Street Trading Licence Birmingham: Fees & How to Apply

Birmingham operates a consent-based street trading system — you apply for consent to trade rather than a full licence. The process runs on an annual cycle with a fixed application window, which means timing your application matters.

Here's everything you need to know to apply for street trading consent in Birmingham.

Birmingham's Consent System

Birmingham City Council uses street trading consent for all designated streets. This means:

• The council has discretion to grant or refuse consent
• Consent is typically granted for the April-March financial year
• Fees are invoiced quarterly in advance
• The council sets conditions on trading hours, location, and goods

All streets in Birmingham fall into one of three categories: consent streets (trading allowed with consent), licence streets, or prohibited streets. Most food truck operators will need consent for consent streets in the city centre and surrounding areas.

Application Windows

This is the key difference from most other councils. Birmingham runs an annual application window, typically opening in February:

• For 2025-2026: Application window opened 1 February 2025 (6 weeks). Consents commenced from 1 April 2025.
• For 2026-2027: Application window opens 9 February 2026 (6 weeks). Consents commence from 1 April 2026.

If you miss the window, you'll need to wait until the next year's round or contact the council about mid-year availability.

Apply early in the window. Popular pitches fill up quickly, and applications are processed in order.

How to Apply

1. Check the application window is open — Birmingham street trading page
2. Download the application form from the council website
3. Gather supporting documents:
   • Two passport photographs
   • Proof of identity and address
   • Food business registration confirmation
   • Public liability insurance certificate (minimum £5 million)
   • Food hygiene certificate (Level 2 minimum)
   • Gas safety certificate (CP44) if using gas appliances
   • Vehicle photographs and dimensions
4. Submit the completed form to the Markets and Street Trading team
5. Wait for processing — the council will review your application and may contact you for further details
6. If granted, pay your first quarterly invoice — consent fees are invoiced quarterly in advance

Contact the Markets and Street Trading team on 0121 303 0110 for current fees and availability.

Fees

Birmingham doesn't publish its fee schedule as prominently as some other councils. Fees are set annually and invoiced quarterly in advance once consent is granted. The council distinguishes between city centre and outer area consents, with city centre pitches costing more.

For current fee amounts, contact the Birmingham street trading fees page or phone the licensing team directly.

For a comparison with other major UK cities, see our council-by-council cost breakdown.

What Birmingham Requires

Beyond the standard documents, Birmingham food truck operators should be aware of:

• Quarterly invoicing: Unlike councils that charge annually upfront, Birmingham invoices every quarter. Budget accordingly — a missed payment could result in suspension of consent.
• Specific pitch allocation: Consent is granted for a specific location. You cannot move between pitches without a separate consent.
• Trading hours: The council specifies permitted hours. Trading outside these hours breaches your consent conditions.
• Waste management: You're responsible for removing all waste from your trading area at the end of each trading day.

Tips for Birmingham Applicants

• Set a calendar reminder for late January each year — the application window opens in early February
• Have all documents ready before the window opens so you can submit immediately
• Phone the licensing team first if you're unsure about available pitches or specific requirements
• Budget for quarterly payments rather than one annual lump sum
• Check neighbouring councils too — Sandwell, Dudley, Solihull, and Wolverhampton have their own street trading schemes with different fees and application processes

To estimate your total licensing costs across Birmingham and other councils where you trade, try our free licence cost calculator.

Sources

• Birmingham City Council — Street Trading
• Birmingham City Council — Apply for Street Trading Consent
• GOV.UK — Street Trading Licence