Businesses selling food and drink can apply for a licence to place furniture, such as tables and chairs, on the highway adjacent to their premises. This is permitted for the purpose of selling and consuming food and drink, provided the furniture is removed after permitted hours.
Furniture must be:
- removable
- directly related to the serving, sale, or consumption of food and drink
This does not include:
- non-removable furniture
- items not associated with food or drink use
- advertising boards
How to apply for a new pavement licence
Applications must include:
a site plan showing:
- the premises outlined in red
- the proposed licensed area on the highway (with measurements if not to scale)
- layout of tables, chairs, barriers, and any other furniture
- key measurements, such as pathway width, building width, fixed objects
- a minimum two-metre unobstructed pedestrian route
You must also send us:
- public liability insurance certificate with minimum cover £5 million
- photos or brochures of furniture, including enclosures, such as barriers with hand and tapping rails for accessibility
- proposed layout
- neighbour consent, if using space outside adjacent premises
- ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) training evidence
- application fee
Download the pavement licence application form (docx / 140 KB)
Submitting your application
For applications to be valid they must include:
- the application form
- all supporting documents
- the fee
The consultation period starts the day after a complete application is submitted.
The application fee is non-refundable. We aim to decide applications within 14 days after the consultation period ends.
Details of how to send in your application are on the form.
How to apply for a renewal
To qualify as a renewal, the application must:
- be made by the current licence holder
- relate to the same premises
- continue on the same terms immediately after expiry
You will need:
- a valid public liability insurance certificate (£5 million minimum)
- to apply no more than six weeks and no less than four weeks before expiry
Applications submitted after expiry will not be accepted. If your licence has expired you will need to make a new application.
The same validation, consultation, fee, and determination rules apply as new applications.
Advertising
Applicants must display a notice at the premises on the day the application is submitted.
The notice must:
- be clearly visible and readable to the public
- remain in place for the full consultation period
The consultation period lasts 14 days, starting the day after submission.
Download the pavement licence public notice template (docx / 139 KB)
Consultation
Before making a decision, we will consult:
- North Yorkshire Council Highways
- North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
- Environmental Protection
- Licensing Enforcement Team
- North Yorkshire Police
- Police Licensing (where relevant under the Licensing Act 2003)
Additional consultees may be included at our discretion.
You should read the pavement licence policy (pdf / 498 KB) in the North Yorkshire area before making an application.
It is essential that you:
- read and understand the full policy
- are aware of application requirements
- understand the role of the Licensing Authority and consultees
- can comply with all licence conditions before applying