Devon County Council supports the principle of establishing street cafés to improve the vitality of streets within the county’s towns. Street cafés can make a positive contribution to the street-scene and to the vitality of shopping and tourist areas, bringing life, colour and interest onto the street.

Street cafés may be sited on the public highway (paved or pedestrianised areas) and are authorised by the granting of an annually renewable License.  Seated areas that are sited on privately owned land or to the rear of buildings or other courtyard areas do not require a License.

To apply for a street café licence in Plymouth or Torbay, please contact them direct at www.plymouth.gov.uk or www.torbay.gov.uk

Who do I need to ask?

Licensing authorities include Exeter City Council, Teignmouth Town Council, Newton Abbot Town Council and Exmouth Town Council who will issue licences on behalf of the County Council.

Elsewhere, Devon County Council will issue licenses.

Where you are proposing a street café on the public highway, you should be aware that both Devon County Council, as Highway Authority, and the local City/District/Borough Council, as planning and licensing authority, may have an interest. The regulations regarding planning, street trading, placing goods and equipment on the highway and the consumption of food, drink and alcohol on the highway are complex and it is strongly recommended that you request a meeting as early as possible to smooth the process.

What am I allowed to do?

The following Guidance Notes (323KB - pdf help) should help but a standard set of conditions apply to all applications. There may also be some site specific conditions depending on the location.

What will it cost?

• £200  for a one year licence
• Annual renewal fee if £85

The applicant will also be liable for any additional costs incurred due to advertising or legal charges. The applicant will be made aware of these costs in advance.

How to apply

There are two steps to obtaining a licence.

STEP 1

Arrange a preliminary meeting with a representative from Devon County Council, contact our Customer Service Centre on 0845 155 1004 to consider the suitability of the proposal from a highway authority perspective. If the proposal is considered inappropriate from a highway perspective, a licence will not be issued even if planning permission is granted.

STEP 2

Once all necessary approvals have been obtained print off the documents below, read the Guidance Notes provided (SCL1) and complete the application. The completed application should be sent, with the application fee and any other approvals obtained to the appropriate authority.

How long will this take?

Devon County Council will consult with interested parties, followed by a 28 day ‘notice’ period to enable the public at large to raise any objections. Any objections will then need to be resolved by the applicant before a licence can be issued. Therefore we like to require 3 months notice to complete the process.

• Notes for Guidance – SCL1 (323KB - pdf help)
• Conditions – SCL2 (34KB - pdf help)
• Application Form – SCL3 (46KB - pdf help)

DO NOT PLACE TABLE AND CHAIRS ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT LAWFUL AUTHORITY

If you are unsure which Office to send your form to please contact our Customer Service Centre on 0845 155 1004 who will be happy to direct you.