Apply for this licence
You may need a licence from the local council to work as a street trader in Scotland. Contact the council in the area you want to trade.
If you’re planning to sell food, you’ll need a valid Food Safety Certificate. The council will inspect your vehicle or stall to make sure it meets hygiene standards.
Exceptions
You don’t need a street trader’s licence to:
- sell newspapers
- sell coal, or fuel derived from from coal or coke
- sell milk (you need to be registered separately for this)
- work as a registered pedlar (someone who travels and trades on foot)
- collect for charity (you’ll need a public charitable collection licence for this)
You also don’t need a street trader’s licence if you have a separate licence for a more specific activity, including a:
- market operator’s licence
- second-hand dealer registration
- metal dealer licence
- knife dealer licence
- tattoo, piercing and electrolysis licence
- public entertainment licence
How to apply
Contact the council in the area you want to trade to find out if you need a licence for street trading.
Fines and penalties
You can be fined up to £2,500 if you trade in the street without a licence.