Run a retail business
- 1 step
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 101 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (England/Wales comparison) 2005 23 duties
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2006 21 duties
- Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 2006 15 duties
- Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2015 2015 13 duties
- Highways Act 1980 1980 12 duties
Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 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 2 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
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 …
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.