Fife planning approval rate
Fife council approved 90.7% of planning applications and refused 9.3%, based on 5,321 decisions analysed. Ranked 115th out of 221 councils for strictness.
Last updated: March 2026 · Based on decisions from January 2020 to present
90.7%
overall approval rate
Approval rate by application type
Different application types have different approval rates in Fife. Householder and full planning applications typically have the highest volume.
Approval rate by project type
These rates are based on what homeowners are actually building in Fife — mined from 5,321 proposal descriptions.
Approval rate by ward
Planning outcomes vary significantly by ward within Fife. Click any ward for detailed statistics.
East Neuk And Landward (777 decided)
90.3%
St. Andrews (657 decided)
91.6%
Howe Of Fife And Tay Coast (542 decided)
86.2%
Cupar (350 decided)
91.1%
West Fife And Coastal Villages (307 decided)
91.2%
Dunfermline Central (301 decided)
91.7%
Leven, Kennoway And Largo (233 decided)
92.3%
Burntisland, Kinghorn And West Kirkcaldy (229 decided)
94.8%
Inverkeithing And Dalgety Bay (218 decided)
87.6%
Tay Bridgehead (203 decided)
93.1%
Glenrothes North, Leslie And Markinch (200 decided)
89.5%
Kirkcaldy Central (179 decided)
96.6%
Kirkcaldy East (141 decided)
95.0%
Glenrothes Central And Thornton (134 decided)
85.8%
Cowdenbeath (119 decided)
88.2%
Rosyth (115 decided)
94.8%
Dunfermline North (103 decided)
94.2%
Buckhaven, Methil And Wemyss Villages (96 decided)
90.6%
Dunfermline South (95 decided)
91.6%
Glenrothes West And Kinglassie (75 decided)
92.0%
Wards in Fife
Recent comparable decisions
The most recent residential planning decisions in Fife, showing how the council decides real applications.
26/00086/FULL
Installation of replacement roof covering and erection of single storey extensio · Howe Of Fife And Tay Coast · Tue 13 Jan 2026
25/03356/LBC
Listed Building Consent for internal alterations to shop · St. Andrews · Wed 10 Dec 2025
25/03357/FULL
First floor extension to side of dwellinghouse · Glenrothes Central And Thornton · Wed 10 Dec 2025
Showing 3 of 200 comparable decisions. See all 200 in the Pro Report →
What gets approved near your property?
In Fife, 1 in 11 applications are refused. Your PlanningLens Pro Report gives you 17 pages of intelligence specific to your property:
✓ Ward-level approval rates for your exact area
✓ Common refusal reasons in Fife
✓ Your 10 nearest comparable planning decisions
✓ Appeal success rates
✓ PDF report to share with your architect
Get Fife Pro Report — £79
Less than one set of revised drawings. Based on 5,321 decisions.
Compare with nearby councils