Rules and ethics
Part of London street trading licence: what to check
London street trading licence: what to check
A guide to a London street trading licence, covering borough rules, street checks, application documents, conditions and related permissions.
What to take away
- Street trading in London is licensed by the borough council, not a national body.
- Each council designates its own streets, so a pitch can be lawful in one borough and prohibited in the next.
- Applications typically need identification, proof of address, insurance and a site plan.
- Consent is not guaranteed and renewals are not automatic, so diary the expiry date.
Who regulates street trading in London
Street trading in London boroughs is governed principally by Part III of the London Local Authorities Act 1990. Each borough sets its own street designations and licensing rules.
GOV.UK confirms that councils issue the licence and decide how long it lasts. Read the street trading licence guidance alongside your borough's policy, because the national page describes the framework rather than the local rules.
The licence finder can confirm the licence name and the authority for your activity. It will not tell you whether a particular street is designated for trading.
The City of London Corporation runs a separate regime. If your pitch sits near a boundary, check both authorities before agreeing to anything.
Checks and application steps for a London street trading licence
Borough requirements differ, but the sequence below follows the common route from checking a street to holding a licence.
7 steps to a licence
- Pin down borough and exact street
- Ask how the street is classified
- Confirm which consent applies
- Assemble the paperwork
- Send form with correct fee
- Allow time for consultation
- Read conditions and note renewal
- Pin down the borough and the exact street, including the postcode. Boundaries run through shopping parades, so a pitch can fall under two authorities.
- Ask the licensing team how the street is classified. Councils usually split roads into designated licence streets, prohibited streets and streets controlled by other means.
- Confirm which consent appliesa static pitch, a mobile vehicle or a market stall permit. Some markets are run by the council and others are private.
- Assemble the paperworkphoto identification, proof of address, public liability insurance, vehicle documents and a site plan or photographs of the pitch.
- Send the council's own application form. Keep a dated copy and ask for written confirmation that the file is complete.
- Allow time for consultation. Highways, environmental health and the police may be asked for comments, and some boroughs publish an objection deadline.
- Once granted, read the conditions, display the licence as required and note the renewal date. A lapsed consent usually means starting again.
Documents for a London pitch
| Item | What councils commonly ask for |
|---|---|
| Identification | Passport or driving licence, plus proof of address dated within three months |
| Insurance | Public liability cover, often with a minimum limit set in the conditions |
| Pitch detail | Site plan, photographs, dimensions and the hours you want to trade |
| Food | Registration as a food business, usually at least 28 days before trading |
| Vehicle | Registration, MOT and, in some boroughs, a vehicle inspection |
Ask the borough's licensing team for its application form and current requirements before applying; forms and procedures differ between councils.
Insurance, a vehicle and waste arrangements may also be relevant to a street-trading business. For wider business planning, budgeting for business licences covers other licences and business costs beyond the street-trading application.
Conditions, refusals and renewals
Conditions usually cover trading hours, pitch size, noise, litter and storage. Breaching them can lead to revocation, and some councils suspend consent while complaints are investigated.
Refusals often rest on obstruction or road safety. A clash with existing pitches, or planned street works, can also weigh against an application. Ask for the reasons in writing, because they show whether a different pitch would work.
Renewal terms differ between councils. Some issue annual licences, others grant a fixed term, and a few treat every application as new.
Check the activity before the pitch
Before signing a lease or buying a van, work out which consents the activity triggers. The rule that business licences start with the activity, not the company type, is why a street trader may also need food business registration or, for a fixed site, a premises licence.
Common questions
Do I need a street trading licence in every London borough?
Not necessarily, but you must check each borough's designation for the street you plan to use. Consent granted in one borough does not cover a pitch across the boundary.
Is a market stall permit the same as a street trading licence?
Often not. A market stall permit comes from the market operator, which may be the council or a private company, while a street trading licence comes from the council's licensing team.
How long does an application take?
It depends on the borough, whether the pitch is already designated and whether objections are raised. Some councils publish a target of a few weeks; others take longer where consultation is involved.
Can I trade from private land without consent?
Sometimes, but planning permission, a premises licence or food registration may still apply. Check with the council's planning and licensing teams before assuming private land removes the need for consent.
