Start a hospitality business: licences, food safety, and compliance
- 1 step
UK Act of Parliament
2015
United Kingdom
Deregulation Act 2015
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
3 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides · 3 journeys · 2 statutory instruments
Penalty landscape
1 of 3 obligations carry imprisonment (6 months). 2 have 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.
- Trader 1
- Any Person 1
Plus 1 non-business duty 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.
Open new hospitality premises: from lease to launch
- 1 step
Hospitality compliance quick check
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 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.
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 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
Browse 23 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Approved English apprenticeships
Agricultural Holdings Act 1986: resolution of disputes by third party determination
Auditors ceasing to hold office
Road traffic legislation: use of vehicles in emergency response by NHS
Regulation of the use of roads and railways
Household waste: London
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers: other amendments
Poisons and explosives precursors
Removal of consultation requirements
Driving instructors
Motor insurance industry: certificates of insurance
Insolvency and company law
Ascertainment of rights of way
Provision of passenger rail services
Enforcement of transport legislation
Other measures relating to animals, food and the environment
Abolition of office of the Chief Executive of Skills Funding
Further and higher education: reduction of burdens
Schools: reduction of burdens
Part to be inserted as Part 5A of the Licensing Act 2003
Amendments consequential on section 69
CLC practitioner services: consequential amendments
Legislation no longer of practical use
Private hire vehicles: sub-contracting
6 months imprisonment- Arrange sub‑contracted hire booking knowing the subcontractor will breach licence conditions Any Person
Auditors ceasing to hold office
- Notify the audit authority when an auditor leaves office mid-term Trader
Repeal of duty to prepare sustainable community strategy
Amended 1 timePower to spell out dates described in legislation
Amended 4 timesExercise of regulatory functions: economic growth
Amended 2 timesOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulators must promote economic growth when enforcing rules Statutory regulator
Functions to which section 108 applies
Amended 2 timesGuidance on duty under section 108
Amended 1 timeSections 108 to 110: interpretation
Amended 2 timesBrowse 108 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Health and safety at work: general duty of self-employed persons
Removal of employment tribunals' power to make wider recommendations
Apprenticeships: simplification
English apprenticeships: funding arrangements
English apprenticeships: disclosure of information
Requirements to wear safety helmets: exemption for Sikhs
Requirements to wear safety helmets: exemption for Sikhs: Northern Ireland
Driving instructors
Motor insurers
Taxis and private hire vehicles: duration of licences
Space activity: limit on indemnity required
Agricultural Holdings Act 1986: resolution of disputes by third party determination
Shippers etc of gas
Suppliers of fuel and fireplaces
Sellers of knitting yarn
Authorisation of insolvency practitioners
Insolvency and company law: miscellaneous
Recorded rights of way: additional protection
Unrecorded rights of way: protection from extinguishment
Conversion of public rights of way to private rights of way
Applications by owners etc for public path orders
Extension of powers to authorise erection of gates at owner's request
Applications for certain orders under Highways Act 1980: cost recovery
Public rights of way: procedure
Erection of public statues (London): removal of consent requirement
Reduction of qualifying period for right to buy
Removal of power to require preparation of housing strategies
Tenancy deposits: provision of information by agents
Tenancy deposits: non-compliance with requirements
Tenancy deposits: deemed compliance with requirements
Preventing retaliatory eviction
Further exemptions to section 33
Notice to be provided in relation to periodic assured shorthold tenancies
Time limits in relation to section 21 notices and proceedings
Prescribed form of section 21 notices
Compliance with prescribed legal requirements
Requirement for landlord to provide prescribed information
Repayment of rent where tenancy ends before end of a period
Application of sections 33 to 40
Optional building requirements
Amendment of Planning and Energy Act 2008
Short-term use of London accommodation: relaxation of restrictions
Short-term use of London accommodation: power to relax restrictions
Designation of urban development areas: procedure
Establishment of urban development corporations: procedure
Provision of advice etc about residential licences
Removal of restrictions on provision of passenger rail services
Road traffic legislation: use of vehicles in emergency response by NHS
Reduction of burdens relating to the use of roads and railways
Reduction of burdens relating to enforcement of transport legislation
Civil penalties for parking contraventions: enforcement
Removal of restriction on investigation of tramway accidents in Scotland by RAIB
Removal of duty to order re-hearing of marine accident investigations
Repeal of power to make provision for blocking injunctions
Reduction of duties relating to energy and climate change
Household waste: de-criminalisation
Other measures relating to animals, food and the environment
Management of child trust funds: looked after children
Management of child trust funds: children 16 or over
Child trust funds: transfers
Child trust funds: safeguards for children's interests
Abolition of office of Chief Executive of Skills Funding
Further and higher education sectors: reduction of burdens
Schools: reduction of burdens
Sale of alcohol: community events etc and ancillary business sales
Temporary event notices: increase in maximum number of events per year
Personal licences: no requirement to renew
Sale of liqueur confectionery to children under 16: abolition of offence
Late night refreshment
Removal of requirement to report loss or theft of licence etc to police
Motor racing on public roads: general
Motor racing: road closures
Motor racing: consequential amendments
Exhibition of films in community premises
TV licensing: duty to review sanctions
TV licensing: alternatives to criminal sanctions
Repeal of Senior President of Tribunals' duty to report on standards
Criminal procedure: written witness statements
Criminal procedure: written guilty pleas
Criminal procedure: powers to make Criminal Procedure Rules
“MAPPA arrangements” to cease to apply to certain offenders
Removal of requirement that prison closures be made by order
Power of HMRC to disclose information for purposes of certain litigation
CLC practitioner services bodies
Licensed CLC practitioners
CLC practitioner services: consequential amendments
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers: other amendments
Poisons and explosives precursors
London street trading appeals: removal of role of Secretary of State in appeals
Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004: enforcement
Reduction in regulation of providers of social work services
Electoral Commission: changes to facilitate efficient administration
LGBC for England: changes to facilitate efficient administration
NHS foundation trusts and NHS trusts: acquisitions and dissolutions etc
Access to registers kept by Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
Information contained in entries of births and deaths
Information contained in entries of marriages and civil partnerships
Repeal of duties relating to local area agreements
Repeal of provisions relating to multi-area agreements
Repeal of duties relating to consultation or involvement
Combining different forms of subordinate legislation
Ambulatory references to international shipping instruments
Legislation no longer of practical use
Consequential amendments, repeals and revocations
Financial provision
Extent
Commencement
Short title
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Scottish alcohol licensing guidance (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Guidance on the licensing of late night refreshment (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Section 182 statutory guidance (February 2026) (opens in a new tab) Publication
- Apply for a premises licence (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 guidance (opens in a new tab) Publication
- NI Direct - liquor licensing (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Companies House
PrimaryRegistration and regulation of UK companies. Maintains the public register of companies, enforces filing requirements for annual accounts and confirmation statements. Gateway …
Health and Safety Executive
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates …
Connected legislation
2 statutory instruments
These instruments amend, apply, or refer to this Act. They may not all create direct business obligations.
Explore more
Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.