Casual trading licence
Kildare County Council.
What a coffee or food trailer needs to trade legally in Co. Kildare — the published fees, where you are allowed to pitch, how far ahead to apply, and who to talk to.
Licensing authority
- Authority
- Kildare County Council
- Covers
- Co. Kildare · seat: Naas
- Address
- Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare
- Phone
- 045 980200
- customerservice@kildarecoco.ie
- Casual trading page
- kildarecoco.ie/Business/CasualTrading ↗
- Checked
- 2026-08-01
Fees
| Licence / pitch | Fee |
|---|---|
| Pitch up to 3m × 3m | €100 per year |
| Pitch 3m to 6m × 3m | €200 per year |
| Pitch 6m to 9m × 3m | €300 per year |
Read from Kildare 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.
- → Athy Municipal District
- → Clane–Maynooth Municipal District
- → Celbridge–Leixlip Municipal District
- → Kildare–Newbridge Municipal District
- → Naas Municipal District
What Kildare asks for
- HSE food business registration
- Public, product and employers liability insurance
- Compliance with local HSE Environmental Health requirements
Trading in Kildare
Among the clearest and cheapest fee structures in the country — priced purely on pitch footprint, with the vehicle space included where permitted. Each of the five municipal districts has its own bye-laws listing the permitted locations, so check the district covering the town you want. Out-of-hours number: 1800 500 444.
The rules that apply everywhere in Ireland
These come from the Casual Trading Act 1995 and apply in all 31 council areas, including Kildare.
- 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 Kildare
How much is a casual trading licence from Kildare County Council?
Pitch up to 3m × 3m: €100 per year. Pitch 3m to 6m × 3m: €200 per year. Pitch 6m to 9m × 3m: €300 per year. Verified 2026-08-01 — confirm the current year with the council before budgeting.
Where can I trade in Kildare with a casual trading licence?
Kildare County Council designates these areas: Athy Municipal District; Clane–Maynooth Municipal District; Celbridge–Leixlip Municipal District; Kildare–Newbridge Municipal District; Naas Municipal District. 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 Kildare?
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 Kildare?
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.