Street Trading Licence

Street Trading is defined as the selling or offering for sale of any article in the street. This includes food such as burgers, kebabs, doughnuts etc. or other things such as household items.

All streets in the area are designated as Consent Streets. This means that any person who wishes to sell items from a trailer or stall in a street must first obtain a Street Trading Consent from the Council.

Food traders must also be registered with Hackney Environmental Health

You do not need a Street Trading Consent if you are:

• trading as a peddler under licence issued by a Police Authority
• a market trader operating at a licensed market venue
• a news vendor selling only newspapers and periodicals
• if you are trading on private land you may not need a consent. To confirm the situation you are advised to contact us, using the details above. The landowner may need planning permission and you are advised to contact the Council's Planning Office.

Once you have decided when and where you wish to trade, contact us and we will be happy to send you an application form. Alternatively, down load an application form link to online form. We will also be able to inform you whether or not the location you have chosen may or may not be suitable.

For your application to be processed, please enclose the following:

• Completed application form
• Deposit of £15.00.

You will also need to provide

• evidence that you have Public Liability Insurance to the value of £5 million.
• Four passport sized photographs of your self
• Two proofs of your name and address.  E.g. recent bills within the last three month gas/ telephone/ water/ electricity/ council tax, your passport or your new style photo-card driving licence (old style paper licences are not acceptable nor are mobile phone bills.
• Proof of your National Insurance number e g National insurance card, inland revenue document, tax statement, benefit agency document, pay slip, p45 or p60.
• Proof that your business is registered with your local council if you wish to sell food.

Applications will not be considered without this evidence. All details on the application are checked.

Your application details are circulated to:

• the Council's Legal Practice
• local Councillors
• the Police
• Trading Standards
• the Highways Authority for major roads.

Local residents and businesses who may be affected by your application may also be consulted before any Street Trading Consent may be granted.

Consent may not be granted when adverse comments are received from the consulted parties.

Consent will not be granted where there is a risk to road safety or possibility of a nuisance being created.

The Council may Revoke a Street Trading Consent after it has been granted. This may be for a variety of reasons such as: non compliance with conditions, non payment or because other agencies such as highways department require access to the trading location. You will be given at least 10 days notice if your Consent is revoked.

If your application is refused or revoked you may discuss the application with the appropriate Council Officers. Other than Judicial Review there is no statutory right of appeal against the Council's decision.

Licence conditions

Each street trading licence issued by the local authority is subject to standard licence conditions. Amongst other matters these conditions relate to matters such as:

• the name of the person who may trade
• the goods that may be sold
• the exact site where trading may take place
• the days and times when trading can take place
• displaying the licence holders name and licence number
• employment of school children
• heating and lighting arrangements
• disposal of rubbish

Back to top

Page updated: 12 Jun 2008