Renfrewshire Council

You need a market operator's licence it you operate a private market at which goods are offered for sale by more than one seller for sale to the public.
 

How do I apply for a licence?

An application pack with an application form, guidance notes and conditions of licence can be downloaded from the related content area of the website.

You will require to complete the application form and provide all relevant documentation when making your application.  You must answer every question on the form. If a question is irrelevant, mark it as 'not applicable'.

In the first instance, the completed application form should be emailed to customerservice.licensing@renfrewshire.gov.uk to be checked by the Customer Service team to ensure all questions have been completed correctly and supporting documentation sufficient.  Once the application form and all supporting documentation is accepted, the wet signature application form requires to be sent into the Council Offices at the address detailed below.  At this time please do not enclose original documents (ie passports etc), photocopies of these is sufficient at this time.  Payment can be made with cheque accompanying the application or we can make arrangements for payment to be taken over the phone on receipt of the signed application form.

What documents do I need to apply for a licence?
The application form, detailed plan of the layout of the market, supporting documentation as per the guidance notes and the relevant fee.
 

Do I need to do anything once my application is lodged?

Applicants must display a public notice at the proposed premises as soon as the application has been lodged. The display notice must be displayed for a period of 21 days together with a copy of the application. At the end of the 21 day period you must sign and return a certificate of compliance to confirm that you have displayed the notice for the statutory period.  These are contained within the Market Operator Pack which can be found in the related content area of the website.

How much is the licence fee?

Information on fees for all licences can be found in related content area of the website under civic application fees.
 

What criteria have to be met to apply for a licence?

There are no criteria to be met for this type of activity.

How long will my application take?

All applications made under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 must be considered within 3 months and a decision made within 9 months.
 

Who is consulted about my application?

A copy of your application will be sent to Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue,  Environmental, Housing & Infrastructure Section, Development and Housing Service, and, where the premises are within Paisley Town Centre the Town Centre Manager. They will carry out their own investigations and report back to the licensing section.
 

What happens if there if an objection or representation to my application?

If an objection or representation is received the application must be considered at a meeting of the Regulatory Functions Board. You will be formally cited to attend the meeting and a copy of the letter of objection will be sent out to you with the citation letter.
 

What conditions are attached to my licence?

The conditions of licence are contained within the Market Operator Pack which can be found in the related content area of the website.

A copy of the conditions of licence for market operators licence will be issued to you if your licence is granted. The council requires all licenceholders to have a thorough understanding of these conditions and they should be kept as they form part of your licence.

How long does the licence last for?

Applications for the grant of a licence are generally granted for a period of one year. Applications to renew an existing licence are normally granted for a two year period.

 

Temporary Market Operator's Licence

You can apply for a temporary Market Operator's Licence for a maximum period of 6 weeks. The temporary application pack is available to download from the related content area on this page.

Where the market is for  20 stalls or less AND for 7 days or less, there is a reduced fee, see Civic application fees for licences - Renfrewshire Website.