If you want to sell items in the street or on land where the public have access without having to pay, you will require a street trading consent from Licensing Services.
In order to trade on private land you require permission from the landowner as well as consent from ourselves.
You may also require planning permission if your trading unit is a fixed, permanent structure.
You will also require a consent If you are organising an event such as a fête, fair or gala. Please see occasional street trading for more details.
Mobile food traders are also required to register with our Food Safety Unit.
You will also need Public Liability Insurance before you are allowed to trade.
You could be liable for a fine if you trade but do not have a consent.
- Applying for consent
- Street trading consent fees
- Street trading consent renewal
- Street trading restrictions
Applying for consent
- complete the street trading consent application form
- if you have people working for you, you also need to complete the assistant's details form
Return completed application forms to Licensing Services.
Processing your application
We require time to process and consider your application before it can be granted.
The time taken for a decision to be made will depend upon the proposed location of the site, and whether any consultation processes need to be undertaken with other parties, such as the Highway Authority, the Police or Parish Councils.
Under normal circumstances we usually make a decision within 28 days and will notify you in writing.
- you can't assume permission will be given
- we'll contact you within 28 days to acknowledge receipt of your application
You can't act as if your application has been granted if we don't respond within expected timeframes.
If you haven't heard from us within 28 days, please contact us to check the status of your application.
If your application is successful you will need to supply a passport size photograph of yourself and any assistants employed by you.
Street trading consent fees
Fees are individually assessed for trading locations within the city walls, and within the vicinity of the city walls, as this depends on where you trade and the type of goods you sell.
Find out more about street trading consent licence fees for:
If your application is successful you will be told the exact fee and how to pay it. Payments can be broken down into 12 monthly instalments.
Street trading consent renewal
Consents are renewed each year on 1 April, and reminders are sent in February and March.
Renewal is not guaranteed.
Street trading restrictions
There are restrictions on how, where and when you can trade.
These restrictions, as well as other information, can be found on the street trading guidance.
Also see