Street trading in Southampton is regulated under part III and schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
Individual streets are designated as either consent streets or prohibited streets. Designation as a consent street does not imply that the council will grant consent for trading in that area. Trading in Above Bar pedestrian precinct is further restricted to the sale of flowers and foliage only by a Control of Sales Order made under section 7 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. Please note that the designation of streets as consent or prohibited is confined to the city centre and the area adjacent to the Common.
Anyone trading in a prohibited street or in a consent street without authority commits an offence, punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding £1,000.00.
Street trading means the exposing or offering articles for sale on roads, pavements and other areas to which the public have unrestricted access without payment. The law applies equally to public and private land.
An application form for the grant of consent and a list of controlled streets is available below. Details of granted street trading consents appear in the Online Licensing Register.
Food Trading Registrations
In addition, anyone trading in food within the city will need to be registered with the Environmental Health Officer for the area in which they are based. The registration does not infer any right to trade in any location - it is merely evidence of a food hygiene inspection.
Parks and Open Spaces
Any person trading in any public parks or open spaces can only do so subject to triennial competitive tender. Please contact Neighbourhood Services on 023 8083 2713 for further information.
Highways
The unauthorised use of any highway for street trading may result in action being taken by the police or highway authority for obstruction of the highway. In addition, the highway authority has powers to remove any vehicle left unlawfully on the highway, which it deems to be an abandoned vehicle.
Planning permission
Planning permission may be required for the use of any site for street trading. Please contact Development Control on 023 8083 2603.
Late Night Food Trading
Trading in hot food or hot drink in any place, including by a mobile trader, between 23:00 and 05:00 on any day will require a premises licence for late night refreshment under the Licensing Act 2003. A premises licence will be required regardless of the need for street trading consent. Please see the Licensing Act 2003 pages for further information.
Opening hours:
Members of the licensing team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise, 4-8 Millbrook Road East, Southampton SO15 1YG, to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.
Please note that the addresses and numbers given below should only be used for communication with the licensing team.
Southampton City Council
