Street trading licences

You must apply for a street display (a-board) licence if you want to advertise your business using free-standing signage on a public footpath, street or open space. 

Why you need a licence for your street display

A street display licence, also known as an A-board licence, relates to a type of adverts placed on the public highway. These include:

• freestanding advertising boards
• feather flags or moving banners
• character boards
• information and directional signs

Street displays on the public highway can create problems for people who:

• are visually impaired
• have mobility difficulties
• use a wheelchair or mobility scooter
• use pushchairs

Street displays can also cause clutter and untidiness that could damage the area. We licence street displays on pavements, streets and other public open spaces to balance the needs of businesses, pedestrians and traffic. 

Why we licence street displays

Obstructing the highway under the Highways Act 1980, section 143, and section 149 is an offence.  The term highway includes roads, streets, footpaths, paved and pedestrianised areas.  The legislation allows local councils to licence schemes on the public road to protect the public. 

When you cannot have a street display 

Street displays are not permitted:

• without a licence 
• on Transport for London (TfL) Red Routes 

Red Routes are roads marked by red lines. They are major roads, and vehicles cannot stop on them except in dedicated lay-bys. TfL has zero tolerance to street displays and any other street clutter.

The cost of a licence  

A new street display (a-board) licence costs £163.  You can renew an existing licence for £142.  

Licences are granted for 12 months.

Before you apply  

Your application must include details of your street display: 

• photo or illustration
• dimensions
• scaled plan of the display's location 

What does the plan need to show 

Your application must include a plan detailing the location of your street display: 

• Dimensions of location, the width of pavement and proximity to the kerb 
• location of all posts, columns and trees 
• Proposed location of your signage 

Licence conditions

These are the conditions for every street display licence we issue. The conditions may only be removed or varied following an application determined by the Council. 

1. You must display your licence in a prominent position. You must show it when an authorised local authority officer or the police request to see it.
2. The licence is only valid at the specific locations and on the days and times shown on the front of this licence. It is only valid for the specified street display. 
3. You must position your street display close to the premises unless the council agrees to something different with you in writing.  A minimum of 1.5 meters must remain along the line of the display between the object's edge and the kerb, posts columns, trees, street furniture or other highway boundary. Passers-by must be able to pass freely. 
4. As the licence holder, you must have, at all times, public liability insurance coverage with a minimum liability of £5 million.
5. As the licence holder, you must not cause nuisance, interference or inconvenience to anyone using the street, including other businesses or residents. 
6. Street displays cannot be positioned in a way which causes a risk to the safety of anyone using street a, including other businesses or residents.
7. Only position street displays in a location with enough space. It cannot obstruct pedestrians or traffic.
8. The public highway must not be interfered with, changed, damaged or altered in any way.
9. All street displays must be removed from the highway at the end of the hours permitted by this licence unless the licensing authority gives a written exemption.
10. As the licence holder, you must comply with any direction given by an authorised local authority officer, their agents, the police, or other member of the emergency services. This may include orders to remove items immediately
11. As the licence holder, you are responsible for any claim. You will compensate the council for any injury, damage or loss that happens directly or indirectly from this licence.
12. The advertising must relate to the business. 

How to apply for a street display licence

Our online form is the quickest way to process and pay for your application. Applications must be submitted at least 5 weeks in advance. An application does not guarantee you will get permission.  

Apply for a street display licence

What happens next

Once you’ve submitted your street display licence application, you’ll receive an email and a reference number confirming your application.

A licensing officer will carry out  a site visit to see if the location suits your proposed street display. 

There will be a 28-day consultation period for your application.  During this time the licensing team will: 

• publish details of the application on the council website 
• display a poster at or near the premises 
• consults with stakeholders in the highways team, the Metropolitan Police and the equalities officer or Kingston centre for independent living

Renew a Street display (a-board) licence

If your Street display (a-board) licence is due to expire, you can use our online form to renew and pay for a new one. A renewal costs £142.

There is a 28-day public consultation starting the day after you apply. This involves displaying a notice in the window of your premises advertising your application. 

If we receive an objection, we have another 14 days to decide. If granted, the renewed licence will remain valid for 12 months.

You must apply for a new licence if you want to make changes. This includes changing:  

• The location of the street display
• The type of street display
• The hours you want to keep the display on the public highway 
• The name or address of the licence holder

Renew your licence

Current applications in consultation

Current applications in consultation are available to view

Our decision 

Before we make a decision, we will consider all comments and observations we receive during the consultation period. Our decision is final and there are no routes to appeal. 

Make a complaint

If you are unhappy with the final decision or how we handled your application, you can complain to the council.