Title and introductory text
Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897 1897 c.38 An Act to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to the Public Health in Scotland. [6th August 1897]
Propose a changeLaw
Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897
United Kingdom · statute
Ask the law about thisMore laws of United KingdomFor machines: Markdown
In force since 2010-01-01, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-09. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
sha256 1f882317ec7228e0969a9a7727c57ad1e202af3cd56b210cf35db0813c3dde75
Contents: 159 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 Short title.
- 2 Extent and commencement of Act.
- 3 Definitions.
- 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 5 Local Government Board to be central authority.
- 6 Powers of Board to inquire into sanitary conditions of district.
- 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 8 Power to Board to appoint commissioners for conducting special inquiries.
- 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 12 Local authorities for the purposes of the Act.
- 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 27 Articles removed to be sold.
- 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 30 Penalty for injuring closet, &c. so as to cause nuisance.
- 31 Waterclosets, &c. used in common.
- 32 Prohibition or regulation of certain offensive businesses, and byelaws as to offensive businesses.
- 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 35 Local authorities may make byelaws as to pigstyes.
- 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 40 Houses in filthy state to be purified.
- 41 Provision for obtaining order for cleansing offensive ditches lying near to or forming boundaries of districts.
- 42 Periodical removal of manure from mews and other premises.
- 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 44 Notification of infectious disease.
- 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 46 Provision of means for disinfecting bedding, &c.
- 47 Cleansing and disinfecting of premises, &c.
- 48 Disinfection of bedding. &c.
- 49 Persons engaged in washing or mangling clothes to furnish list of owners of clothes in certain cases.
- 50 Infectious matter thrown into ash-pits, &c. to be disinfected.
- 51 Penalty on letting houses in which infected persons have been lodging.
- 52 Penalty on persons letting houses making false statements as to infectious disease.
- 53 Penalty on ceasing to occupy house without disinfection or notice to owner, or on making false answer.
- 54 Removal to hospital of infected persons without proper lodging.
- 55 Detention of infected persons without proper lodging in hospital.
- 56 Penalty on exposure of infected persons and things.
- 57 Penalty on sending child to school, so as to spread infection.
- 58 Prohibitions on infected person carrying on business
- 59 Prohibition on conveyance, &c. of infected person in public conveyance.
- 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 62 Prohibition of retention of dead body in certain cases.
- 63 Body of person dying of infectious disease in hospital, &c. to be removed only for burial.
- 64 Disinfection of public conveyances if used for carrying corpses.
- 65 Byelaws as to public conveyances.
- 66 Power of local authority to provide hospitals.
- 67 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 68 Power of local authority to provide mortuaries.
- 69 Power of sheriff, &c. in certain cases to order removal of dead body to mortuary.
- 70 Power of local authority to provide places for post-mortem examinations.
- 71 Power to sanitary authorities to unite for providing mortuary.
- 72 Power of local authority to make byelaws as to lodging-houses.
- 73 Tents and vans used for human habitation.
- 74 Rules as to underground dwellings.
- 75 Penalty on letting underground dwellings.
- 76 Cases in which two convictions have occurred within three months.
- 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 89 Common lodging-houses to be registered.
- 90 No lodger to be received in common lodging-house till it has been inspected and registered.
- 91 Evidence of register.
- 92 Power to local authority to make byelaws.
- 93 Copy of bye-laws, to be furnished gratis to keepers.
- 94 Power to local authority to require additional supply of water.
- 95 Power to local authority to order reports from keepers.
- 96 Local authority may remove sick persons to hospitals, &c.
- 97 As to giving notice of fever, &c. occurring.
- 98 Inspection.
- 99 Cleansing.
- 100 Conviction for third offence, &c. to disqualify persons from keeping common lodging-houses.
- 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 116 Distilleries, &c. to deposit refuse.
- 117 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 119 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 121 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 122 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 123 Works of distribution of sewage to be deemed a land improvement.
- 124 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 131 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 132 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 133 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 135 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 137 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 138 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 139 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 140 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 141 Power of borrowing for hospitals, &c.
- 142 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 144 Power to acquire lands.
- 145 Regulations as to compulsory purchase of land, &c.
- 146 Procedure if local authority neglect its duty under Act. Procedure under 18 & 19 Vict. c. 68.
- 147 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 148 Procurator fiscal may sue by directions of Board.
- 149 Procedure where nuisance beyond district.
- 150 Local authority may require payment of costs, &c from owner or occupier, and occupier paying to deduct from rent.
- 151 Penalty for wilful damage of works.
- 152 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 153 Recovery of penalties.
- 154 Form of applications to the sheriff, &c.
- 155 No written pleadings &c. allowed.
- 156 Appeal in certain cases.
- 156A Appeal to sheriff or sheriff principal in certain cases: sections 54, 55 and 96
- 156B Further appeal to sheriff principal: section 96 decision
- 156C Further appeal to Court of Session: sections 54, 55 and 96
- 156D Effect of appeal in relation to section 54 order, section 55 direction or section 96 decision
- 157 No appeal otherwise.
- 158 Justices, &c. being members of local authority may act.
- 159 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 161 One or more joint owners may be proceeded against alone.
- 162 Penalty on occupier obstructing owner.
- 163 Penalty for violating Act or obstructing its execution.
- 164 Compensation to be made.
- 165 Convictions not void for want of form.
- 166 Local authority or Board not liable for irregularity of their officers.
- 167 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 168 Exemption from stamp duties.
- 169 Police constables to aid in executing Act.
- 170 Act not to impair right of action, &c.
- 171 Powers of Act cumulative.
- 172 Constitution of port local authorities.
- 173 Jurisdiction of port local authority.
- 174 Delegation of powers by port local authority.
- 175 Expenses of port local authority.
- 176 Proceedings for raising a sum for payment of debt within district of a defaulting authority.
- 177 Provision as to ships within the jurisdiction of local authority.
- 178 Provision as to district of local authority extending to places where ships are lying.
- 179 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 181 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 183 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 189 Act not to affect navigation of rivers or canals, or irrigation of lands.
- 190 Saving of certain Acts.
- 191 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 193 Reference to Public Health Acts.
- 194 Exemption of Government property from building regulations.
- 195 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 196 Repeal of Acts.
- FIRST SCHEDULE
- SECOND SCHEDULE
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
159 provisions
1 Short title.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change2 Extent and commencement of Act.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change3 Definitions.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change5 Local Government Board to be central authority.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change6 Powers of Board to inquire into sanitary conditions of district.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change8 Power to Board to appoint commissioners for conducting special inquiries.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change12 Local authorities for the purposes of the Act.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change27 Articles removed to be sold.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change30 Penalty for injuring closet, &c. so as to cause nuisance.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change31 Waterclosets, &c. used in common.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change32 Prohibition or regulation of certain offensive businesses, and byelaws as to offensive businesses.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change35 Local authorities may make byelaws as to pigstyes.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change40 Houses in filthy state to be purified.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change41 Provision for obtaining order for cleansing offensive ditches lying near to or forming boundaries of districts.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change