Street Trading

Street trading is defined as the selling or exposing or offering for sale of any article (including a living thing) in a street. The term street includes footways, car parks, public house forecourts and generally any area where the public have access without payment.

Street trading includes, but is not limited to:

• trading from mobile and temporary static structures
• the sale of food and drink or the sale of non-food items
• ice-cream vans
• mobile artists and musicians who sell their recorded work on the street
• the sale of Christmas trees and other festive items

In December 2025 the Council passed resolutions restricting street trading in certain roads and streets throughout the Mid Sussex District area. There are three types of restrictions and they are as follows:

Where street trading is prohibited without a licence granted by the District Council

East Grinstead

• Railway Approach is currently the only designated Licensed Street.

Street trading is prohibited in these streets.

The following streets are Prohibited Streets:

Haywards Heath

• Wivelsfield Road

East Grinstead

• Station Road

Burgess Hill

• London Road
• Civic Way
• Queen Elizabeth Avenue

Poynings

• Land to North and East of the Devils Dyke Inn, Dyke Road 

Other

• Lay-by on A264 Copthorne Way, Copthorne running West to East

Where street trading is prohibited without consent of the District Council.

All streets within the Mid Sussex District Council area, other the Licensed and Prohibited Streets detailed above are designated Consent Streets. The following are examples of locations that require Street Trading consent -

• roads and walkways
• lay-bys and verges
• footpaths
• car-parks (both public and private)
• residential streets
• industrial estates
• land accessible to the public within 15 metres of any of the above.

Consents are granted by Mid Sussex District Council and are subject to conditions and a payment of a fee.

If you intend  to trade in East Grinstead (London Road, High Street and Railway Approach) please contact East Grinstead Town Council - communityandtourism@eastgrinstead.gov.uk

For enquiries regarding trading at Burgess Hill Market (Church Walk) please contact Burgess Hill Town Council - council@burgesshill.gov.uk

Before you start, please read:

• Street Trading Policy
• Street Trading Conditions
• Street Trading Fees

You must apply for your Street Trading Consent at least 5 weeks prior to the date you wish to start trading to allow for the 28-day consultation period.

Be over 17 years of age

Comply with all the condition attached to a licence

Provide a fully completed application form. An application cannot be accepted until all the required information and correct fee has been received. 

Please print and complete the form below.

• Street Trading Consent Application Form

The completed form can either be posted to Licensing Department, Mid Sussex District Council, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS or emailed to licensing@midsussex.gov.uk

Payment can be made via a cheque payable to ‘Mid Sussex District Council’ or by card payment. For card payments, you will be contacted on the phone number provided on the application form.

Licences will be refused if:

• Trading causes interference or inconvenience to street users
• You have certain previous convictions
• You have failed to pay fees due under another street trading licence or have failed to use a previous street trading licence
• Non-compliance with Licensing Conditions
• The location is inappropriate for trading

If you intend to trade on Mid Sussex District Council land or property a separate permission will be required.  This enquiry will form part of the consultation process and an additional rental fee may be required. You will be notified if this is required. 

Will 'Tacit Consent' apply?

No.

You will be notified once your application has been accepted and the end date of the consultation period. Once this date has passed you will be notified to confirm whether your application has been granted.

‘Tacit consent’ means you can act as if your application has been granted if you do not receive your licence/permit within a certain time after we confirm we have received your application.

Food Hygiene - please contact the Food Safety Team via Food Safety - Mid Sussex District Council

Otherwise, we advise you to write a letter to the trader. Make sure you get proof of delivery.

If this doesn't work, please contact:

• Consumer Direct
• Trading Standards information for consumers - West Sussex County Council

Other Trader Complaints - please contact the Licensing Team via the details below

Licensing
Tel: 01444-477419
Email: licensing@midsussex.gov.uk