Street trading - Print version

Street Trading is defined as the selling or offering for sale of any article in the street. This includes food such as burgers, kebabs, doughnuts etc. or other things such as household items and clothing.

All streets outside of the Ring Road area are designated as Consent Streets. This means that any person who wishes to sell items from a trailer or stall in a street must first obtain a Street Trading Consent from the Council. Food traders must also be registered with the Environmental Health department.  You can find out more information about registering as a Food Operator by visiting Food Safety [/foodsafety].

If you wish to sell hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am then you will also need to apply for a Premises Licence [http://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/premises-licence/coventry/apply-1]for Late Night Refreshment. Find out more information about a Premises Licence [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/23/alcohol_and_entertainment_licensing/416/alcohol_and_entertainment_licences].

If you wish to trade within boundary of the Ring Road and the City Centre shopping areas applicants should direct their enquiries to Market Services, telephone 024 7622 4927.

If you wish to trade on private land, i.e. land owned by a supermarket, you will need to obtain permission from whoever owns the land.

Please see the Street Trading Policy [/downloads/download/1613/street_trading] for more information.

Eligibility criteria

The application can be made by an individual, several individuals, a company or organisation or other prescribed persons, such as individuals acting as representatives for a company or individual.

The council will not grant street trading consent to persons under the age of 17. Where it is deemed appropriate and proportionate, The Council may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for certain applications.

Applicants whose street trading activity includes the provision of food must hold at least a CIEH Foundation certificate or equivalent.

The Council is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and will use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and deduction of fraud. It will also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing, administering public funds and will use it for comparison across the Council and with external organisations for the prevention and the detection of fraud. For further information, see data matching and the national fraud initiative [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/11/strategies_plans_and_policies/473/data_matching_and_the_national_fraud_initiative].

Application process

Applicants wishing to apply for street trading consent must complete an application form via GOV.UK [http://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/street-trading-licence/coventry/apply-1], along with the requisite fee not giving less than 14 days' notice of the application to The Licensing Team.

A map showing the exact trading location must be provided with all street trading applications. The map must show all public areas in a radius of 0.25 of a mile from the proposed trading activity.

The unit to be used for the street trading activity must comply with the legal requirements relating to the type of proposed activity. Street trading applications must be accompanied by a colour photograph of the trading unit. The trading unit must also comply with guidelines as detailed in the trading unit guidelines that accompany the application form. View a copy of the trading unit appearance guidelines [/downloads/download/1613/street_trading].

Before a street trading consent is granted or renewed the Licensing team will consult with the following responsible authorities as considered appropriate: Police, Highways and Environmental Health.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they have the correct permissions to trade in the desired location from the Planning department of the City Council [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/planning].

Tacit consent applies once a full application has been submitted and you have received an acknowledgement. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the Council by the end of the 28 day target period.

Apply for a street trading licence or consent

Apply for a street trading licence or consent via the GOV.UK website [http://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/street-trading-licence/coventry/apply-1]

If you need further information about a Street Trading licence, you can take a look at the street trading advice sheet [/downloads/file/18085/advice_sheet].

How to object (make a representation)

If your application is refused you can discuss the application with the appropriate council officers. However, other than Judicial Review, there is no statutory right of appeal against the Council's decision.

Charges

Supplementary information

All applications require a map showing the exact site of the proposed trading location. The map must show all of the streets, public areas, schools and nurseries in a 0.25 mile radius.

Copies of the following documents must also be provided:

• A colour photograph of the trading unit
• A form of photographic identification, (passport or driving licence)
• Evidence of the appropriate planning permission (where applicable)
• A certificate of third party public liability insurance to the value of £5,000,000
• A full UK driving licence, (applicable to mobile traders only)
• A food hygiene certificate, CIEH Foundation Level or equivalent

Length of licence

Street trading consents are available for the following periods of time.

• 1 day or part day
• 12 months

Reporting complaints

If you have a complaint about any trader or have information regarding any persons trading illegally (that is without a street trading consent) please contact the Licensing team.

Change of circumstances

Traders wishing to make a change to an existing street trading consent must complete an application to vary a street trading consent [http://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/street-trading-licence/coventry/change-1]. The completed application along with the requisite fee should be sent to the Licensing Team.

The variation application form can be used if you wish to make one or more of the following variations:

• Change of consent holders name or address
• Change of trading days
• Change of trading hours
• Change of good being sold
• Change of / or changes to the trading unit.

For any other changes to the Street Trading Consent please contact the Licensing team.

Apply online

Apply to vary a street trading consent online via GOV.UK website [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/street-trading-licence/coventry/change-1]

Transfer of a Street Trading Consent

Street Trading Consents are not transferrable. If you wish to sell the business to another trader who wishes to continue to trade in the same location, it is the responsibility of the new business owner to apply for a Street Trading Consent.

Public registers

The public registers of all applications made to the Council under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 are available to view through our online licensing register [http://licensing.coventry.gov.uk/MVM/Online/EGov/License_Registers/Registers_Criteria.aspx].