Muirburn licensing
https://nnr.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/licensing/muirburn-licensing
NatureScot can license muirburn outside the standard season, which runs from 1 October to 15 April inclusive.
April 2025 update: A new licence for all muirburn is expected to come into force later this year. This will replace the current process. Skip to current process.
Upcoming new muirburn licence
In 2024, new legislation for muirburn was introduced by the Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Act.
Scottish Government has not set a commencement date for the new licence yet, and we are not currently accepting applications.
When the new licence scheme is launched, it will become an offence to carry out muirburn in Scotland without a licence. We expect applications to open ahead of the 2025/26 muirburn season.
View the Muirburn Code consultation draft.
How to prepare
When applying for the new muirburn licence, you will need to provide:
- details of the area(s) you wish to burn
- training evidence
- confirmation you will comply with the Muirburn Code
- peat depth survey data (optional, depending on the area and licensable purpose)
Licensable purposes
There are 10 licensable purposes, 6 on non-peatland and 4 on peatland:
- managing the habitats of moorland game or wildlife (non-peatland only)
- improving the grazing potential of moorland for livestock (non-peatland only)
- conserving, restoring, enhancing or managing the natural environment (non-peatland only)
- restoring the natural environment (peatland only)
- preventing, or reducing the risk of, wildfires causing damage to habitats (non-peatland / peatland)
- preventing, or reducing the risk of, wildfires causing harm to people or damage to property (non-peatland / peatland)
- research (non-peatland / peatland)
The Act defines peatland as land with peat layers of 40cm or more.
We can only grant a licence on peatland if:
- muirburn is necessary for the specified purpose
- no other method of vegetation control is practicable
Burning out of season is not permitted for the management of moorland game or to improve grazing for livestock.
Training evidence
All those who intend to make muirburn must complete the Muirburn Practitioner Foundation Course.
You must provide training evidence for 1 person.
For the first year of the licence, we will accept completion of the online assessment as training evidence. Training already undertaken through the Muirburn Foundation course will remain valid.
This course will be updated once the revised Muirburn Code has been published.
Peat depth surveys
Use our interactive map to check if you need to do a peat depth survey.
This map checks for non-peatland, peatland and uncertain areas (where peat depth is not known).
If where you wish to burn covers uncertain areas, the map will give you survey co-ordinates. Use this data to carry out your survey. You do not need to survey every point if you accept that area cannot be licensed for a non-peatland purpose.
Survey requirements
If you are applying for a non-peatland purpose, you must survey uncertain areas in a 100m grid. You must also do a quick check of any non-peatland areas to confirm the absence of peat.
If you are applying for a peatland purpose, you do not need to carry out a survey.
Find out more in our survey guidance.
If you have already carried out a survey
We will accept existing peat depth data you have, provided the survey was carried out in line with our guidance. This means that - for uncertain areas - the measurements must have been taken at 100m intervals or less.
You must add any existing data to our blank survey template. We will not accept other formats.
Mapping
We are already in the process of designing an online application form that will allow you to submit your area(s) of land with the rest of your information.
There is no need to prepare maps in advance.
Muirburn season
The standard muirburn season will be changing to 15 September – 31 March.
We will publish more information when it is available.
Current process for muirburn licensing
The Hill Farming Act 1946 (as amended) covers the burning of heather and any other vegetation on moorland, including plants such as gorse.
Current muirburn season
The current muirburn season runs from 1 October to 15 April inclusive in Scotland. This applies at all altitudes.
The dates can be extended to 30 April at the landowner’s discretion.
Muirburn is thus only carried out when the risk of damage to economic, social and environmental interests is at a minimum.
The Muirburn Code sets out muirburn best practice for land managers.
Licensed out-of-season muirburn
In exceptional cases, we may license out-of-season muirburn (1 May to 30 September) for a specific purpose that couldn’t be achieved by burning in season.
You can apply for a licence to carry out muirburn out of season to:
- conserve, restore, enhance or manage the natural environment
- conduct research
- protect public safety
Examples might include burning to:
- create a suitable seedbed at the appropriate time of year for the natural regeneration of nearby native woodland
- research the effects of muirburn on dry heath in September
How to apply
Fill in the application form and email it to licensing@nature.scot
Download the Licence application form – out of season muirburn
Application to undertake muirburn out of season: Guidance notes for applicants
Supplementary information for licence applicants: Muirburn during the bird breeding season
Licence changes and renewals
You should get in touch if you wish to amend a licence.
Find out about adding persons to a licence.
You must also remember to contact us to renew your licence. Licences aren’t renewed automatically.
Licence returns
It is a condition of each licence that a return is submitted. Please refer to your licence for the return information required and send to licensing@nature.scot clearly stating your name and licence number in the subject.
Find out more
Contacts
If you already have a licence number, include it in the subject line of your email, or have it to hand when you call.
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