Your questions answered
Low Emission Zone
Why we need a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Edinburgh
Edinburgh has made good progress in reducing levels of air pollution. However, even low levels of pollution can have an impact on our health, including contributing to lung and heart disease, some cancers and brain-related illnesses like dementia.
Road traffic is the main source of harmful emissions that are damaging public health and contributing to climate change.
Edinburgh’s LEZ is designed to protect public health by restricting the most polluting vehicles and improving air quality in our busy city centre.
The LEZ forms part of the city’s wider ambitions for sustainable growth under our 2030 Climate Strategy and other schemes such as the City Mobility Plan and the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision.
How the LEZ works
LEZ size and boundary
The LEZ boundary circles the city centre (see full size map). It is 1.2sq mi (3.1km2) in size. In relation to the wider urban area, the LEZ covers less than 3% of the city (the wider urban area is 46sq mi (126km2).
We are using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and the zone is sign-posted at entry and exit points.
Timings
The LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022 with a two-year grace period, meaning no penalty charges were issued during this time. We started issuing fines (penalty charge notices) from 1 June 2024.
The LEZ operates continuously, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Penalty charges
If your vehicle does not meet the minimum emission standards, it is described as non-compliant and you will be fined with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if you drive within the LEZ.
For consistency, all Scotland’s LEZs use the same penalty charge structure, as set by the Scottish Government in The Low Emission Zones (Emission Standards, Exemptions and Penalty Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.
You can find more details on penalty charges and the appeals process here.
Exemptions
The LEZ applies to all vehicles except those that are entitled to an exemption. Motorcycles and mopeds are also exempt.
Blue Badge Holders
Blue Badge holders are exempt from LEZ restrictions if the vehicle they are driving in is non-compliant. As such, disabled people are not impacted by the introduction of LEZs.
Full information on the Blue Bade Holder Exemption process is available on the LEZ Scotland website.
Emission standards
We are following the minimum emissions standards for virtually all petrol and diesel vehicle classifications that are set out in the Low Emission Zones (Emission Standards, Exemptions and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2021;
- Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans
- Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans
- Euro 6 for petrol and diesel taxis and private hire vehicles, according to standard licence conditions, as set out in the Taxi Emission Standards Policy (2021)
- Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs
All zero emission vehicles, including electric vehicles (EVs), meet the LEZ minimum emission standards and may drive in the city centre without penalty.
You can check if your vehicle is compliant by visiting the official registration checker.
How the LEZ can help in Edinburgh
Improving air quality
It’s anticipated that the LEZ will reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen dioxide from vehicles. Air quality improvements are expected within the zone itself and also beyond the boundary where vehicles may pass though, which will all help improve public health.
In Europe, 320 towns and cities have LEZ schemes and this is predicted to rise to over 500 by 2025. LEZs have rapidly expanded across Europe in response to growing understanding around the dangers of air pollution caused by vehicle emissions to the most vulnerable in society – the youngest, oldest and those with pre-existing medical condition.
LEZs will help us achieve and maintain minimum air quality standards – but these minimum standards cannot be the extent of our ambitions. Further air quality improvements will deliver continued benefits to communities across Scotland.
Creating a safer and welcoming city centre
We want to make the city centre safer, more accessible and welcoming for everyone. The LEZ sits alongside our wider ambitions for our city centre transformation to make the area a more pleasant place to spend time in by:
- Offering a quieter environment with less air and noise pollution
- Creating safer conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling, with wider pavements and streets that are easier to cross
- Enhancing streetscape and public spaces within the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How we are supporting people
Support for people and businesses
The Scottish Government is providing £5 million across Scotland to reopen the LEZ Support Fund for 2024-25, where residents and businesses can apply for support to ease the transition to LEZs through grant funding for retrofitting or disposal of vehicles and support for other sustainable transport.
Over the past three years people in the Edinburgh region benefited from £2.4 million of grant support to prepare for the LEZ.
Changes to our road network
We’ve made changes to some roads to allow drivers with vehicles that don't meet the standards to avoid the entering the LEZ.
Changes have been made to accommodate this at key junctions in the Old Town (junction of Pleasance with Holyrood Road), and Tollcross, as well as changes to Morrison Street.
Further questions
If you have any other questions about the LEZ, you can email us at any time: LEZ@edinburgh.gov.uk