Licence summary

If you wish to trade in the street in Northern Ireland, you must obtain a licence from your local district council.

Applications must be made in writing and will be subject to a fee.

You must comply with any conditions attached to a licence.
General guidance on street trading can be found here: Guide to Street Trading

Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must have reached school leaver's 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.

A list of streets currently designated for street trading purposes can be obtained by contacting the Environmental Health department on 028 79397979, or e-mailing: env.health@magherafelt.gov.uk

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 Magherafelt District Council must process your application before it can be granted. The Police, 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. If you have not heard from the Council within a reasonable period, please contact us. You can do this online here if you applied through the UK Welcomes service or telephone the Environmental Health Department on 028 79397979, or email env.health@magherafelt.gov.uk.

Whilst Tacit Consent does not apply we will strive to notify all applicants of the outcome of their application, including issuing the licence, within 10 working days of the Council decision made in relation to the application.

Apply online

Apply to become a street trader

Apply to change your existing street trading licence

Contact Details

Telephone: 028 79397979

Fax: 028 79397980

E-mail: anne.boyle@magherafelt.gov.uk

Licencing Department
Magherafelt District Council

50 Ballyronan Road

Magherafelt

BT45 6EN

Failed Application Redress

Please contact Magherafelt District Council in the first instance.
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.

If the council upholds their decision appeals can be made to the local Magistrates court within 21 days of the notice of the decision.
If an application for a temporary licence is refused the applicant can appeal to the local Magistrates court within 21 days of the date of the notice of the decision.

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact Magherafelt District Council in the first instance.
A licence holder may apply to vary a condition attached to a licence. Applications are made to the district council (see 'Apply online').

The council will serve a notice of its intention to refuse an application for variation of a licence, to grant an application subject to conditions, to vary conditions without an application or to revoke a licence. Representations can be made in writing to the council within 21 days of the date of the notice.

If the council upholds their decision appeals can be made to the local Magistrates court within 21 days of the notice of the decision.

Register of licences, registrations and approvals

Information regarding Register of licences, registrations and approvals

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

Any complaints concerning how a trader operates, including complaints about litter, breach of conditions of licence, noise etc should be made directly to the environmental health department on 028 79397979, or by emailing env.health@magherafelt.gov.uk

Trade Associations

None