Apply for a street trader license
​Street Trading is defined as the selling or exposing or offering for sale of any article or the supplying or offering to supply any service in the street for gain or reward in the street. This includes utilities such as gas, electric or telephones even if the sale is concluded elsewhere.
Any person selling items from a trailer or stall in a street that has not been designated must first apply for such designation from the Council and, if the designation is approved, must then apply for a street trading licence.
You do not need a street trading licence if you are:
- Trading as a pedlar under licence issued by the Police
- A news vendor selling only newspapers and periodicals from a stall that does not exceed 1m in length or width or 2 metres in height
Illegal street trading
The erection of signs stalls for the sale of produce within the highway, including grass verges is illegal. See Illegal street trading.
House to house collection
It is an offence to collect money, sell articles in public places, carry out collections door to door, shop to shop etc for a charitable purpose without first obtaining a permit to do so this is regulated by the police.
Street collection
It is illegal in this country to hold a street collection to collect money or sell articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes without obtaining a street collection licence from the police.
Boot sales
Waltham Forest do not issue licences for boot sales, however individual traders licences may be required.
Auction premises
The Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1984 gives local authorities in London the power to licence premises (including stalls) where the sale of goods by competitive bidding takes place. See auction premises.
