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Street Trading Licence

If you wish to trade in the street in Northern Ireland, you must obtain a licence from your local district council.

Apply for a street trading licence
Apply to change a street trading licence

Applications must be made in writing and will be subject to a fee.

Current fees are:

  • Stationary Trader: £205

  • Mobile Trader: £205

  • Temporary Licence: £55

  • Variation of terms of a licence: £70

You can only apply to be a Stationary Trader if you wish to operate in a Designated Street.  You must comply with any conditions attached to a licence.


Eligibility Criteria:
An applicant must have reached school leaver's age and be an individual.

The street that the applicant wishes to trade on must be a street designated to allow street trading pitches or is not designated to ban the sale of articles, things or services.

A list of streets currently designated for street trading purposes is available from our Environmental Health Service.


Regulation Summary: The Street Trading Act (NI) 2001 


Application Evaluation Process:
Applications must include:

  • The name, address and date of birth of the applicant

  • If the applicant wishes to be a stationary or mobile trader, details of the street and location of the pitch or the areas the applicant wishes to trade

  • The days and times they wish to trade

  • Descriptions of articles, things or services intended to be traded and any item that will be used in connection with the trading

  • Storage arrangements

Applicants may be required to provide two colour passport size photographs with their applications.


Applicants must provide the following documentation to support their application:

  • A Basic Disclosure certificate obtained from AccessNI (non NI residents can get details of how to obtain a similar certificate here)

  • Electrical test certificates for all portable electrical appliances used and any generators

  • Gas Safety certificates for all gas appliances, connections, flues etc used

  • Certificate of maintenance of any fire extinguishers used, especially where gas/ electrical equipment is being used

  • Evidence that you have registered, or applied for registration with the relevant local authority for food hygiene and/or health and safety.


Applications to vary a condition must specify how the applicant wants the condition to be varied. A council must give a written notice within a reasonable time of its decision. A council will grant an application unless there are grounds for refusal.

Grounds for refusal are:

  • The applicant is not eligible

  • The application is to trade in a place that would breach the law

  • The applicant wishes to trade in a street that is not designated to allow street trading, or the article, thing or service goes against any term of the designation

  • The location is unsuitable

  • The space or area proposed is not suitable for the applicant or would interfere with people and vehicles

  • There are already enough street traders in the street or adjoining the street proposed selling services, articles or things the applicant proposes to trade

  • The types of services; articles or things proposed to be traded would affect the area proposed

  • The applicant has provided false information

  • The applicant is unsuitable to hold a licence

  • the applicant has failed to carry out requirements of a previous street trading licence

  • The applicant has had a previous street trading licence revoked through failure to pay fees

  • The applicant has failed to provide further information requested

  • The applicant has failed to provide for suitable storage.

Applications can also be made for temporary licences but an applicant cannot have more than five temporary licences in one year.


Will Tacit Consent Apply?
No. It is in the public interest that Mid Ulster District Council must process your application before it can be granted. The Police, Roads Service, local residents and local shops and other street traders have a legitimate interest in the outcome of street trading applications. Tacit consent does not apply to minimise the risk of a licence being granted inadvertently and subsequently resulting in public disorder, removal of protection to the public and a cumulative adverse environmental impact on the vicinity of the trader. If you have not heard from the Council within a reasonable period, please contact us.

While Tacit Consent does not apply we will strive to notify all applicants of the outcome of their application, including issuing the licence, within 10 working days of the Council decision made in relation to the application. 


Failed Application Redress:
Please contact Mid Ulster District Council in the first instance.

The council will serve a notice of its intention to refuse an application for a licence. Representations can be made in writing to the council within 21 days of the date of the notice.

If the council upholds their decision appeals can be made to the local Magistrates court within 21 days of the notice of the decision.

If an application for a temporary licence is refused the applicant can appeal to the local Magistrates court within 21 days of the date of the notice of the decision.


Licence Holder Redress:
Please contact Mid Ulster District Council in the first instance.

A licence holder may apply to vary a condition attached to a licence. Applications are made to the district council.

The council will serve a notice of its intention to refuse an application for variation of a licence, to grant an application subject to conditions, to vary conditions without an application or to revoke a licence. Representations can be made in writing to the council within 21 days of the date of the notice.

If the council upholds their decision appeals can be made to the local Magistrates court within 21 days of the notice of the decision.


Consumer Complaint:

  • We would always advise that in the event of a complaint, the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form of a letter (with proof of delivery).

  • If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre.


Other Redress: Please contact Mid Ulster District Council in the first instance.


Trade Associations: None