Street trading
This section provides information about street trading and street trading licences.
Street Trading is defined as the act of selling any article, or product, from the public highway. An offer to sell, such as a ‘For Sale’ notice displayed on the windscreen of a car, does not necessarily constitute street trading.
In general, it is the policy of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to discourage street trading, other than that confined within well regulated and administered street markets.
As a rule, all of the borough’s major roads and those roads leading from them, up to their first junction, are Prohibited Streets for the purposes of street trading.
You do not need a Street Trading Licence if you are:
- a Pedlar trading door-to-door, licenced by the Police.
- a news vendor selling only newspapers and periodicals
- trading with permission on private land. However you are advised to contact us so that we may confirm licensing requirements. The landowner may also need planning permission.
All food traders must be registered with our Environmental Health Officers.
Once you have decided when and where you wish to trade, contact us. We will confirm whether or not the location you have chosen forms part of a Prohibited Street.
Your application form
If approved you will be required to complete an application form for a Street Trading Licence. All of your details will be vetted and your application form will be sent to:
- the Council's Legal Practitioners
- Local Councillors
- the Police
- Trading Standards
- the Highways Authority.
Local residents and businesses who may be affected by your application may also be consulted before any Street Trading Licence is granted.
A Street Trading Licence might not be granted if objections are received and are deemed to be reasonable.
A licence will not be granted where there is potential risk to road users or the possibility of nuisance being caused.
Revoking a licence
The Council may revoke a Street Trading Licence after it has been granted.
This could be for a number of reasons such as
- non compliance with conditions
- non payment
- because other agencies such as the highways authority or utility companies require access to the trading location.
Where practical, you will be given at least 10 days notice if your Licence is revoked.
If your application is refused or revoked you may discuss the matter with appropriate Council officers.
Other than Judicial Review there is no statutory right of appeal against the Council's decision.
Last updated : 02/07/2009
