Street trading
Street Trading
This page contains Adobe PDF documents. If you have problems accessing PDFs you can:
- Download a PDF viewer
- use a PDF conversion tool
- find out more about PDF accessibility.
Generally, it is illegal to street trade in Liverpool. Street Trading means to sell, expose or offer for sale any goods, or food, including food such as ice cream or hot or cold food, in any street or in any public area within 10 metres of the street, unless a person has previously obtained a Licence or a Consent from the City Council's Licensing Unit. There are certain exceptions to this general rule, which are summarised below under the heading Exceptions.
Whether you should apply for a Licence or a Consent will depend on the particular street in which you would like to trade. Some streets are designated as Licence Streets, while others are designated as Consent Streets. A list of the 19 licensed streets and remaining prohibited streets![(PDF [26.2Kb] opens in new window)](/images/PDF.gif)
may be accessed here.
Street Trading Licence
A licence application may be made for any of the 19 Licensed Streets within Liverpool City Centre. All other streets situated within the City Centre are prohibited streets for the purpose of street trading. Please click here for guidance notes and application forms.
Street Trading Consent
There are two forms of Consent, Short Term and Long Term.
Short Term Consent is designed for those people wishing trade within certain streets for up to five days in any six month period. Guidance and Application Forms may be accessed here.
Long Term Consent is for those people wishing to trade within certain streets for longer periods, for example on a seasonal basis. This period cannot exceed 12 months. Guidance and Application Forms may be accessed here.
Fees
People carrying out street trading will have to pay a fee to the Council. Fees are reviewed on an annual basis.
For further information view the current fee levels
Prohibited Streets
However, there are some streets in the City Centre in which street trading is completely prohibited. These are known as Prohibited Streets. Please click here to see a list of Prohibited Streets. If you are in any doubt please contact the Licensing Unit (see details below).
Exceptions
There are certain types of limited activity which are considered not to be street trading and may take place in any street in Liverpool without the need to obtain a licence or a consent from Liverpool City Council. The Licensing Unit can give further details, but examples include trading as a news vendor (within specified limits) or a roundsman. If you feel your proposed activity may fall within one of the exceptions then please contact the Licensing Unit before you start trading.
Please note that the general exception which allows a person to sell goods in the street when acting as a certified Pedlar has been amended in Liverpool by the Liverpool City Council Act 2006. As from 27 November 2006, Pedlars must comply with the street trading legislation by obtaining a Licence or a Consent, or not selling in Prohibited Streets, unless their trading is limited to visits from house to house.
Any person not complying with the street trading legislation is liable to have their goods seized and face prosecution with a fine of up to £1000.
Contact us
For further information, please contact us:
Post
The Licensing Unit
Liverpool City Council
Room 219,
Municipal Buildings,
Dale Street,
Liverpool,
L2 2DH.
Telephone
0151 233 3015
Fax
0151 225 3493
If you would like this information in another language or format please ask us.
Ring 0151 225 3489/225 3480 or email us Licensing@liverpool.gov.uk