If your event includes vendors selling goods or food from stalls, pitches, or vehicles on public streets, a street trading licence or consent may be required. The rules vary significantly between local authorities, and getting it wrong can result in fines, the seizure of goods, and disruption to your event. This guide explains the legal framework and the practical steps event organisers should take.
Disclaimer: Street trading regulation is governed by local authority bylaws and designations under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 in England and Wales. The rules vary considerably between local authorities. London has additional legislation under the London Local Authorities Act 1990. Scotland has different provisions under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Always check with your local authority before your event.
What is street trading?
Under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, "street trading" means selling or offering for sale any article (including food and drink) in a street. A "street" includes any road, footway, beach, or other area to which the public has access without payment. Crucially, this includes some areas that you might not think of as "streets," such as public squares, promenades, and market places.
Consent streets, licence streets, and prohibited streets
Local authorities that have adopted Schedule 4 can designate streets into three categories:
- Consent streets -- trading is permitted with the council's consent. The council sets the terms, conditions, and fees. This is the most common designation for areas where events take place.
- Licence streets -- trading requires a street trading licence, which is a more formal process with a right to a hearing if the application is refused. Licence streets are less common.
- Prohibited streets -- no street trading is allowed at all, regardless of licences or consents.
Not all local authorities have adopted Schedule 4. In areas where it has not been adopted, there may be no street trading controls (though other regulations, such as highways legislation, still apply). Always check with the local authority to determine the designation of the streets where your event will take place.
Private land exemption
Street trading legislation applies to public streets, not to private land. If your event takes place entirely on private land (for example, a field, a private car park, or the grounds of a stately home), street trading consents or licences are not required for vendors trading within the event boundary. However, vendors trading on the public highway adjacent to the event (for example, on the pavement outside) would still need the appropriate consent or licence.
This is one reason why venue choice matters from a regulatory perspective. Events on private land face fewer street trading complications, though other regulations (planning, licensing, food hygiene) still apply.
Applying for street trading consent
If your event is on a consent street, you or your vendors will need to apply to the local authority for street trading consent. The process typically involves:
- Completing an application form specifying the goods to be sold, the location, the dates and times, and the applicant's details.
- Paying a fee (which varies by local authority, ranging from around £20 to several hundred pounds depending on the duration and location).
- Providing evidence of food hygiene registration (for food vendors), public liability insurance, and any other documentation required by the local authority.
- Waiting for the consent to be granted. Processing times vary, so apply well in advance.
Some local authorities offer block consents or event consents that cover multiple vendors at a single event. This can be simpler and cheaper than each vendor applying individually. Contact your local authority events team or street trading team to discuss the best approach.
Exemptions from street trading controls
Schedule 4 includes several exemptions from street trading controls:
- Pedlars -- a person holding a pedlar's certificate (issued by the police under the Pedlars Act 1871) is exempt from street trading controls, provided they trade from place to place (not from a fixed pitch).
- News vendors -- selling newspapers and magazines from a fixed location is exempt.
- Charitable collections -- genuine charitable collections (not sales) are exempt.
- Roundsmen -- delivering pre-ordered goods (such as milk deliveries) is exempt.
- Markets -- trading in a market that is established by statute or has operated since time immemorial may be exempt, though the interaction between market rights and street trading controls is complex.
Responsibilities of event organisers
As an event organiser, you are not usually the person who needs the street trading consent (that is typically the vendor), but you have practical and potentially legal responsibilities:
- Include a requirement in your vendor terms and conditions that all vendors must hold the necessary street trading consents and licences.
- Request copies of consents or licences before the event and check they are valid for the correct dates and locations.
- Cooperate with the local authority if they request information about vendors at your event.
- Be aware that if the local authority takes enforcement action against an unlicensed vendor at your event, it may affect your relationship with the authority and your ability to hold future events.
Enforcement
Trading without the required consent or licence is a criminal offence. Local authority enforcement officers can issue fixed penalty notices, prosecute offenders, and in some cases, seize goods and equipment. A conviction can result in a fine. Enforcement officers regularly patrol events and markets.
Food and drink vendors: additional requirements
Food vendors at events need not only street trading consent (where applicable) but also food business registration, food hygiene compliance, and potentially alcohol licensing if they are selling alcoholic drinks. Ensure your vendors understand the full range of regulatory requirements, not just street trading. Our guide on food hygiene at events covers these requirements in detail.
Street trading regulation may seem like a minor administrative detail, but non-compliance can disrupt your event and damage your credibility with both the local authority and your vendors. Make it part of your event planning checklist from the earliest stages.
