Casual trading licence
South Dublin County Council.
What a coffee or food trailer needs to trade legally in Co. Dublin — the published fees, where you are allowed to pitch, how far ahead to apply, and who to talk to.
Licensing authority
- Authority
- South Dublin County Council
- Covers
- Co. Dublin · seat: Tallaght
- Address
- Enforcement and Licensing Department, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24
- Phone
- 01 414 9000
- info@sdublincoco.ie
- Casual trading page
- sdcc.ie/en/services/business/casual-trading ↗
- Checked
- 2026-08-01
Fees
| Licence / pitch | Fee |
|---|---|
| Category D — Viewing Point at Killakee Tea, coffee and confectionery — the relevant category for a coffee trailer | €2,000 |
| Category A — cemetery pitches Bohernabreena, Esker and Newcastle cemeteries; flowers and graveside ornaments only | €500 each |
Read from South Dublin 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.
- → Viewing Point at Killakee
- → Dodder Valley Park
- → Tymon Park (Limekiln entrance)
- → Bohernabreena Cemetery
- → Esker Cemetery
- → Newcastle Cemetery
Application deadlines
- 30 January 2026, 4:00pm — Viewing Point at Killakee; Dodder Valley Park
- 13 February 2026, 4:00pm — Tymon Park, Limekiln entrance
These are hard cut-offs, not guidance. Miss one and the pitch is usually gone until the next cycle.
Trading in Dublin
South Dublin runs hard application deadlines rather than a rolling process — miss the date and the pitch is gone for the year. Killakee is the notable one for coffee: a single licensed tea/coffee/confectionery pitch at a Dublin-mountains viewing point with strong weekend and summer-evening traffic.
Careful — Dublin has more than one licensing authority
South Dublin County Council covers only part of Dublin. A pitch a few streets away may be licensed by a different council. Check the boundary before applying:
The rules that apply everywhere in Ireland
These come from the Casual Trading Act 1995 and apply in all 31 council areas, including South Dublin.
- 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 Dublin
How much is a casual trading licence from South Dublin County Council?
Category D — Viewing Point at Killakee: €2,000 (Tea, coffee and confectionery — the relevant category for a coffee trailer). Category A — cemetery pitches: €500 each (Bohernabreena, Esker and Newcastle cemeteries; flowers and graveside ornaments only). Verified 2026-08-01 — confirm the current year with the council before budgeting.
Where can I trade in Dublin with a casual trading licence?
South Dublin County Council designates these areas: Viewing Point at Killakee; Dodder Valley Park; Tymon Park (Limekiln entrance); Bohernabreena Cemetery; Esker Cemetery; Newcastle Cemetery. 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 Dublin?
Apply at least 30 days before your first trading day, as required by section 4 of the Casual Trading Act 1995. South Dublin County Council also runs fixed deadlines: 30 January 2026, 4:00pm for Viewing Point at Killakee; Dodder Valley Park; 13 February 2026, 4:00pm for Tymon Park, Limekiln entrance.
Do I need anything else besides the licence to run a food trailer in Dublin?
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.