A street trading licence is the local authority route that may allow a business to sell goods or services in a public place in England and Wales. The exact name, scope, and conditions depend on the council area. In some places the permission is called a licence; in others it is a consent or another local authorisation. It does not automatically cover every street, vehicle, stall, market, or related approval.
The key point is simple: street trading is controlled locally, so you need to check the rules for the exact council where you plan to trade. GOV.UK’s Find a licence service is a useful starting point, but it warns that results may not include every permission you need.
What counts as street trading?
Street trading usually means selling, exposing, or offering goods or services in a street or other public place. That can include:
- a stall or pitch
- a vehicle such as a van or trailer
- a kiosk
- a mobile seller moving from place to place
- some forms of hawking or on-street selling
The exact definition comes from the local authority’s street trading policy and the applicable local rules. That is why two councils can treat similar trading activity differently.
If your business also handles other regulated activity, street trading may be only one part of your compliance picture. For example, food sellers may also need food business registration, and alcohol sales can involve separate premises or personal authorisations under the Home Office’s alcohol licensing guidance.
Why council schemes differ
There is no single national street trading rule that applies in the same way everywhere. Councils set local schemes to manage:
- pedestrian safety and congestion
- highway access and obstruction
- competition with nearby businesses
- markets, festivals, and event trading
- environmental, waste, and amenity impacts
- whether an area is a prohibited area or a licensed or consent zone
That is why one council may allow a pitch with conditions, while another may ban trading in the same type of location.
In practice, a council may run one or more of these approaches:
- Licences for approved trading locations
- Consents for trading only where the council agrees case by case
- Prohibited areas where street trading is not allowed
- Exemptions for certain markets, charities, or specific activities, depending on local policy
Always check the council’s own policy and application form for the exact area you intend to use.
What the authorisation may allow
A street trading authorisation usually covers only the specific trading activity the council has approved. It may be limited by:
- location
- days and hours
- type of goods or services
- stall size or vehicle type
- number of pitches
- storage rules
- waste disposal duties
- noise, safety, or display conditions
- whether trading must be stationary or mobile
Quick permission comparison
| Trading setup | What the council permission may cover | What it usually does not cover |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed stall or pitch | Trading at the named location under set hours and conditions | Other pitches, other streets, or other councils |
| Van or mobile unit | Trading from a vehicle in authorised places | Parking, highway access, or food/alcohol permissions |
| Kiosk | Use of the kiosk location and trading activity named in the approval | General permission to trade anywhere nearby |
| One-off or event trading | A temporary or event-specific arrangement if the council allows it | Ongoing trading after the event ends |
This is why it is risky to assume that one street trading permission covers every route to market. You may still need planning permission, food registration, a pavement licence, landowner consent, or other site-specific approvals depending on the activity and location.
Who issues it, and what evidence is usually needed?
In England and Wales, the local council is usually the issuing authority for street trading permissions. The council decides whether to grant, refuse, or condition the application under its local policy.
Typical evidence requests may include:
- the applicant’s identity and business details
- a description of the goods or services sold
- the exact trading location or route
- a site plan, map, or pitch plan
- vehicle details if trading from a van or trailer
- public liability insurance
- food hygiene or food registration details, if relevant
- waste management arrangements
- dates and times of trading
- any prior convictions or enforcement history, if the form asks for it
Some councils may also ask for photographs, tenancy or landowner consent, safety documentation, or proof of right to occupy a site. The evidence list is council-specific, so do not assume one local form will satisfy another authority.
Street trading application checklist
Use this before you submit anything.
1) Identify the exact activity
Ask:
- Are you selling from a stall, vehicle, or kiosk?
- Are you trading stationary or mobile?
- Are you trading on a public street, a council-owned site, or private land?
- Is it a regular pitch, a seasonal pitch, or a one-off event?
2) Check whether the location is allowed
Confirm:
- the council area
- whether the street is licensed, consented, or prohibited
- any market rules
- any time restrictions
- whether the site is already occupied or reserved
3) Check related approvals
Depending on the business, you may also need:
- food business registration for food selling, preparing, storing, handling, or distributing
- alcohol authorisations where applicable under the alcohol licensing guidance
- vehicle compliance or operator permissions for larger or commercial transport activity
- separate permissions for land use, signage, or pavement occupation
4) Prepare supporting documents
Gather:
- business and contact details
- pitch plan or route
- insurance
- vehicle details
- product list
- hygiene or safety documents
- any supporting consents
5) Confirm the council route
Use the council’s own form, guidance, and fees page. If you are comparing routes across different activities, start with the GOV.UK Find a licence tool and then move to the relevant local authority page.
Worked example: a mobile coffee van in one borough
A coffee van operator wants to trade near a station in one council area in England.
What they should check:
- Is that street a prohibited area, a consent area, or a licensed street?
- Does the council require a street trading licence or consent for a mobile van?
- Is there any restriction on trading hours, stopping time, or parking?
- If coffee and food items are prepared or handled, is food business registration needed?
- Does the council require insurance, a site plan, or vehicle details?
- Are there separate rules for waste, noise, or use of public space?
The point is not that the van automatically qualifies. The point is that the council route determines whether the activity is allowed at that place and in that form.
Related permissions businesses should not overlook
Street trading is often only one layer of regulation. Depending on the business model, you may also need a different approval path for the same premises or activity.
Food sellers
If you sell, cook, store, handle, prepare, or distribute food, you will generally need to register your food business. This applies to home-based, mobile, temporary, and online operations as well as fixed premises.
Alcohol sales
Alcohol permissions are not a single national street trading permission. The Home Office guidance explains that premises licences, personal licences, and temporary routes are separate authorisations with different functions. See Alcohol licensing.
Vehicle-based transport activity
If your operation uses heavier commercial vehicles, operator licensing may be relevant. The GOV.UK routes for goods vehicle operator licences and the operator licensing guide explain that the need depends on factors such as vehicle weight, hire-or-reward use, exemptions, and operating centres.
Hazardous waste carriage
If your activity includes carrying hazardous waste, that is a separate regulated role with registration and ongoing duties. See hazardous waste carriers.
Animal-related trading
If your business involves selling, boarding, breeding, day care, or riding animals, local authority licensing may apply under the GOV.UK collection on animal activities needing licences.
Gambling premises or activities
If your trading model involves gambling premises or related activity, permissions can run in sequence and may involve both operator or personal approvals and premises licensing. Dover Council’s gambling premises licences guidance is a useful example of how local authority premises permissions fit alongside wider regulatory approvals.
How to choose the right route
Use this simple rule:
- If you are asking “Can I trade from this street, pitch, or vehicle here?” → check the street trading council route.
- If you are asking “Can I sell this product or service at all?” → check the sector-specific permission too.
- If you are asking “Can I use this premises, vehicle, or site?” → check the separate premises, vehicle, or land-use approvals.
That is why the right first step is not just searching for “street trading licence.” It is identifying the exact activity, place, and operating model before you apply.
Find the council route
Use the UK business licence finder to identify the likely authorisation, then move to the relevant local council guidance and application form.
For a faster readiness check, use the Licence application checklist and then confirm any edge cases with the council or a qualified professional before you submit. For a broader starting point, see LF-01.