Pavement licence

Pavement licence

You need a pavement licence if your business wants to place furniture on the highway to sell or serve food and drink or allow it to be used to eat food or drink supplied from, or in connection with your premises.

A pavement licence permits the placing of:

• counters, or stalls for selling or serving food or drink
• tables, counters or shelves on which food or drink can be placed
• chairs, benches or other forms of seating
• umbrellas, barriers, heaters and other articles used in connection with the outdoor consumption of food or drink

For further information, refer to the government guidance.

Apply

Your business must fix a site notice of the application to the premises on the day you submit your application for a pavement licence. 

To apply, you will need:

• to read our local conditions
• evidence of the right to occupy the premises
• a copy of your certificate of public liability insurance, or cover note, in the sum of at least £5 million
• pictures of the design of all furniture to be used
• a plan or drawing of the site clearly showing the location of the premises, the relevant part of the highway to be used and the precise positions for all furniture
• a copy of your road closure order, if applicable
• a clear photograph of your site notice in situ and readily visible to members of the public
• a debit or credit card to make payment and submit your application

For costs, view our licensing fees and charges.

Next steps

Once you have submitted a valid application, it will be sent to the following authorities for consultation: the highways authority, the police, the planning authority, environmental health, the fire authority and the Parish or Town council (if applicable). 

We may grant or reject your application, if granted, we may make changes or add conditions to the permitted purposes or area to be used.

Pavement licence expiry

New pavement licences may only be awarded for a maximum of 2 years.

Current holders of pavement licences that expire on 30 September 2024 will need to apply to renew their licence if they wish to continue trading under a pavement licence beyond this expiry date

Compliance 

All licences are subject to local conditions and other site-specific conditions as may be deemed appropriate by the authority. If you are granted a licence and don't abide by its conditions it may be revoked at any time on the grounds that you have breached the conditions.

If a business is found to be placing furniture on a relevant highway without the required licence the authority may serve notice requiring its removal. Violation of a notice may result in removal and storage of the furniture for which recompense may be sought from the business.

Last updated 07 February 2025