Who needs a shop fronts licence?
If you want to use the space in front of your business premises for commercial purposes – such as tables and chairs, planters, boxes for trading from, etc – you’ll need a shop fronts licence.
You might also need a licence to use private land for business purposes if it’s accessible to the public and within 7m of the public highway.
Unlike pavement licences, which expire on 30 September 2022, shop fronts licences only need to be renewed once every 6 months (for temporary licence holders) or once every 12 months (for permanent licence holders).
A-boards are not allowed on the public highway in Hackney under any circumstances.
Apply for or renew a shop front trading licence
In Hackney you can either have a temporary or a permanent shop fronts licence.
Temporary licences are valid for 6 months before they need to be renewed and the fee is payable up front.
Permanent licences only need to be renewed every 12 months. Permanent licence holders pay monthly by direct debit and also benefit from reduced meterage fees.
You must have a temporary licence for at least 6 months before you can apply for a permanent licence.
Please make sure you submit all the supporting documents when applying.
- proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
- proof of home address (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- proof of national insurance number (copy of your national insurance document, tax statement, benefits agency document, pay slip, P45 or P60)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million) – public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- proof of premises address (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- a full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months – please print the name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs – refer to the shop front fees and charges list for the current fee/charge
- a copy of the business certificate of incorporation (limited public companies only)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million) – public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- a full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months – please print the name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs – refer to the shop front fees and charges list for the current fee/charge
- the shop front licence renewal form (PDF 59kb) fully completed, signed and dated
- proof of home address if this has changed since your last application (utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months)
- a copy of your public liability insurance certificate (with a minimum of £5 million) – public liability insurance cover should specifically cover trading activities on the public highway
- a full face photograph of the applicant taken within the last 12 months – please print the full name of the applicant on the reverse of the photograph
- a non-refundable application fee to cover administration costs – refer to the shop front fees and charges list for the current fee/charge.
To make payments by phone please call 020 8356 8550.
Online applications
When applying for a shop front licence online, please enter zero zero in the ‘requested dimensions’ box.
You will be asked to pay the £100 application fee (which is non refundable). The licence fee will be calculated following a visit to your business where we’ll take measurements and relay the information to our team.
We’ll then contact you so you can pay the full shop front licence fee by credit/debit card over the phone. You will not be issued a licence until all of the documentation and the licence fee have been paid.
Please note it is very important when you apply to provide all of the documentation requested. If not, you will be given 7 days to provide the relevant documents or your application will be voided and you will forfeit the application fee.
Apply
If you haven’t already done so, you will need to create an account. Once you have created your account, you’ll be able to apply for a new licence, renew a licence, and add managers and assistants.
Apply for a licence Renew your licence
Apply or renew by post
If you would prefer to apply by email or post, please complete the relevant form above and email it to us at shopfronts@hackney.gov.uk or send it to: Markets and Street Trading Office, First Floor, 51-63 Ridley Road, London E8 2NP.
Make sure you have all the documents before applying. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
Application fees
You can only pay by debit or credit card. The application fee is non-refundable.
The shop front licence must be held in the name of an individual rather than a company name.
Please make sure you have all the supporting documents before applying.
After you apply
We will review applications to ensure all documents have been supplied. We aim to process applications within 10 working days.
Displaying your licence
You must display your licence prominently on the premises, clearly visible, or as directed by an authorised officer of the Council.
Photographic evidence
You must email a photo showing the licence on display to markets.service@hackney.gov.uk within 14 days of being notified that the licence has been granted. Your licence is provisional until we receive the photo.
Once we’ve received the photo, we’ll validate the licence and it will change from provisional to its full temporary or permanent licence status.
If we don’t receive the photograph of the licence on display within 14 days:
- the licence will be invalid
- any street trading will be illegal and subject to enforcement action
- you will be invited in for an interview and in the case of a permanent licence, the case will be referred to the officer licensing panel, with a recommendation to revoke the licence
Make a change to an existing licence
If you want to vary the details of your permanent or temporary licence, please complete the form above and return it to us at: shopfronts@hackney.gov.uk or Markets & Street Trading Office, Unit 2ii, Kingsland Shopping Centre, Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2L
A non-refundable fee to cover administration costs is required.
See shop front fees and charges (google doc).
Requests for variations to licences will be considered at the next officer licensing panel which are usually held on the 8th of each month.
You are allowed to submit one request per quarter.
The officer licensing panel (OLP) is the process by which licence holders can apply for a permanent licence, vary the details of their temporary or permanent licence, and where it is determined whether a licence should be revoked.
The markets and street trading manager will advertise the date of the OLP and will issue a reminder two weeks before application submissions close.
If you’re applying for a variation or a permanent licence, you must make a request in writing and supply the relevant forms and fees prior to the OLP.
Once submissions for the OLP have closed, the licensing and development manager collates the information and sends it to the chair and panel members.
The OLP is made up of the head of markets and street trading, service area manager, markets and street trading operations manager, and the shop fronts team leader.
The members will submit their recommendations about whether to accept or reject an application before the panel takes place.
Other relevant agencies and departments such as Highways, Transport for London, trading standards or environmental health, will also be asked to supply comments.
The licensing and development manager will then prepare a report for the OLP with their recommendations.
If the panel do not support the application, we will write to inform you. You will be able to make representations to the panel and will be given a minimum of 21 days’ notice of the panel date.
If the panel members recommend that a licence be revoked, we will write to you stating the reasons and you’ll be asked if you want to make representations to the panel in person and giving them a minimum 21 days’ notice of the panel date.
You can request a review of the panel’s decision and an independent head of service will review the evidence and put forward a decision, which will be final.
Page updated on: 28 March 2024