Street Trading Licence Camden: How Camden's System Works (2026)

Camden is one of London's most competitive boroughs for street trading. It's home to Camden Market — one of the most visited tourist attractions in the UK — which means demand for trading pitches in the borough is high and the licensing process is correspondingly careful.

Camden operates under the London Local Authorities Act 1990 rather than the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 that governs most English and Welsh councils. The practical framework is similar — streets are designated as licence streets or consent streets — but the London Act gives boroughs wide discretion over fee-setting and conditions.

What Camden Covers — and What It Doesn't

A Camden street trading licence or consent covers trading on the public highway (the pavement, road, or public footway) within the London Borough of Camden. It does not cover:

• Trading inside Camden Market itself — market operators issue their own trader agreements separately from the council
• Trading on private land or private property (different permissions apply)
• Events on borough parks or public open spaces (separate event licence needed)

If you're planning to trade at a permanent or semi-permanent pitch on a Camden public street — whether from a food truck, a stall, or a cart — you'll need Camden's permission.

How Camden's Licensing System Works

Under the 1990 Act, London boroughs designate their streets into the same three categories that exist elsewhere:

• Licence streets — you must hold a licence to trade; the council must grant it unless specific grounds for refusal apply, and you can appeal a refusal to a magistrates' court within 21 days
• Consent streets — the council can grant or refuse at its discretion; no statutory right of appeal
• Prohibited streets — no street trading permitted

For food truck and mobile catering operators, the distinction matters. On consent streets, the council may also restrict whether you can trade from a vehicle unless specifically permitted. Check which designation applies to your proposed trading location before applying. Camden's licensing team can tell you the designation for any specific street.

Applying to Camden

Camden's licensing team handles street trading applications. The typical process involves:

1. Contact Camden's licensing team to find out: whether your target street is designated (and what designation applies), whether pitches are currently available, and what the current fee schedule is
2. Download and complete Camden's application form — the form is specific to Camden; the national GOV.UK street trading finder can direct you to the right team
3. Provide supporting documents — Camden typically requires: two passport-sized photographs, proof of identity and address, food business registration confirmation, public liability insurance certificate (minimum £5 million for food operations), food hygiene certificate (Level 2 recommended), and vehicle photographs and dimensions
4. Pay the application fee
5. Wait for Camden's review — Camden's licensing team may inspect the proposed site and consult with other council departments before deciding

Camden does not publicise a single consolidated fee schedule as prominently as some councils. Contact Camden's licensing team directly for current fee amounts — fees are reviewed periodically and what applied in previous years may have changed.

You can find Camden's licensing team contact details through the GOV.UK street trading licence finder.

Camden's Food Hygiene Requirements

Because Camden is a high-footfall borough with a significant proportion of food-related street trading, environmental health enforcement is active. Food truck operators should be aware:

• Food business registration is required with the council where your vehicle is stored overnight — not necessarily Camden itself (if you're registered elsewhere, that registration covers your Camden operations)
• Food hygiene rating will be assigned after inspection. In a high-visibility borough like Camden, a low rating (0-2) is likely to affect trading viability — most market and event organisers require a minimum rating of 4 or 5
• LPG gas safety: if your vehicle uses gas appliances, a current Gas Safe registered engineer's certificate (CP44 — the Mobile Catering Vehicle Gas Safety Record) is standard — confirm the specific certificate required with Camden's licensing team. See our food truck gas safety guide for the full details

The Context: Camden vs Other London Boroughs

Camden sits at the mid-range end of London street trading complexity. Boroughs like Westminster have more intricate fee structures with application fees separated from pitch fees; boroughs like Merton have standardised annual rates published online.

Camden's popularity and visitor volumes mean competition for available pitches can be significant. If you're trying to trade near major Camden attractions, be prepared for waiting lists and apply as early as possible.

For a cost comparison across London boroughs and major UK cities, see the street trading licence costs guide. For the step-by-step application process that applies across most councils, see the street trading licence application guide.

Key Points for Camden Food Truck Operators

• Camden uses the London Local Authorities Act 1990 — same framework as other London boroughs, not the LGMPA 1982 that applies outside London
• Trading in Camden Market is separate from a street trading licence — the market operates its own trader agreements
• Fees are not prominently published — contact the licensing team directly for current rates
• A high food hygiene rating matters more in Camden than in most locations due to high tourist footfall and event organiser requirements
• Apply early — popular locations may have limited pitch availability

Use our free licence cost calculator to estimate your overall licensing costs across London and other councils. StreetComply is building a dashboard to track all your licences, consents, and renewal dates in one place — join the waitlist to get notified when it launches.

---

This guidance describes the general street trading framework in London under the London Local Authorities Act 1990. Specific Camden rules, fees, and designated street lists should be verified directly with Camden Council's licensing team before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

• London Local Authorities Act 1990
• GOV.UK — Street Trading Licence Finder
• Health and Safety Executive — Gas Safety