Licensing your event

You may need to get licenses for some aspects of your event. 

You need to apply to us for a street trading licence if you want to trade anywhere the public has access to without payment. This applies to all land, whether it is private or owned by us. This means that if your event is free to enter, you will need to apply for street trading consent. You need to do this at least six weeks before your event.

You need to apply for a street collection licence if you want to collect money or sell articles for charitable or other purposes. You need to apply at least one month before your event.

You need a premises licence if you are providing regulated entertainment, selling alcohol or late-night refreshments.

You need apply for a temporary event notice if you are holding an ad-hoc event involving the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment, or providing late-night refreshments. You should apply at least six weeks before your event.

If you want to use fireworks or explosives at your event, you’ll need a licence.

It is illegal for fireworks displays to be set off between 11pm and 7am, so you must ensure all displays are completed before 11pm.

Our licensing team offers a pre-application advice service to applicants who require guidance through the process.

The Business Companion website has information about legislation that may be relevant to your event including:

• product safety
• weights and measures
• food labelling
• counterfeit goods
• consumer rights and refunds