Street cafe licence

Find out if you need a street café licence, how to apply, what conditions you need to meet and how to appeal a decision.

You'll need a street café licence if you want to:

• Use a portion of a public street, road or place to sell food or drink
• Place tables, chairs or other temporary furniture outside a restaurant or café so customers can eat or drink outside

To apply for a street café licence, you'll need to upload the following documents with your application:

• A sketch or diagram that shows the dimensions of the area you wish to be licensed.
• Proof of your public liability insurance to a minimum amount of £5 million.

If the licence is required for more than 28 days in any one year, you'll also need to upload the following documents with your application:

• A copy of your planning application.
• A copy of your planning consent.

To apply for a street café licence:

1. Complete the online application form. 
2. We'll aim to check the details in your application and get in touch within 5 working days.
3. If your application is successful, we'll take payment over the phone.

Apply for a street café licence online

• New street café licence for up to 2 years: £500
• Renewals: £173
• A permanent fittings street cafe licence: £603
• Application processing fee: £100

There are some conditions you'll need to comply with for us to issue you a Street café licence. Failure to comply with these conditions will result in the licence being withdrawn.

• Summary of licence regulations

No. We must process your application before it can be granted as tacit consent doesn't apply.

Please do not place any tables or chairs on the highway until you've received formal approval from us.

If you wish to appeal a licensing decision, please contact us in the first instance.

An appointed arbitrator will determine if consent has been unreasonably withheld.​

• View pending street café licence applications

You could be fined up to £5,000 if you:

• Sell food or drink on the street without a Street café licence.
• Place tables, chairs or other furniture on the street without approval from us.
• Don't follow the conditions of your licence.

Contact the team