10 May 2026
Temporary Street Trading Licences: When & How to Get One
How temporary street trading licences work in the UK — one-day and short-term consents for events, markets, and seasonal trading. Application timelines, costs, and what you need.
Not every food truck operator needs a full annual street trading licence. If you trade at events, seasonal markets, or occasional pop-up locations, a temporary street trading licence or consent may be what you need — and it's cheaper and faster to obtain.
What Is a Temporary Street Trading Licence?
A temporary licence (or temporary consent) allows you to trade on a specific street for a limited period — anywhere from one day to several weeks. Councils issue these for:
- One-off events — festivals, fairs, community markets
- Seasonal trading — Christmas markets, summer pop-ups
- Testing a location — trying a pitch before committing to an annual licence
- Occasional trading — weekend-only or monthly market appearances
The exact terminology varies by council. Some call them "temporary consents," others "casual trader licences," and some "single-day licences." The mechanics are similar.
How Much Do Temporary Licences Cost?
Temporary licences cost less per event but more per day than annual licences. Some examples:
| Council | Duration | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merton | 1-2 days | £162 | |
| Merton | 3-4 days | £241 | |
| Merton | 5-6 days | £322 | |
| Merton | 7 days | £403 | |
| Richmond | 1-2 days | £199 | |
| Richmond | 3-4 days | £282 | |
| Richmond | 5-6 days | £365 | |
| Richmond | 7 days | £448 |
At these rates, trading every weekend with temporary licences quickly exceeds the cost of an annual licence. If you trade at the same location more than 10-15 days per year, an annual licence is likely cheaper.
How to Apply
1. Check the timeline
Most councils require applications 10-28 days before the trading date. Don't leave it to the last minute — late applications may be refused.
- Typical minimum notice: 10-14 working days
- London boroughs: 14-28 days is common
- Some councils have fixed application windows for seasonal events
2. Gather your documents
Temporary licence applications require the same supporting documents as annual applications:
- Proof of identity
- Public liability insurance certificate (minimum £5 million)
- Food hygiene certificate
- Food business registration confirmation
- Gas safety certificate (if applicable)
- Vehicle photographs and dimensions
The documentation requirements don't change just because the licence is shorter.
3. Submit to the right council
Apply to the council for the area where you want to trade, not your home council. Each trading location may require a separate application if it's in a different council area.
4. Wait for approval
Processing is usually faster than annual applications, but not instant. Allow the full notice period stated on the council's website.
Events and Markets: Who Gets the Licence?
At organised events and markets, the licensing arrangements depend on who's organising:
Council-organised markets: The council arranges the temporary street trading consent for the market as a whole. Individual traders need to register with the market organiser and comply with market rules, but may not need individual licences.
Private event organisers: The organiser should obtain any necessary street trading consents or temporary event notices. Individual traders still need their own food hygiene certificates, insurance, and food business registration.
Self-organised: If you're setting up on your own at a location (not part of an organised market), you need to obtain the temporary licence yourself.
Always confirm with the event organiser what licensing they've arranged and what you need to provide. Don't assume it's been handled.
Temporary vs Annual: When to Switch
Consider switching to an annual licence when:
- You trade at the same location more than 10-15 days per year — the per-day cost of temporary licences exceeds the annual fee
- You want guaranteed pitch access — annual licence holders usually have priority over temporary applicants
- You want to avoid repeated applications — each temporary licence requires a fresh application
- The council has annual application windows (like Birmingham) that make temporary access harder
Annual licences also give you more predictable costs for business planning.
Temporary Event Notices
For events involving the sale of hot food or hot drink between 11pm and 5am, you may also need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) under the Licensing Act 2003. This is separate from the street trading consent.
Key TEN rules:
- Must be submitted at least 10 working days before the event (5 working days for a late TEN, but these can be objected to by police or environmental health)
- Maximum 499 people at any one time
- Maximum 168 hours (7 days) per event
- Annual limits depend on your status:
- Personal licence holders: up to 50 TENs per year (10 late TENs)
- Everyone else: up to 5 TENs per year (2 late TENs)
- Each premises: maximum 15 TENs per year
- Fee: £21 per notice
Not every food truck event requires a TEN — only those involving late-night refreshment. Daytime-only trading doesn't need one.
For more on how street trading licences work generally, see our step-by-step application guide. To check your overall compliance status, try our free compliance checker.
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