Street trading policy
Birmingham City Council is the licensing authority responsible for considering applications for a range of activities that require a street trading consent under Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 referred to in this policy as “the Act”.
The aim of the Street Trading Policy is to create a street trading environment which:
- is sensitive to the needs of the public and businesses
- provides quality consumer choice
- contributes to the character and ambience of the local environment
while ensuring public safety, and preventing crime, disorder and nuisance.
This policy sets out the criteria and guidance that Birmingham City Council will use as the regulatory framework for street trading.
This policy also clarifies the requirements around special events and occasional markets.
It gives prospective traders an early indication as to whether their application is likely to be granted or not. It also provides prospective applicants with details of what is expected of them.
The policy recognises the importance of street trading to the local economy and the character of the area, while trying to ensure that location and activities do not cause obstruction, nuisance or annoyance.
Read the two previous reviews of the street trading offer in the city centre.
The Street Trading Policy was approved by the city council on 3 November 2020.
The policy was reviewed in December 2021 and the current policy took effect from 24 December 2021.
The resolution designating streets as either consent streets, prohibited streets or the 51 parks and open spaces that have not been given a designation (see Street Trading Policy and appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4) came into force on 6 December 2020.
Applications can be made at any time but will expire on 31 March each year.
Further details of the application process can be found on these webpages. Prospective applicants should make themselves familiar with the matters that will be considered when assessing an application.
These are found in section 8 of the policy and the assessment framework can be found in appendix 5.
Page last updated: 14 April 2023
