Street traders

Overview

If you trade in the street you may need a street trading licence.

Applications should be made in writing (including electronically) to South Tyneside Council, or the district Council for the area you want to trade in.

You must provide specific information, including details of the:

street you want to trade on
days and times you want to trade

You may also be required to provide two photographs of yourself.

You must comply with any conditions attached to a licence.

Apply for a licence

Apply for a street trading licence

You can also email your street trader's application form to licensing@southtyneside.gov.uk

Apply to change your licence

Eligibility criteria

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

Licences will be refused if any of the following exist:

There isn't enough space in the street you wish to trade in, without causing interference or inconvenience to street users
You wish to trade for less days than any minimum required trading days
You are unsuitable to hold a licence do 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

Application evaluation process

Under certain circumstances if certain grounds for refusal exist the Council may still award a licence but for fewer days than needed, or to allow trade in certain items.

The Council will either grant the application or serve a notice on you within a reasonable time.

The notice will be served if the Council intend to:

refuse the application
grant it on different terms than those applied for
confine trading to a particular place in a street
vary conditions of a licence
revoke a licence

The notice will detail the grounds for their decision and state that within seven days of the notice you can request in writing the opportunity to make representations.

How long it will take to process your application

If your application is successful and we have received all of the necessary documentation, your application will be processed within twenty working days.

Tacit consent

Tacit consent is where an application is treated as accepted if a reply is not recieved within a certain timeframe.

Tacit consent cannot apply because the law requires you to have a permit from the Council.

The Council will process your application within twenty working days.

If you would like to check on the progress of your application, please contact contact the licensing team on 0191 424 7695 or by emailing licensing@southtyneside.gov.uk.

Appeals

Appealing a decision

Please contact South Tyneside Council in the first instance.

Appealing a condition of the license

Please contact South Tyneside Council in the first instance.

Other appeals

There is no legal right of appeal against refusal of a street trader's licence, however, you may write to the licensing section and request that the decision is reviewed.

If you have a complaint

If you have a complaint, we advise that you contact the trader, 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.