Street trading licence: who needs one, cost and how to apply
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and GOV.UK guidance on the date above
A street trading licence, sometimes called a street trading consent, is issued by your local council and covers selling goods, food or services from a stall, van, barrow or pitch on a public street.
Trading on a street without one - or outside your licensed pitch, days or hours - can lead to seizure of goods and a fine, so it's worth getting the right permission before you set up.
Short on time?Let us prepare your application - fixed fee, and we always show you the free official route first.
Get it done for you →This guide covers who needs a street trading licence, how it differs from a market stall or private-land pitch, what it costs, and how to apply - based directly on the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and current GOV.UK guidance.
This is general information, not legal advice. For anything specific to your pitch, area or trade type, contact your local council's street trading or licensing team directly.
What is a street trading licence?
A street trading licence (or consent) is the permission your council grants you to sell goods, food or services from a fixed or mobile position on a public street.
The regime is set out in Schedule 4 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, which gives councils that adopt it the power to designate streets as licensed, consent, or prohibited for street trading, and to grant licences and consents to trade in them (checked 23 August 2026).
It's the council's duty to grant an application for a street trading licence unless there's a specific ground to refuse it, such as danger, obstruction or nuisance to other road users - so trading isn't discretionary once you meet the conditions, but a genuine legal permission process.
Who needs a street trading licence?
You need one if you want to sell anything - food, goods, or services - from a stall, van, barrow, or fixed pitch on a public street or highway.
This covers market-style street traders, mobile food vans and street food operators, ice cream vans, and flower or produce sellers using a public pavement or road.
You generally don't need a street trading licence to trade on private land (that's usually a separate planning or landowner permission), or inside an organised market that already holds its own market rights - check with your council if you're not sure which category your pitch falls into.
Licensed streets, consent streets and prohibited streets - what's the difference?
Councils that adopt the 1982 Act regime classify every street in their area into one of three categories, and which one applies changes how you apply.
| Street type | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Licensed street | You need a street trading licence, usually tied to a specific pitch and often subject to a waiting list where demand is high. |
| Consent street | You need street trading consent rather than a licence - a lighter-touch permission, more common for occasional or mobile trading. |
| Prohibited street | Street trading isn't allowed at all, regardless of licence or consent. |
Source: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, Schedule 4, checked 23 August 2026. Not every council has adopted this regime in the same way, so check your specific street's classification with your council before you plan a pitch around it.
What does a street trading licence cost?
There's no national fee - each council sets and publishes its own charge, which can vary depending on the type of trading, the pitch, and whether it's a new application or a renewal.
GOV.UK's own guidance confirms only that "you might have to pay a fee" - it doesn't quote a figure, because none exists nationally. Check your council's current fee on GOV.UK →
✓ Checked against GOV.UK's street trading licence guidance, 23 August 2026
Be cautious of any third-party site quoting one fixed UK-wide price for a street trading licence - because the fee is genuinely set locally, a single national figure is a sign the source hasn't checked current guidance.
How to apply for a street trading licence, step by step
You apply directly to the council covering the street where you want to trade, not to a national body.
- Check the street's status - licensed, consent, or prohibited - with your council before you plan around it.
- Contact the council and tell them where and when you want to trade, and what you'll be selling.
- Provide photographs if asked - GOV.UK notes councils may require two photographs as part of the application.
- Pay the council's fee, checking the exact current amount with that council directly.
- Join a waiting list if needed - popular licensed streets and pitches are often oversubscribed, so you may not get an immediate decision.
- Comply with any conditions attached to your licence or consent, which can cover pitch position, trading hours, and preventing obstruction or nuisance.
Renewing your street trading licence
Street trading licences and consents don't renew automatically - you need to reapply through your council before the current one expires.
Councils can attach conditions to a renewal just as they can to a first grant, and can refuse a renewal on the same specified grounds (such as obstruction, danger or nuisance) that apply to a new application.
GOV.UK's guidance doesn't set a single national renewal cycle, so check your own council's renewal timescale and process rather than assuming a fixed period.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a street trading licence to sell from a market stall?
Not usually as a separate street trading licence - organised markets typically operate under their own market rights and rules, so check with the market operator or your council which regime applies to your specific stall.
Can I trade on private land without a street trading licence?
Generally yes, a street trading licence itself isn't usually needed on private land, though you'll typically need the landowner's permission and may need separate planning permission - the street trading regime specifically covers public streets and highways.
How much does a street trading licence cost?
There's no national fee - each council sets its own, so check the current published fee with the specific council you're applying to.
What happens if I trade without a licence?
You risk a fine of up to £1,000, and the council can suspend or withdraw a licence you already hold if you breach its conditions.
Can a council refuse my street trading application?
Yes, but only on specified grounds such as danger, obstruction or nuisance to other road users - the council has a general duty to grant applications that don't fall foul of those grounds.
Is a street trading licence the same everywhere in the UK?
No - the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 regime applies in England and Wales, London boroughs often use separate local Act powers, and Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems, so always check with your specific local authority.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to GOV.UK, any local council or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or professional advice - for anything specific to your trade or pitch, contact your local council's street trading or licensing team directly.