Casual trading licence
Clare County Council.
What a coffee or food trailer needs to trade legally in Co. Clare — the published fees, where you are allowed to pitch, how far ahead to apply, and who to talk to.
Licensing authority
- Authority
- Clare County Council
- Covers
- Co. Clare · seat: Ennis
- Address
- Economic Development Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare
- Phone
- 065 682 1616
- Casual trading page
- clarecoco.ie/services/business/licences-and-permits/casual-trading ↗
- Checked
- 2026-08-01
Fees
| Licence / pitch | Fee |
|---|---|
| Ennis — Bay Type A (4.8m × 4.8m) | €660 |
| Ennis — Bay Type B (4.8m × 2.4m) | €330 |
| Outside Ennis Minimum of two car parking spaces | €400 |
Read from Clare County Council’s own published material on 2026-08-01. Councils revise fees annually — confirm the current rate with the council before you budget.
Where you can trade
Casual trading is lawful only in a designated area. A licence does not let you trade anywhere else in the county.
- → Ennis Market area
- → Ballyallia Lake, Ennis
- → Ennistymon town centre
- → Doolin Pier
- → Fanore
- → Kildysart Square
- → Kilfenora Square
- → Killaloe car park
- → Kilkee
- → Miltown Malbay
- → Drumgeely, Shannon
- → Tulla
Trading in Clare
One of the most transparent fee schedules in the country — priced by bay size, and multiplied by the number of bays and the number of trading days per week. Clare is unusually good for coastal pitches: Doolin Pier, Fanore, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay are all designated, and all sit on the Wild Atlantic Way. Maps for each designated area are published on the council site. The same form covers both casual and event trading.
The rules that apply everywhere in Ireland
These come from the Casual Trading Act 1995 and apply in all 31 council areas, including Clare.
- Casual trading in the Republic of Ireland is governed by the Casual Trading Act 1995. Selling food or goods in a public place without a licence from the relevant local authority is an offence under section 3.
- You apply to the local authority for the area where you want to TRADE — not where the trailer is stored or where the business is registered. Trading across three councils means three separate licences.
- Applications must be made at least 30 days before the first day you intend to trade (section 4). Several councils run a single annual window instead, so a late application can mean waiting a full year.
- Each council makes its own bye-laws under the Act. Those bye-laws set the fees, define the designated trading areas, and fix the permitted hours — which is why the numbers on this page differ so much between neighbouring counties.
- Casual trading is only lawful in a designated trading area. Trading in a public place that has not been designated is not covered by a licence, however valid that licence is elsewhere.
- Under section 4(2A), inserted by section 141 of the Finance Act 1996, the council notifies the Revenue Commissioners of the name, address and tax reference number of every licence holder. Most councils ask for a tax clearance certificate up front.
- A casual trading licence is separate from your food-business obligations. A food trailer must also be registered with the HSE Environmental Health Service on behalf of the FSAI, normally at least 28 days before you start trading.
- Some sales are exempt from the Act, including growers selling their own produce such as soft fruit and loose-skinned potatoes. Selling prepared food from a trailer is not exempt.
Questions about trading in Clare
How much is a casual trading licence from Clare County Council?
Ennis — Bay Type A (4.8m × 4.8m): €660. Ennis — Bay Type B (4.8m × 2.4m): €330. Outside Ennis: €400 (Minimum of two car parking spaces). Verified 2026-08-01 — confirm the current year with the council before budgeting.
Where can I trade in Clare with a casual trading licence?
Clare County Council designates these areas: Ennis Market area; Ballyallia Lake, Ennis; Ennistymon town centre; Doolin Pier; Fanore; Kildysart Square; Kilfenora Square; Killaloe car park; Kilkee; Miltown Malbay; Drumgeely, Shannon; Tulla. Casual trading is only lawful in a designated area — a licence does not permit trading anywhere else in the county.
How long does it take to get a casual trading licence in Clare?
Apply at least 30 days before your first trading day, as required by section 4 of the Casual Trading Act 1995. Processing typically takes several weeks, and some councils only accept applications in one annual window — check before you plan around a start date.
Do I need anything else besides the licence to run a food trailer in Clare?
Yes. You must register the food business with the HSE Environmental Health Service on behalf of the FSAI, normally at least 28 days before trading. You will also need public liability insurance (€6.5m is the common minimum), an RGI certificate for any LPG appliance, and a tax clearance certificate.