Consent Street Trading Policy 2026

The charity, community and voluntary sectors trade as part of fundraising activities. Organisers of these events make no commercial gain from trading and all profits made are put back into the purpose of the registered charity or association. Trading as part of fundraising activities taking place within religious or educational grounds e.g. church events / fetes, school festivals, PTA events do not require the consent of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

Commercial Trader

A Commercial Trader is any individual, business, or organisation that engages in street trading on a commercial basis, where the primary purpose of the activity is to generate income, profit, or other financial gain.

A person or organisation will normally be considered a Commercial Trader where one or more of the following apply:

• they sell goods or services with the intention of making a profit
• they rely on trading for part of their income
• trade regularly or systematically as part of a business operation at multiple markets, events, fairs, or locations
• they operate under a business name, brand, or commercial identity
• they advertise or promote their activity as a business
• they purchase stock or materials with the intention of resale for profit
• they hold (or should hold) business insurance or registration (for example public liability, limited company, or sole trader status)

These traders must be declared on the application, and count towards the total number of traders requiring consent to trade at the event.

Charity Trader

A Charity Trader is an individual or organisation trading solely to raise funds for a registered charity, community group, voluntary organisation, school, or non‑profit body, where no personal or organisational profit is made.

Individuals or organisations trading solely to:

• raise funds for a registered charity, community group, or non‑profit organisation
• provide goods without personal or organisational profit
• operate under a charitable status or exemption

These traders should be declared on the application but will not count towards the total number of traders requiring consent to trade at the event.

Hobby Trader

A Hobby Trader is an individual who trades occasionally typically selling items they have created themselves where the activity is not operated as a business.

Individuals whose trading activities:

• are occasional, informal, or irregular
• generate little or no personal profit, for example to sell or display crafts or personal creations as a pastime
• are not part of a business or commercial enterprise and do not hold commercial insurance or business registration
• are not promoted as a business and do not form part of their income

These traders should be declared on the application but will not count towards the total number of traders requiring consent to trade at the event.