What are Street Trading Licences?

Street trading means the exposing or offering articles for sale on roads, pavements and other areas to which the public have unrestricted access without payment. The law applies equally to public and private land.

Most councils have street trading control areas where street trading is prohibited.

You do not require a consent if: 

• Trading as a pedlar under certificate issued by a police authority" Pedlars Act, 1871, 1881
• A market trader operating at a licensed market venue 
• A news vendor selling only newspapers and periodicals 
• If you are trading on private land you may not need consent. 

Councils have these powers under the Miscellaneous Provisions Act ​

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What is a Hawkers Licence?

A peddler, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, is a travelling vendor of goods. In England, the term was mostly used for travellers hawking goods in the countryside to small towns and villages. In London more specific terms were used, such as costermonger.v In Britain, peddling is still governed by the Pedlars Act of 1871, which provides for a "pedlar's certificate" or 'hawkers license'. Application is usually made to the police. In the late 20th century, the use of such certificates became rare as other civic legislation including the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for England & Wales introduced a street trader's licence. The pedlar's certificates remain legal and in use, although several local councils have sought to rid their area of peddlers by way of local by-law or enforcement mechanisms such as making them apply for a street trader's licence.

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