Street Trading
Street trading refers to trading on any land where the public have access without payment. This includes: car parks, streets and parks (and their adjacent paved or grassed areas). It is illegal to trade without a consent or licence. Street trading is broken down into a number of different categories.
Street Trading Policy
Our current Street Trading Policy [pdf] 680KB was adopted in May 2018 and revised in December 2019.
Ashford Town Market – Street Trading Licence
You’ll need a street trading licence if you want to trade on market days at Ashford Town Market (Lower High Street). The market is open every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday between 9am-3pm. A pitch fee will also apply, which is based upon your pitch size.
We advise visiting the market and speaking with current traders if you are considering hiring a stall. You can email the Licensing team to find out more.
Applications for Ashford Town Market can be made using the following forms:
- Application for a street trading licence for Ashford [pdf] 267KB
- Apply for a Market traders parking permit [pdf] 65KB
New and renewal licences cost £79.00. You will need to set up a direct debit for your pitch fees before you start trading; fees are collected by monthly direct debit.
Other Street Trading – Street Trading Consent
When trading at other locations throughout the borough there are some additional documents that you have to submit. We require an application, fee, public liability insurance certificate and proof that you have permission to trade at your location from the landowner.
Food mobiles
If you want to trade at the same location more than twice a week and/or for more than four hours a day then you’ll need a static consent. You may also require planning permission for this type of licence. This will need to be supplied on your application for a consent.
A new static/short term static application [pdf] 352KB will cost £218.00 if planning permission has not been applied for and granted. However, if permission is already granted then the fee is £110.00. Renewal applications cost £79.00.
We operate the following pitches:
| A28 Furners Wood | Currently occupied |
| A28 Great Chart (Tenterden bound) | Currently occupied |
| A28 Great Chart (Ashford bound) | Currently occupied |
| A20 Hothfield (Maidstone bound) | Currently occupied |
| Recreation Ground Road Car Park, Tenterden | Currently occupied |
| A28 Chilham (Ashford bound) | Currently occupied |
Short term static consents – Fish and chip vans, etc
If you want to trade at the same location, up to twice a week but for less than four hours a day, then you’ll need a short term static consent. You’ll need a separate consent for each location you trade in. This type of consent doesn’t usually require planning permission.
A new static/short term static application [pdf] 352KB will cost an initial £105.00 plus £27.00 per site afterwards (when submitted at the same time). We will undertake a 28 day consultation process to consider the impact of the application on the local area. Renewal applications cost £79.00.
If it is a static/short term static application on an existing site [pdf] 377KB the fee is £79.00.
Hawker consents – Ice cream/sandwich vans, etc
If you want to trade at various locations in the borough, for no longer than 20 minutes at a time, then you’ll need a hawker’s licence.
A new hawker application [pdf] 398KB will cost £79.00.
Report illegal street trading.
Contact us
Please email the Licensing team if you require any further information.
