Guidance notes for application for new and renewal of street trading licences

1. The applicant must be aged 17 years or over.

2. Two recent identical full-face photographs of the applicant must accompany each application.

3. Two recent identical passport size photographs of the applicant’s assistant(s) must accompany each application. 

4. A photocopy of one of the following documents must be provided as proof of address of the applicant:

• gas, electric, water or landline telephone bill (dated within the last three months);
• bank statement (dated within the last three months);
• credit card statement (dated within the last three months);
• current full UK/EU photo-card driving licence (with counterpart).

5. A photocopy of one of the following documents must be provided as proof of identity:

• valid passport;
• current full UK/EU photo-card driving licence (with counterpart).

6. For all food applications, copy of accredited food hygiene certificate; please note successful applicants will also be required to register with the Camden Council food team.

If your application is approved, you will be invited to attend a meeting, where you will be required to produce original documents for verification.

7. Street Trading Licences are invalid for Sunday trading except where written permission is granted by the street trading team.

8. Copies of the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended) can be viewed at legislation.gov.uk. You will be given a copy of the standard conditions applicable to street trading licences. Applicants are advised to make themselves familiar with these documents.

9. All street traders are licensed/registered subject to the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended); please note that corporate bodies or partnerships are not recognised and will not be licensed/ registered except for ice cream trading.

10. The licence holder may employ assistants to help them in the conduct of street trading, provided that the assistant(s) is/are registered and authorised by the street trading team. 

11. Any person who trades or acts in contravention of the Acts or Standard conditions will be liable to prosecution or action to revoke any requirements of other legalisation e.g. by selling counterfeit goods or failing to comply with food hygiene requirements.

12. If your application is approved you will be informed of the dimensions of your trading area. For forecourt and temporary locations, size of pitch will be determined during a site visit by the street trading team.

13. Licences/registrations will not be issued for miscellaneous goods: specific commodities must be stated. Do not use such terms as casual wear, giftware, fancy goods, tops. The Council can specifically identify commodities to be sold from specific licence sites.

14. Licences/registrations will not be issued for the sale of certain foodstuffs, secondhand clothes or electrical goods and bric-a-brac.

15. Nominated relatives in accordance with London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended), section 26(2).A person shall be treated as being related to another if the latter is the wife, husband, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, half-brother or half-sister of the former and shall be deemed to be so related notwithstanding that he or she is so related only through an illegitimacy or in consequence of an adoption.

16. Current licence fees are reviewed annually; all licence fees are payable in advance.

Plender Street – Monday to Saturday 7am-7pm, market with 11 designated pitches 4 x 2 metres.

Chalton Street – Wednesday to Friday 7am-7pm, market with 42 designated pitches 4 x 2 metres.  

Earlham Street – Monday to Saturday 7am-7pm, market with 15 designated pitches currently, 3 x 2 metres.

Eton Avenue - Tuesday to Saturday market 7am-7pm with 40 designated pitches at 3 x 2 metres. A farmers market takes place every Wednesday.

Goodge Place – Monday to Friday 7am-7pm, market with 6 designated pitches, at 3 x 2 metres. Please note that this market is full at the moment. 

Inverness Street – Monday to Sunday 7am-7pm, market with 64 designated pitches at 2 x 2 metres and 4 x 2 metres.

Leather Lane – Monday to Friday 7am-7pm, market with 99 designated pitches at 4 x 2 metres and 3 x 2 metres.

Queens Crescent – Thursday and Saturday 7am-7pm, market with 77 designated pitches at 4 x 2 metres and 3 x 2 metres.

Application for Temporary Registration

New applicant(s) should submit an expression of interest - application form and provide all the compulsory documents listed below. 

Applicant(s) has to complete the form and returns by email to marketsapplication@camden.gov.uk with required documentation.  

A Registered Assistant Application From has to be completed for each Registered Assistant. Please refer to the documents listed below:

• Expression of Interest - Application form 2019 (PDF)
• Fees and charges 2019-2020 (PDF)
• Street trading terms and conditions for 2017-18 (PDF)
• Food Registration Form – 2018 (DOC) (only applicable for food traders)
• Food safety Guidance for Market traders (PDF)

You will also need:

• Proof of Identity (In date, valid passport);
• If passports that are not within the EU additional documentation with regard to residency status, (Home Office Papers) and rights to work need to be shown;
• Proof of Residency (Council tax bill (for current period), Utility Bill (Gas, water, electricity dated to cover current period);
• Four full face passport size photographs (in line with passport guidelines);
• National Insurance Number to be provided;
• Proof of valid public liability insurance that with cover to the required amount (no receipts to be accepted). This insurance to include the names of any proposed registered assistants;
• For applicants wishing to sell food they need to provide confirmation they have registered as a food business and have the required confirmation from Environmental Health and food safety that they have been cleared to sell these items.  The applicant needs to provide evidence that they and any proposed registered assistants have attended all required food handling courses and other relevant courses;
• The applicant needs to pay the required application fee at this time.

The application fee for a trading licence is £61.60 and £20.40 for per registered assistant. You will need to pay by debit/credit card either when you come to collect your temporary registration card or via the phone.

The ice cream licensing scheme is designed to achieve several positive outcomes using licence requirements including improved air quality and reduced emissions from engine idling, good hygiene standards, clear pricing, health and wellbeing through inclusion of healthier alternatives and an increase in enforcement.  Sites will be granted to traders by way of a comprehensive, impartial application process.

For more information and registering your interest, please visit Wearecamden Ice cream consultation page.

Valid applications will be assessed and we will generally notify you of the outcome within 3 weeks following the close date of the application. However, the assessment can take up to 8 weeks where you are applying for a trading space that is subject to specific advertising timescales.

Applications are not valid if they have not been completed correctly and where all the appropriate supporting information has not been provided. Applications will not be assessed where the applicant or business has outstanding arrears with or is currently excluded from trading with Camden Markets.

All applications are assessed by a panel of officers and you may be required to provide further information in support of your application.

To assist the panel in making its decision please supply as much information as possible such as a business plan, photos of how the stall will look, detailed information about the products you will sell, how your business will be marketed and how you propose to deliver excellent customer service.

The criteria used to assess all applications for an occupancy agreement and allocate spaces are:

• the location of the vacancy(s);
• the type of goods and services the applicant wants to sell;
• the number of trading spaces required by the applicant;
• the balance of trades at the market (so as maintain a balance of supply and demand);
• illustration of the proposed space design and business brand fit;
• Markets vision, and costs to achieve this are understood and achievable understanding of the business, along with the products and services offered;
• business experience, including skills and experience of the product / service range;
• clear customer policy showing how the business will deliver excellent customer service, including dealing with complaints, returns, etc;
• provision of robust business planning and financial information demonstrating the sustainability of the business.

Once  the application form and required documents are reviewed you will be contacted to pay an application fee and to agree an appointment date and time to attend an appointment with original documentation.  

Registered Assistants need to attend this meeting with their original documentation too. Photographs will be taken of the applicant and Registered Assistants at this meeting. 

Unsuccessful Applications - If you are unsuccessful you may appeal to the Service Manager at marketsteam@camden.gov.uk to review the decision, if the decision to reject your application is upheld further terms and conditions information can be found on our website.

1) You must be over 17 years of age to hold a licence.

2) Licences will be refused if any of the following grounds exist:

• there isn't enough space in the street you wish to trade in, without causing interference or inconvenience to street users;
• you are unsuitable to hold a licence due to any previous convictions or for other reasons;
• you have previously failed to pay fees due under another street trading licence or have failed to use a previous street trading licence.

3) You cannot hold a street trading licence for another authority on an identical day of trading.

4) All food traders must register their food business with the Camden Environmental Health/Food Safety team by filling in the Food Registration form. Traders should have a minimum of 3 star rating.

These licenses are issued under the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended). See a summary of the regulation relating to this licence.

Temporary licence

These are issued in the following circumstances:

• first time applicants can only apply for a temporary licence. This can also be renewed.
• if your licence has expired and you have not traded in our markets for a period of time, you can reapply for a temporary licence.
• temporary traders are eligible to apply for a permanent licence after 6 months of consistent trading.
• temporary licences are also issued to charities or commercial organisations. Charities will be granted permission to trade for one day for free and are required to apply in writing on their headed note-paper giving details of their organisation, registered charity number, details of the promotion and their public liability insurance cover of 5 million. Charities pay the full fees and charges after the free day's trade.

Temporary Applications for Food Sellers

If a person indicates an interest in selling hot food they need to complete an expression of interest form indicating which market and market days they have an interest.  This form is found on the Council’s web site or can be requested by emailing the Markets Team.  

On receipt,  the form is reviewed by the Market Licensing team with regard to market preference and days, commodity and any other available information to make a decision as to whether or not the interested person can move to the next stage of completing a temporary application form.

An application form for a temporary licence should be despatched to the applicant with guidance on how to complete and the criteria for issue of a licence.

A pre-allocated Temporary licence will be issued including  information about pitch number, goods to be sold and period (the period can be between a week, Month up to six Months). 

Payment should be made by chip and pin for specified trading period prior to trade (or traders can trade as  a daily casual temporary trader).

Assistant(s) licence

Traders can employ a registered assistant, to cover short period of times each day. Please note the licensee need to be present 60% of the time at the stall. You must register your assistant(s) by filling in part 4 of the application form. If the details of assistant change, please call or email the Markets Team.

The licensee is expected to be in visible control of the stall for most of the working week. Where a licensee is not at their stall for this time without a reason that we consider reasonable, we can revoke a licence for non-attendance. 

An administration fee is charged to process the assistant application. Please refer to the fees and charges.

Temporary Licences for Forecourt/private land licences

Applicant(s) who express an interest in trading from a private forecourt or private land, where the area in question falls within the definition of street as defined in the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended) can apply for a temporary licence.

Applicant (s) should complete and return a temporary licence form to the Markets Team in line with the guidance stipulated under the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended) that they have the consent in writing of the owner of the land to trade with the required application fee paid. 

The Market Licensing team reviews all paperwork submitted and decides if a 6-month temporary forecourt licence, or private land licence can be issued.  

If the application is granted a payment of six months licence fee is taken and a licence issued that specifies the name of the person licenced stating the goods that are permitted to be sold under this licence and the size of the forecourt or pitch within the private land.  The details of the land owner should be shown on this licence.

Licence renewals will commence in February 2019 and existing traders will be contacted in due course. 

You will receive all the necessary documents via an email in an editable PDF format, in order to complete the renewal process. Your new licence will be valid for 3 years. 

The renewal process is an extremely busy period so we request your completed renewal form as soon as possible on receipt, preferably before 1 March 2019.

If you do not complete the form correctly or miss required information, there may be a delay in issuing your licence, therefore you risk not being able to trade after 31st March 2019.

Kiosk and Isolated Pitches Licence

The Council has a number of out of market area isolated and kiosk sites that have been designated as licensed areas under the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended). When one of these sites become vacant they are advertised as vacant requesting expression of interest from individuals.  

There is clear criteria as to what will be expected of the applicant(s) with regard to trading and these include:

• To be able to fulfil the licensing criteria as stipulated under the London Local Authorities Act 1990 (as amended) and as described in the Temporary Licence application;
• Are willing and able to work within the terms and conditions that will be attached to the licence;
• The receptacle/kiosk used is easily removable or they have agreed to use and pay the monthly charge for a Council provided kiosk in addition to the normal pitch fee (as described in the fees and charges table);
• Have provided a business plan for the site;
• Will be working the site in person developing it to ensure it is and remains an asset for the area to aid regeneration
• Register all assistants working;
• Will attend a face to face interview to determine the successful candidate; 
• Proofs  that do not already hold a street trading licence; if you do you will surrender that licence in order to accept your new licence and agree to trade 60% of the time;
•  Will accept the outcome of the interview process.

Ice cream trading licence

Ice cream vans are exempt from needing a street trading licence provided you are trading from a vehicle which goes from place to place remaining in any one location in the course of trading for 15 minutes or less and not returning to the same location or any other location in the same street on the same day. However certain streets in the borough are prohibited from itinerant ice cream trading.

List of ice cream prohibited street locations (PDF)

Ice cream licensing trial

In 2018 Camden undertook a feasibility study of 14 sites identified to allow licenced Ice cream trading.  This resulted in 5 sites agreed as suitable to be progressed, using a permanent traffic order change, to allow ice cream trading to ensue.

This trial scheme is designed to achieve several positive outcomes  from licence requirements – including improved air quality and reduced emissions from engine idling; good hygiene standards; clear pricing; health and wellbeing through inclusion of healthier alternatives, and an increase in enforcement.  Sites will be granted to traders by way of a comprehensive, impartial application process.

Applicants will be required to meet the following criteria that will improve the standard of ice cream trading and the local environment:

• Food hygiene certification
• Clearly advertised pricing
• Healthy options such as frozen yogurt or fruit
• Ability to run on electric/battery, rather than engine, to reduce air pollution
• All assistants to be registered with the Council

The engagement period will begin on 11 July 2019, for up to one year, to allow local residents and other stakeholders the opportunity to comment on our plans and find out more about the scheme. For more information and comments on the scheme please visit: consultations.wearecamden.org. 

If you would like any more information on this trail scheme, please visit the WeAreCamden page or you can call us on 020 7974 4444.

Christmas tree trading licence

Camden welcomes applications from traders wishing to sell Christmas Trees from within Camden’s street markets or from isolated site locations. All applicants are required to fill in an application form. 

If you are not an existing trader you will also need to provide:

• ID
• Proof of NI
• Proof of address
• PLI

All assistants must be listed on the application with accompanying documents (i.e. ID, NI, proof of address).
The closing date to submit your application for 2019 will be announced near the time.

The Christmas tree licence fees this year are:

• £23 per pitch per day within a market (and £13.60 for additional pitch fee)  
• £10 per pitch per day and £6 per additional pitch for Queens Crescent and Chalton Street markets
• £25 per pitch  per day for isolated and miscellaneous sites (4x2 meters)

Existing available trading sites are listed below, but requests to trade from new locations will be considered:

• Finchley Road (outside Waitrose)
• Fortune Green Cemetry/Queens C
• 72 Mansfield Road (outside second hand furniture shop)
• Camden Road
• Swains Lane (round about)
• West End Lane (by St. James’ church)
• Shaftesbury Avenue
• Queens Square
• Theobalds Road
• Hampstead Cemetery
• Chalk Farm Road
• Whitestone Pond
• Bonny Street (Camden Overground Station)
• Queens Crescent market
• Inverness Street market
• Plender Street
• Eton Avenue
• Chalton Street

Please specify on your application which trading site(s)/Market(s) you are applying for. Include details of how much space you require to display, store and package trees (including equipment used).
Some of these areas may be at different locations to the trading site, but all areas required need to be included in your application is your operation needs these areas as part of your set up.

Markets will operate between 7am – 7pm on the days when each market is designated.  Out of market areas can be 7 days.
If you have any questions, please contact the markets team.