Street Trading

Summary

Any person selling or offering a service in a street or public place, must have a street trading licence under The Street Trading Act (Northern Ireland) 2001.  You must obtain a licence from your local council.

Licence Fees

Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must have reached 18 years of 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 can be obtained by contacting the Environmental Services Department on 028 2766 0233 or by emailing: environmentalhealth@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence.

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.

Applications must be received by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council not less than 28 days before the date of the first day of the proposed special event/trading date.

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

Applicants must provide evidence that there is in force a suitable policy of public liability insurance covering the terms of the licence.

Application 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 application 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 the 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 the authority must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Environmental Services Department within a 20 days, please contact us.

Whilst 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.

Apply Online

• Application for a Street Trading Licence
• Application to change a Street Trading Licence

Forms to Download, Print and Post

• Application for a Street Trading Licence
• Application to change a Street Trading Licence

Failed Application Redress

Please contact Causeway Coast and Glens Borough 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 Causeway Coast and Glens Borough 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 (see 'Apply online').

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.

Other Redress

If you wish to make representations about an application you may do so to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The representations should reach council no later than 28 days after the date of the application.

Any complaints concerning how a trader operates, including complaints about litter, breach of conditions of licence, noise etc. should be made directly to the Environmental Services Department on 028 2766 0233, or by emailing: environmentalhealth@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Contact Details

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Environmental Services Department

• Ballymoney Office 14 Charles Street Ballymoney BT53 6DZ 
• Limavady Office 7 Connell Street Limavady BT49 0HA
• Coleraine Office 66 Portstewart Road Coleraine BT52 1EY
• Ballycastle Office 7 Mary Street Ballycastle BT54 6QH

Email: environmentalhealth@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

Tel:  028 2766 0233

We would 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 deliver).Consumer Complaint

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