Street trading is the selling, offering or exposing for sale of any item or service in the street. This includes stalls, shop-front displays, and café tables and chairs with service.
When would you need a street trading licence?
A licence is required to trade on any of the following that is within seven metres of any road or footway:
- the public highway
- pavement
- any other area (not within a permanently enclosed premises)
Street trading licences are issued on a discretionary basis. The success of the application depends on a number of factors, such as the proposed geographical location and existing footway widths.
Before you start
Before you apply for a street trading licence you must meet the requirements set out in our street trading policy.
To apply for a street trading licence you need to:
- Download and complete the application form below and send it to us at: licensing@harrow.gov.uk
You will be contacted about how you can complete your payment once we receive your application.
Street trading licence fees
Our fees are reviewed each year and agreed by Cabinet.
A fee of £45.50 will apply to any variations or cancellations of a licence.
Front of shop displays
| Administration | Management and enforcement | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 weeks (usually applicable in undesignated streets) | £250 | £190 | £440 |
| 1 year, single shop front | £500 | £380 | £880 |
| 1 year, double shop front | £1,000 | £760 | £1,760 |
Triple shop fronts will be triple the single shop front fee.
Stand-alone street trading licence e.g. Stalls
| Administration | Management and enforcement | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 7 days | N/A | ||
| Up to 2 months | £101 | £88 | £189 |
| 2 to 6 months | £244 | £176 | £420 |
| 7 to 12 months | £316 | £264 | £580 |
An admin fee of £45.50 is to be paid per application for stalls up to 7 days. A fee of £2160 will apply to a market which requires the closure of a road. 6 weeks notice is required.
Tables and chairs
| Administration | Management and enforcement | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue of new licence | £500 | £380 | £880 |
| Renewal of licence | £500 | £380 | £880 |
Who is the licence holder?
A licence is for the sole use of the person named on the licence. It specifies the location and position, commodities or service that may be sold, and the days and times that the licence holder may trade.
A licence holder who trades with a time-expired licence, on a day, time or place other than that stated in his licence, is trading illegally.
Shopkeepers
A shopkeeper can trade on his or her own private forecourt without a licence, but cannot let out the space to another trader, unless that person has a licence.
Types of street traders
Traditional street trading
These are for the traditional street trading pitches on the public highway, e.g. a pitch to sell fruit and vegetables or a burger van.
Currently we have only a few such designated sites as these are all allocated. If and when they become available we will advertise them on this web page.
Shop front displays/tables and chairs
We currently licence shop front displays and table and chairs on the public highway outside a premises.
This display must be a continuation of the main business of the shop and not different commodities. We require at least 2.5 metres of clear footpath to allow street trading outside a shop.
We will also consider the potential nuisance a licence may cause.
Illegal traders
If you suspect that unlicensed street trading is taking place, please email licensing@harrow.gov.uk and provide us with:
- where and when it happened
- a description of the trader
- the goods they were selling