Rules & Regulations

Licences

Check the regulations that apply to you

Many aspects of trade are controlled by licence. The most common ones are listed below but it is strongly recommended that you:

• Talk to your local authority who are responsible for issuing and enforcing many licences
• Use Business Link's interactive licence tool to see which licences may apply to you

Alcohol, gambling, music events, theatre events and the sale of hot food overnight

Under the Licensing Act 2003, if you wish to sell alcohol at your establishment, or provide any of the other events or activities, you will certainly need at least one licence. Click here for more.

Food

Under the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations if you wish to sell food or provide it as part of your service you must register with your local authority. Click here for more.

Music

If you wish to provide any music at all for your staff or customers - even playing the radio while your customers eat breakfast or queue for an attraction - you are required to hold at least two licences. Click here for more.

Television

For any TV equipment (including set-top boxes, video, DVD recorders and even computers or mobile phones if they are being used to watch live broadcasts) your business will need a TV licence. Click here for more.

Adventure activities

Under the The Adventure Activities Licensing Regulations 2004 any business providing, in return for payment, any of the adventure activities listed below to under 18 year-olds, without their parents or guardians present, is required to hold a valid licence from the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS). Click here for more.

Other licences

A great many other activities require a licence. The list below is not exhaustive but covers the more commonly issued licences. Local authorities issue the licences described below. Our list is taken from the A - Z of licences administered by Newcastle City Council, but visit your own local authority website to find out more and to download application forms and fee lists for your business.

If in any doubt as to whether a licence applies to you, contact your local authority for more information.

A
Acupuncture
Animal movement
Auction premises
B
Boarding animals
Boatman
Butcher's shop
C
Car boot sale
Caravan site
Cinema
Credit
D
Dog breeding
Door supervision
E
Exotic, dangerous and wild animals
F
Fireworks registration
Food business
Free literature distribution
G
Game dealers
Grazing
H
Hackney carriage
Hackney carriage driver
Hairdressing
Highway projection licences
HMO licensing
I
Ice cream vans
L
Lottery
M
Marriage premises
N
Nursing agencies
P
Performance/stage licence for school age children
Pet shop
Petroleum
Pleasure boat
Premises
Private club - late hours
Private hire drivers
Private hire operators
Private hire vehicle
Public entertainments
R
Riding establishment
S
Second hand goods
Self drive boats
Sex establishments
Sports ground
Street cafe
Street collection
Street trading
Sunday trading notification
T
Theatre
V
Voluntary mini-cab
W
Water sports
Z
Zoo

Further information and guidance

www.tvlicensing.co.uk
TV Licensing provide advice and guidance and you can purchase licences online. Contact tel: 0870 241 6468.

www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
This is the website for the Performing Rights Society (PRS) where you can find advice and guidance, and download price guides for your business type. Contact tel: 0800 068 4828.

www.ppluk.com
This is the website for the Phonograph Performance Ltd (PPL). Price guides are available online. Contact tel: 020 7534 1030.

www.aala.org.uk
This is the website for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority. They provide comprehensive information and hold the register for licensed providers. Contact tel: 029 2075 5715.

For all other licences including alcohol, gambling and food: contact your local authority (find your local authority details by clicking here).