Street trading consent explained

What street trading consent is

A street trading consent or licence is permission from the council to sell goods from a pitch in a public street. GOV.UK describes it as a licence to trade in the street in England and Wales, and says you may need one. The council for the area where you want to trade decides what applies there.

Because each council runs its own scheme, the name, cost and conditions differ from place to place. One council may call it a street trading consent, another a street trader's licence. The principle is the same: you ask permission before you set up, and the council can attach conditions to it.

Pedlars are treated separately. GOV.UK says that if you have a pedlar's certificate you might not need a licence, and you should confirm this with the council.

Where the rules come from

In England and Wales, councils can control street trading under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. A council can designate streets as prohibited streets, licence streets or consent streets, and trading on a designated street needs the matching permission.

Rules differ in London, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so check with the council that covers the pitch.

How it differs from a market pitch

A market pitch is a space on a market the council or an operator runs, and you apply to that market office under its own rules. Street trading consent covers trading on designated public land outside a market. Some councils use one process for both, so ask which one applies to the place you have in mind.

If you only want to trade at organised events on private land, street trading consent often does not come into it, because the organiser sets the terms. If you want a regular spot on a pavement, in a car park the council owns or on a public square, it is likely to matter. Always ask before you buy stock or kit for a new location.

How to apply

1. Find the council for the area where you want to trade.
2. Tell the council where and when you want to trade.
3. Provide what it asks for. GOV.UK says you might need to give two photographs of yourself.
4. Pay the fee if the council charges one.

What the council can decide

GOV.UK says the council can refuse a licence or grant one for fewer days and times than you asked for, and there might be a waiting list. Apply early and keep your plans flexible.

It helps to offer a few alternative days and times in your application. If the council grants fewer days than you asked for, you can still plan a trading pattern around what you have been given. Keep a copy of the licence with you when you trade, because an enforcement officer may ask to see it.

Penalties

GOV.UK states that breaking licence conditions can lead to suspension or withdrawal, or a fine of up to £1,000. Trading without a licence can also lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

Check the conditions on your licence for details such as where you can stand, how large the stall can be and what you can sell. Staying inside those conditions protects the licence for future seasons.

Related permissions

Food sellers also register their food business with the council, and organisers of private events set their own terms. Our guide on whether you need a licence to trade shows how these fit together.