STREET TRADER APPLICATION
Licence summary
If you wish to trade in the street in Northern Ireland, you must obtain a licence from your local district council.
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.
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 evidence that there is in force a suitable policy of public liability insurance covering the terms of the licence.
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 Ards Borough Council must process your application before it can be granted. The PSNI, 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
Apply online
Apply to become a street trader
Failed Application Redress
Please contact Ards Borough Council's Borough Inspectors Office, 2 Church Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AP Tel: 02891 824058 OR email: philip.maginnis@ards-council.gov.uk
Licence Holder Redress
Please contact Ards Borough Council's Borough Inspectors Office, 2 Church Street, Newtownards, BT23 4AP Tel: 02891 824058 OR email: philip.maginnis@ards-council.gov.uk
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.
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 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
Trade Associations