Licences and permits
The permissions a business needs before it can trade — each one tied to the law that creates it, or to a plain statement that no national statute does, and to the body that issues it. We point at GOV.UK for fees and forms; we never copy them.
41 of 41 licences · 39 with a named enabling instrument · 36 issued by a council
Narrow it down
Pick the activity you are asking about, and the nation you trade in. A licence can exist in one nation and not the next, so both matter.
What you do
Where you trade
Who issues it
Most business licences are issued by the council for the area you trade in — the licensing authority — under powers Parliament gave it. A small number are issued by a national regulator instead, and go to that body wherever you are.
Issued by a national regulator, not your council
Commercial Inland Fishing Licence
Environment Agency · England and Wales
Licences to use music online or on mobile technology
IPO · England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Mixing ammonium nitrate (with fuel oil) licence
HSE · England, Wales and Scotland
Registration of independent health care service (England and Wales)
CQC · England and Wales
Water supply licence (England and Wales)
Ofwat · England and Wales
4 licences on this list have no national enabling statute behind them — the regime is council byelaws or a local Act, or a statute that reaches only part of the area. Those pages say so plainly rather than citing something that does not apply to you.
Advertising and marketing
1
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Agriculture: animals
2
Local authority environmental permits (England and Wales)
Permit to carry out Part A(2) or Part B activities or run a Part A(2) or Part B installation or mobile plant.
Mixing ammonium nitrate (with fuel oil) licence
You need a manufacturing licence to combine ammonium nitrate and fuel oil to create mixtures for use in certain blasting operations
Agriculture: crops and plants
1
Local authority environmental permits (England and Wales)
Permit to carry out Part A(2) or Part B activities or run a Part A(2) or Part B installation or mobile plant.
Animal products: manufacturing and wholesale
2
Local authority environmental permits (England and Wales)
Permit to carry out Part A(2) or Part B activities or run a Part A(2) or Part B installation or mobile plant.
Local authority food establishment approval (England)
Approval is required for certain food establishments that handle products of animal origin, such as meat, fish, egg, dairy products, and processed products of …
Animals, including pets and zoos
1
Zoo licence (England, Scotland and Wales)
Apply for a licence to run a Zoo in England, Scotland or Wales; health and safety, animal well-being, inspections, renewals
Arts and recreation
9
Busking licence (England and Wales)
You may need a busking licence or permit from the council before busking in that area. Find out the council's rules on busking and …
Child work permit (England and Wales)
To employ a child in the UK, you may need to get a work permit from your local authority
Club premises certificate
Apply for a club premises certificate through your council if you're a social, sporting or political members club and you want to do activities …
Hypnotism permit (England, Scotland and Wales)
You must hold a permit to stage a public performance of hypnotism for entertainment purposes in England, Wales and Scotland - learn how to …
Licences to use music online or on mobile technology
You may need a licence to use copyright music online or on mobiles
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Permission to place tables and chairs on the pavement
Get a licence to place furniture on the pavement in England and Wales - how to apply, restrictions, fines, penalties
Sex shop and cinema licence (England and Wales)
Contact your council for a sex establishment licence if you want to run a sex shop or adult cinema
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Beauty, hairdressing, nails and spa treatments
4
Hairdresser registration (England)
You may have to register with your local council in England if you run a hairdressing or barbers business, so that they can check …
Massage and special treatment premises licensing
Contact your council if you run an establishment for massage or other special treatments and need a premises licence
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence (England and Wales)
You need to register with the relevant local council to get a tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence in England and Wales
Building and construction
6
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Road occupation licence for building work (England and Wales)
You must get a licence from the council to dig up the road, or temporarily occupy it in connection with building work - fines, …
Scaffolding and hoarding licence (England and Wales)
You need a licence from the local authority to put up scaffolding or hoarding on a public highway in the UK.
Skip licence (England and Wales)
You or the skip hire company need a skip licence/permit if you want to put a skip on a public road. You may need …
Skip operator licence
Get a skip permit for your skip hire company - skip hire licence, local authority, highway act
Street works licence (England, Scotland and Wales)
You need a licence to place apparatus on a street or road in England, Wales and Scotland
Charity and community
4
Club premises certificate
Apply for a club premises certificate through your council if you're a social, sporting or political members club and you want to do activities …
House to house collection licence (England and Wales)
Apply for a licence for house-to-house collections of money or goods for charity in England or Wales
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Street collection licence (England & Wales)
If you want to collect money or sell items on the street for charity, you might need a street collection licence, depending on your …
Chemicals and petroleum
2
Mixing ammonium nitrate (with fuel oil) licence
You need a manufacturing licence to combine ammonium nitrate and fuel oil to create mixtures for use in certain blasting operations
Petroleum Storage Licence (England, Scotland and Wales)
You need a petroleum licence to store and supply petrol to internal combustion vehicles - where to apply for your licence
Cleaning
1
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Driving and motor vehicles
2
Hackney carriage licence (England, Scotland and Wales)
You need a licence to drive a hackney carriage - taxicabs, England, excluding London, Scotland and Wales
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Education, including tutoring and training
2
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Energy, gas and electricity
1
Road occupation licence for building work (England and Wales)
You must get a licence from the council to dig up the road, or temporarily occupy it in connection with building work - fines, …
Environment: management and waste
3
Local authority environmental permits (England and Wales)
Permit to carry out Part A(2) or Part B activities or run a Part A(2) or Part B installation or mobile plant.
Skip licence (England and Wales)
You or the skip hire company need a skip licence/permit if you want to put a skip on a public road. You may need …
Skip operator licence
Get a skip permit for your skip hire company - skip hire licence, local authority, highway act
Environment: water
1
Water supply licence (England and Wales)
You need a licence to supply water to non-household premises in England and Wales
Events
9
Approval of premises for civil marriage and civil partnership (England and Wales)
How to get a licence (grant of approval) to hold a civil marriage or civil partnership in your venue, and what requirements or conditions …
Child work permit (England and Wales)
To employ a child in the UK, you may need to get a work permit from your local authority
Hypnotism permit (England, Scotland and Wales)
You must hold a permit to stage a public performance of hypnotism for entertainment purposes in England, Wales and Scotland - learn how to …
Market stall licence
To run a market stall as a trader, you need either a temporary ('casual') or permanent licence from the local council.
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Permission to place tables and chairs on the pavement
Get a licence to place furniture on the pavement in England and Wales - how to apply, restrictions, fines, penalties
Personal licence to sell alcohol (England and Wales)
You need a licence to sell alcohol from a licensed premises
Premises licence (England and Wales)
You'll need a premises licence if you want to sell alcohol or offer entertainment from a particular venue
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Finance, insurance and insolvency
1
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Firearms, explosives and fireworks
1
Fireworks manufacture, storage and sales licences
You need specific licences to manufacture fireworks, store fireworks, and sell fireworks all year round (except when selling at specific times set out below).
Fisheries
1
Commercial Inland Fishing Licence
You need a licence to net for salmon and sea trout or fish for eels using nets, trawls or traps
Food and drink: wholesale, manufacturing and production
1
Local authority food establishment approval (England)
Approval is required for certain food establishments that handle products of animal origin, such as meat, fish, egg, dairy products, and processed products of …
Gambling and betting, including arcades, bingo and racing
2
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Healthcare
1
Registration of independent health care service (England and Wales)
You need to register with the Care Quality Commission or Healthcare Inspectorate to run an independent health care service (eg private hospital or clinic) …
Hospitality, restaurants, bars and catering
7
Child work permit (England and Wales)
To employ a child in the UK, you may need to get a work permit from your local authority
Local authority food establishment approval (England)
Approval is required for certain food establishments that handle products of animal origin, such as meat, fish, egg, dairy products, and processed products of …
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Permission to place tables and chairs on the pavement
Get a licence to place furniture on the pavement in England and Wales - how to apply, restrictions, fines, penalties
Personal licence to sell alcohol (England and Wales)
You need a licence to sell alcohol from a licensed premises
Premises licence (England and Wales)
You'll need a premises licence if you want to sell alcohol or offer entertainment from a particular venue
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Legal services
1
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Materials, metal and mining
1
Scrap metal dealer licence (England and Wales)
You must get a scrap metal dealer licence from the council if you buy, sell or store scrap metal
Media and broadcasting
3
Licences to use music online or on mobile technology
You may need a licence to use copyright music online or on mobiles
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Sex shop and cinema licence (England and Wales)
Contact your council for a sex establishment licence if you want to run a sex shop or adult cinema
Property and real estate
1
House in multiple occupation licence
Get a licence to rent out your property as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) in England or Wales - local authority, private renting, …
Retail: manufacturing and wholesale
4
Child work permit (England and Wales)
To employ a child in the UK, you may need to get a work permit from your local authority
Local authority environmental permits (England and Wales)
Permit to carry out Part A(2) or Part B activities or run a Part A(2) or Part B installation or mobile plant.
Market stall licence
To run a market stall as a trader, you need either a temporary ('casual') or permanent licence from the local council.
Street trading licence (England and Wales)
You may need to get a licence to trade in the street in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Social care
3
House to house collection licence (England and Wales)
Apply for a licence for house-to-house collections of money or goods for charity in England or Wales
Registration of independent health care service (England and Wales)
You need to register with the Care Quality Commission or Healthcare Inspectorate to run an independent health care service (eg private hospital or clinic) …
Street collection licence (England & Wales)
If you want to collect money or sell items on the street for charity, you might need a street collection licence, depending on your …
Sports
1
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Street trading and markets
4
Auction premises registration
To sell goods by auction in a stall or other premises you might need to register with your local council
Child work permit (England and Wales)
To employ a child in the UK, you may need to get a work permit from your local authority
Market stall licence
To run a market stall as a trader, you need either a temporary ('casual') or permanent licence from the local council.
Street trading licence (England and Wales)
You may need to get a licence to trade in the street in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Tattooing, piercing and electrolysis
2
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence (England and Wales)
You need to register with the relevant local council to get a tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence in England and Wales
Telecommunications, technology and information services
1
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Tourist accommodation, including hotels and campsites
7
Approval of premises for civil marriage and civil partnership (England and Wales)
How to get a licence (grant of approval) to hold a civil marriage or civil partnership in your venue, and what requirements or conditions …
Camping licence (England and Wales)
What is a campsite licence and applying to get one
Caravan site licence
You usually need a licence from your local council to have a caravan site on your land
Child work permit (England and Wales)
To employ a child in the UK, you may need to get a work permit from your local authority
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Premises licence (England and Wales)
You'll need a premises licence if you want to sell alcohol or offer entertainment from a particular venue
Temporary Events Notice (England and Wales)
You need a Temporary Event Notice if you want to carry out a 'licensable activity' on unlicensed premises in England or Wales
Transport and logistics, including aviation
3
Hackney carriage licence (England, Scotland and Wales)
You need a licence to drive a hackney carriage - taxicabs, England, excluding London, Scotland and Wales
Horse-drawn hackney carriage licence (England and Wales)
You'll need a hackney vehicle licence if you want to use a horse and carriage for paying customers
Licence for projections over a highway (England & Wales)
You need a licence to build a bridge or alter a bridge above a public highway
Veterinary
1
Pavement or street display licence (England and Wales)
Get a licence to put an advertising sign on the road or pavement in England and Wales - restrictions, fines, penalties
Checking approvals more broadly?
A licence is one of several things you may need before your first day of trading. The pre-trading quick check walks the registrations, insurances and approvals alongside it.
Not sure which of these apply to you?
Our guides on finding a licence and dealing with your local council walk through the questions that decide it.