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UK Act of Parliament
1994
United Kingdom
Sunday Trading Act 1994
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
5 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 3 journeys
Penalty landscape
2 of 5 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 1 has no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Occupier 2
- Any Person 1
Plus 2 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesMentioned in related content
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Occupiers also bound by 259 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 2021 39 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 34 duties
- The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 1995 34 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 23 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 18 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Restrictions on Sunday opening of large shops
Unlimited fine- Open a large shop on Sunday for retail customers Occupier
Supplementary Provisions
Unlimited fine- Register a large shop for Jewish Sabbath observance to modify Sunday trading Occupier
Loading and Unloading at Large Shops on Sunday Morning
Fine up to £1,000- Load or unload goods before 9 am on Sunday without consent Any Person
Browse 33 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Rights of shop workers as respects Sunday working
Repeals
In this Schedule— “ alcohol ” has the same meaning...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) below, a large...
(1) The shops referred to in paragraph 2(2)(a) above are—...
(1) A person who is, or proposes to become, the...
(1) Every local authority shall keep a register of shops...
At any time when— (a) a large shop is open...
(1) If paragraph 2(1) above is contravened in relation to...
Where a person is charged with having contravened paragraph 2(1)...
Any notice given for the purposes of paragraph 4(1) above...
It shall be the duty of every local authority to...
(1) Any shop which is registered under section 53 of...
For the purposes of their duties under paragraph 1 above...
An inspector appointed by a local authority under paragraph 2...
Any person who intentionally obstructs an inspector appointed under paragraph...
For the investigatory powers available to a local authority and...
Where the commission by any person of an offence under...
(1) Where an offence under this Act committed by a...
(1) In any proceedings for an offence under this Act...
(1) A person of the Jewish religion who is the...
Paragraph 8 above shall apply to persons who are members...
This Schedule applies to any shop— (a) which is a...
Paragraph 2 does not apply where the Sunday is Christmas...
The occupier of a shop to which this Schedule applies...
(1) A consent under this Schedule may be granted subject...
An application for a consent under this Schedule shall be...
An applicant for a consent under this Schedule shall pay...
(1) Where an application is duly made to the local...
Where— (a) the occupier of a shop in respect of...
Where a local authority grant a consent under this Schedule,...
A person who contravenes paragraph 2 above shall be liable...
In section 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act...
Loading and unloading at large shops on Sunday morning.
Fine up to £5,000Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Local authorities must consult and notify before restricting Sunday loading Local authority
Consequential repeal or amendment of local Acts.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Secretary of State must consult local authorities before changing local Acts Crown / Minister / Government department
Browse 7 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Reform of law relating to Sunday trading.
Construction of certain leases and agreements.
Rights of shop workers as respects Sunday working.
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Expenses.
Meaning of “local authority”.
Short title, repeals, commencement and extent.
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Local Authority (Environmental Health / Licensing / Planning)
Local councils enforce food safety (via Environmental Health Officers), issue alcohol licences, grant planning permission, and regulate certain business activities at local …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.