Casual trading licence Ireland — council-by-council guide for food trailers
A casual trading licence is the permission you need from a Local Authority (city or county council) to sell food, drink, or other goods on public land at a designated pitch in Ireland. The Casual Trading Act 1995 + each council's casual trading bylaws govern the regime — meaning fees + zones + application processes vary council-by-council. This guide covers the universal requirements + a snapshot of how the 5 biggest urban councils handle it.
1. Identify the relevant council
You apply to the Local Authority where you want to TRADE (not where you store the trailer). For the Republic of Ireland, the 31 city + county councils each run their own casual trading regime. For Northern Ireland, equivalent permissions go through the borough councils + Building Control / Environmental Health teams. Trading across multiple councils means MULTIPLE licences — one per council.
2. Apply for the licence
The application is a written form (downloadable from each council website) plus typically: photo ID, proof of address, FSAI registration confirmation (food trailers), public liability insurance certificate (€6.5m minimum standard), motor insurance covering the trailer in transit, RGI gas cert if you have an LPG installation, and the licence fee. Council casual-trading offices process applications within 4-8 weeks typically; some offer expedited paid review.
3. Choose a pitch (or apply for a designated zone)
Most Irish councils designate specific casual trading zones — you can't just trade anywhere on public land. In Dublin, the designated zones are O'Connell Street + Henry Street + Grafton Street + Phoenix Park + St Stephen's Green + a few outer-zone pockets. Rural councils have fewer zones but often more flexibility on pitch location. A pitch within a zone is allocated typically by lottery, queue, or first-application basis depending on council policy. Some councils offer "open" licences (any council-approved pitch) at higher fees + "specific" licences (one named pitch) at lower fees.
4. Renew annually + comply with bylaws
Casual trading licences are typically annual (1 January to 31 December for most councils). Renewal requires updated insurance + RGI cert + FSAI confirmation. Bylaws cover hours of operation (typically 6am-10pm or 8am-8pm depending on zone), waste disposal, noise limits, and equipment requirements. Failure to comply = licence revocation + fine up to €3,000.
5. Dublin City Council casual trading — fees + zones
Dublin City Council (dublincity.ie) issues casual trading licences for designated zones inside the canal ring. Annual fees range €350-€800 depending on zone + duration. The most-competitive zones (Grafton Street + Henry Street pedestrianised core) operate via paid advance bookings + are essentially fully allocated to long-term traders. Phoenix Park concession pitches are managed separately by the OPW (Office of Public Works) on multi-year leases.
6. Cork City Council casual trading — fees + zones
Cork City Council (corkcity.ie) runs casual trading zones in the city centre + the Marina + a few outer pockets. Annual fees ~€300-€600 depending on zone. The English Market is NOT a casual trading zone — it's commercially leased through Cork City Council's English Market office on multi-year terms. Cork County Council (corkcoco.ie) runs a separate regime for non-city-centre rural pitches.
7. Galway City Council casual trading — fees + zones
Galway City Council (galwaycity.ie) runs casual trading zones around Shop Street, Spanish Arch, Eyre Square, and the Salthill Prom seasonal zone (May-September). Annual fees ~€300-€700 depending on zone. Salthill summer pitches are limited + heavily oversubscribed — application typically opens January for the May-September season.
8. Limerick City + County Council — fees + zones
Limerick City + County Council (limerick.ie) issues casual trading licences for designated city-centre zones (O'Connell Street area, Bedford Row, Riverside walk). Annual fees ~€300-€600. The Milk Market is NOT a casual trading zone — it's managed by Limerick Market Trustees separately on multi-year stallholder agreements. Thomond Park match-day vendor pitches run through Munster Rugby commercial team.
9. Belfast — equivalent regime under Building Control
Belfast City Council (belfastcity.gov.uk) runs a "street trading licence" regime under Building Control + Environmental Health that's functionally equivalent to a casual trading licence. Annual fees vary £200-£500 (paid in GBP). Designated zones cover the Cathedral Quarter, City Hall area, and Botanic. Note: cross-border vendors must register separately for HMRC purposes if turning over above the GB threshold; consult an accountant covering both regimes.
10. Festival + market pitches are SEPARATE from casual trading
A casual trading licence does NOT cover festival vendor pitches (Electric Picnic, Body & Soul, etc.) or weekend market pitches (Cork English Market, Limerick Milk Market, Temple Bar Food Market). Those are negotiated commercially with the festival operator or market manager. Some councils offer "occasional trading" permits for one-off events; check with your council before assuming.
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