MK City Council regulates street trading via consent and prohibited streets under powers adopted from the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
You can view the policy here: Street Trading Policy 2022 - 2025
The designation for Consent and Prohibited Streets have been updated as from the 15 November 2024.
Prohibited Streets
Prohibited streets do not permit any street trading within 60 metres of the centre markings of the road, for more information on these streets here: Prohibited Streets List. (PDF, 156KB)
New applicants wishing to trade on a Consent Street
If you wish to trade on or within 60 metres of a Consent Street, you may apply to get a permit to do so, regardless if the land is privately owned.
New applicants can apply to trade up to three hours per day only. Fees can be paid in two parts. The first part is an application fee of £560. The second part (when the consultation finishes) must be paid to receive the final street trading consent permit. This second amount is based on how many hours you are applying for (£46 per hour, charged annually). A fee table is provided on the application form.
Your application will be subject to a 28 day consultation period, starting the day after the valid application and fee are received. If granted, you will be able to apply for further hours through the variation arrangements.
View the Consent Streets List. (PDF, 3.6MB)
Consent Street Application Form. (PDF, 105KB)
All new applicants and customer-facing staff must complete a Disclosure of Convictions and Declaration form (PDF, 46KB) which must be accompanied by a basic criminal record check, please see the guidance notes on the form.
Boroughwide street trading consents (e.g. ice cream and coffee vans)
Some traders will want to apply for boroughwide street trading consent. Typical examples of this would be ice cream traders, mobile coffee and snack vans and fish and chip vans. Boroughwide consent will permit a trader to visit multiple consent locations to trade for up to 20 minutes at a time. The trader would then need to move at least 100m further on before stopping to trade again.
The fees and process is the same as the usual street trading consent, although some different documents required, please view the Boroughwide Consent Application Form. (PDF, 105KB)
All new applicants and customer-facing staff must complete a Disclosure of Convictions and Declaration form (PDF, 46KB) which must be accompanied by a basic criminal record check, please see the guidance notes on the declaration form.
Your application will be subject to a 28 day consultation period, starting the day after the valid application and fee are received. If granted, you will be able to apply for further hours through the variation arrangements.
Increasing trading hours on your consent permit (variation arrangements)
Existing street traders may only apply for a variation of hours after a period of 21 days trading has occurred - you apply using the following form: Variation to Street Trading Consent application form. (PDF, 73KB)
Variation applications are subject to a 28 day consultation, starting the day after the valid application and fee are received. Fees can be paid in two parts. The first part is an application fee of £414. The second part (when the consultation finishes) must be paid to receive the street trading consent permit with the additional hours added. This second amount is based on how many extra hours you are applying for (£46 per extra hour charged annually). A fee table is provided on the application form to demonstrate this.
Transferring a street trading consent to another operator
If you wish to transfer your existing street trading consent to a new operator you can apply using the following form: Transfer of Street Trading Consent. (PDF, 80KB)
Transfer applications are subject to a 28 day consultation period, starting the day after the valid application and fee are received. Transfer applicants and any of their customer facing staff must complete a Disclosure of Convictions and declaration form (PDF, 46KB) which must be accompanied by a basic criminal record check, please see the guidance notes on the declaration form.
If you wish to transfer your existing consent to a new vehicle or food mobile only, you can apply using the following form: Transfer Consent Permit to New Vehicle or Food Mobile. (PDF, 89KB)
Please return completed application forms to the address shown in the contacts section at the top of this page.
Changing details relating to your Permit
Change of details to a permission (name, address, towing vehicle etc) or provision of documents is subject to a administration fee of £33.
Other guidance
You can find out more about street trading by reading the Street Trading Brief.
You must contact the following departments, agencies or land owner to ensure you have permission to trade on any particular piece of land:
- Highways - 01908 252700
- Estates - 01908 252353
- Parks Trust - 01908 255374
Any other street in Milton Keynes (not on or within 60 metres of a consent or prohibited street), will not be regulated under Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. However you must ensure that you have the permission of the land owner.
For information about regulations go to: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
Pedlars
Street Trading controls do not apply to a pedlar with a valid pedlar’s certificate issued under the Pedlars Act 1871. A pedlar is a person who travels and trades on foot and goes from town to town or to others houses, carrying or selling or exposing for sale any goods, wares, merchandise immediately to be delivered or selling or offering their skill in handicraft. Pedlars certificates are obtained from the Police. You can find out more by reading our Pedlars Leaflet.
Is the permit granted if you do not hear from the council? (Licensing Authority)
No. You must have consent from us to ensure that standards are met and to protect the public. We will process your application before the licence is granted within the target time of 56 days. If you have not heard from us after this time has elapsed please contact us at Licensing@Milton-Keynes.gov.uk.
Trading food
If you are trading food, you will also have to complete a registration for a food business establishment. More information can be found at the following page: How to Register a Food Business Establishment.
If you wish to trade after 11pm you will have to apply for a premises licence. This would allow you to sell food at a particular location for a determined period of time.
Business waste
Waste generated from a business must be disposed of correctly. We would expect you to hold a commercial waste contract or an appropriate, similar provision.
Public register
For a list of current street traders in Milton Keynes, view our Street Trading Public Register