Street Trading Licence

Anyone who wishes to sell any article or thing or offers to supply a service in a street or public place will require a street trading licence. 

Only trading that takes place in a “street” is regulated by the Council.

A street is any road or footpath, public place and any part of a street. To be a “public place” the land must be:

1. In the open air and
2. within 10 metres of a road, street or footpath and
3. the public must have access without payment; but
4. must not be within enclosed premises or the curtilage of a dwelling.

Trading activities that are not ‘street trading’ and are not regulated by the Act include the below;

• Lawful markets
• Roundsmen (milk, coal etc.)
• Door-to-door sales
• Collections for charitable purposes
• Trading on Council Land (e.g. car parks and parks are covered by a separate process)

There are three types of licences that may be issued by the Council, namely stationary, mobile and temporary.

To request an application form and associated street trading guidance, please email envhealth@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk or call us on 028 90340160.

If you are making an application for any of the licences detailed in Section 3, you should choose the appropriate section in the application form. 

Completed applications, along with the relevant documents, and where appropriate relevant fee can be posted or delivered to;

Licencing Team

Environmental Health

Ground Floor

Mossley Mill

Carnmoney Road North

Newtownabbey

BT36 5QA

See Section 6 for further information on fees.

Along with your completed application form, you will need to submit a range of documents relating to both you and your business. Examples include;

• Evidence of public liability insurance
• 2 colour passport photos of the applicant 
• An Access NI Basic Disclosure check. This is available at the following link: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/accessni-criminal-record-checks/apply-accessni-check
• Gas safety certificates for all gas appliances used
• Electrical test certificates for all portable electrical appliances and any generators used 
• Evidence that you have registered or applied for registration with Environmental Health for food hygiene, and have a Food Hygiene Rating score of at least 3. 
• A photograph of the vehicle/stall you intend to trade from

Further detail on the full requirements and documentation required is included in the application pack.

Fees are set to in order to cover the administering and enforcing of the street trading licence process. Once an application has been received and reviewed, a request for payment will be made following a decision to grant or renew your licence.

Stationary and Mobile licences are granted on an annual basis from the date of application.

Any vacant stationary pitches for street trading will be advertised on this page and on the Council’s social media. Our current designated trading pitches are detailed below - Please enquire for more specific detail on current trading location availability.

Mobile and Temporary locations will be considered upon application.

Please allow a minimum of 30 days from the date of the receipt of your application to enable us to process for a grant of a new licence. We aim to have renewals processed within 14days.

Applications for temporary street trading licences need to be received at least 14days before the planned event.

You have the right to appeal our decision if;

• An application is refused
• A licence is revoked
• Terms, Conditions or Restrictions are imposed on your licence

The Council will serve notice of its intention and appeals must be logged to the Council in writing within 21days of the notice of the final decision.

If the application for a temporary licence is refused, the applicant can appeal to the local Magistrate’s court within 21days of the date of the notice of the decision.

Under the Street Trading Act, authorised officers can seize any property, goods, equipment, stalls or vehicles if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that someone is trading illegally. Illegal traders can be fined up to £1,000 and we can have the seized goods destroyed.

It should be noted that tacit consent DOES NOT apply to street trading and you must not start trading until a valid licence has been issued by the Council.

Please contact us if you have any queries on the above information, or would like to enquire about the available trading pitches within the area.

T: 028 90340160

E: envhealth@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Licencing Team

Environmental Health

Ground Floor

Mossley Mill

Carnmoney Road North

Newtownabbey

BT36 5QA