal before submission.
| Service | Use it for | Do not use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-application advice | Design, policy, location, major/minor proposal issues and early engagement before submission. | Simple “do I need planning permission?” questions; PKC points those users to its permission guidance. |
| Pre-validation check | Checking whether a local or major application has suitable plans, documents and supporting information before submission. | A guaranteed planning approval. |
| Community Council guidance | Understanding weekly lists, major applications, pre-application consultation and commenting. | Replacing professional planning advice for an applicant. |
Local Perth & Kinross Checks Before You Apply or Object
A local guide should not stop at “open the portal”. Perth & Kinross has rural land, conservation areas, listed buildings, tourism uses, short-term lets, farms, estates, National Park interfaces and landscape-sensitive sites.
Development plan
Community Council guidance says the current Development Plan includes National Planning Framework 4, Perth and Kinross Local Development Plan 2 and statutory supplementary guidance.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
Applications affecting listed buildings, their setting, or conservation areas may be advertised and can require stronger heritage evidence.
Rural landscape and ecology
For rural buildings, estate works, tracks, renewables, tourism or edge-of-settlement land, check ecology, landscape, access, drainage and protected species issues early.
Short-term lets and business use
Running a business from home or using property for short-term lets can require planning assessment depending on use, location and impact.
Access and traffic
Rural access, visibility, parking, private tracks and tourist traffic can be material planning considerations.
Drainage and flooding
Surface water, foul drainage, flood risk and landscape effects can affect validation and decision outcomes, especially outside urban areas.
After the Decision: Conditions, Appeals and No Third-Party Appeal
Once a decision is issued, do not read only the result line. The decision notice and conditions control what can happen next.
If permission is approved
- Read approved plan numbers.
- Read every condition.
- Check whether details must be approved before work starts.
- Check decision expiry dates.
- Do not build from superseded drawings.
If you objected and disagree
- PKC states there is no right of appeal for third-party contributors.
- Your strongest opportunity is during the formal comment period.
- If you need to understand the decision, read the officer report and decision notice.
- If you are the applicant, use the correct appeal/review route from official guidance.
PKC Planning Portal Problems and Quick Fixes
Most portal problems are caused by address wording, rural land descriptions, wrong account route or a misunderstanding between PublicAccess and ePlanning Scotland.
| Problem | Likely reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No planning application found | Address wording differs, rural site description is broad, or reference was copied incorrectly. | Try reference, postcode, road, village, Community Council, keyword and map search. |
| Cannot comment | Application type may not allow comments, comment period may have ended, or you are not on the live case. | Check application type, dates and comment tab before emailing or posting. |
| Comment treated as late | Submitted after the formal period or site-notice expiry. | Submit before 11:59pm on the expiry date where a site notice deadline applies. |
| Wrong login | PublicAccess and ePlanning Scotland are different account systems. | Use PublicAccess for viewing/commenting/following; use ePlanning Scotland to submit a new application. |
| Fee confusion | Old fee page or wrong application type. | Use ePlanning Scotland fee calculator and PKC’s latest fees charter. |
| Application delayed | Plans, supporting documents, redactions or checklist items are missing or unclear. | Use PKC validation checklists, submit individual single-page PDFs and remove personal data. |
Related UKPlanningPortal Guides for Similar Tasks
These internal links are contextually relevant for Scottish planning search, map/login workflows, rural planning records and safe use of official links.
Official PKC Planning Links by Task
Use the official link that matches your task. Check the live page before submitting comments, applications, payments, plans or personal information.
Independent guide note: this page helps you navigate Perth & Kinross planning tasks in plain English. Always verify live records, comment deadlines, fees, forms, validation rules and legal requirements on official PKC, ePlanning Scotland or mygov.scot pages before acting.
PKC Planning Portal FAQs
What is the PKC planning portal?
The PKC planning portal usually means Perth & Kinross Council’s PublicAccess online planning system. It is used to view planning applications, documents, comments and progress.
Where do I search PKC planning applications online?
Use the PKC online planning system/PublicAccess. Search by reference, address, postcode, proposal keyword, Community Council area, weekly list or interactive map.
How do I use the PKC planning portal map?
Open the PublicAccess map, zoom to the area, click the relevant case or property, and open the full planning record. It is especially useful for rural land, farms, estates and unclear addresses.
Do I need a PKC planning portal login?
You can view many records without a login, but registering for the online planning system helps you follow the progress of an application and use account-based PublicAccess features.
How long do I have to comment on a PKC planning application?
PKC says you can make a comment or objection within 21 days of the formal notification date. For site notices, comments must be received before 11:59pm on the day the notice period expires.
Can I comment on every PKC planning application type?
No. PKC says public comments can be accepted on certain application types, including planning permission, listed building consent and conservation area consent. There is no public comment opportunity for some types such as certificates of lawfulness and most prior notifications.
Can I object anonymously to a PKC planning application?
No. PKC says anonymous comments are not taken into account. Comments must include your name and full postal address.
How do I apply for PKC planning permission?
Use PKC’s planning application guidance and ePlanning Scotland. You create an account, create and complete the proposal, upload required documents and pay the application fee.
Where do I check the planning portal fee?
Use the live ePlanning Scotland fee calculator and PKC’s latest planning fees charter. Do not rely on old fee screenshots because fees can change.
What file rules should I follow for a PKC planning application?
PKC says plans and drawings should be uploaded as individual, single-page PDFs, clearly titled, correctly orientated and in line with the relevant application checklist.
Who is the planning authority in National Park areas?
For sites in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, the National Park is the planning authority. For the Perth & Kinross part of the Cairngorms National Park, PKC remains the planning authority.
Can objectors appeal a PKC planning decision?
No. PKC says there is no right of appeal for third-party contributors to a planning application.