Manchester City Council

Apply for a Market Rights Licence

  1. Summary

    If you want to hold a market in Manchester, you need a Market Rights Licence from us.

    We class a market as a 'concourse of buyers and sellers' with five or more trading spaces. E.g. stalls, stands, vehicles or pitches.

    This can also include:

    • fairs
    • car boot sales
    • table-top sales
    • traditional and specialist markets and fairs
    • exhibition type markets and fairs; or where rides and amusements are included.

    You still need a Market Rights Licence if:

    • you have already received other permissions for the market, such as
      • Temporary Event Notice (TENs)
      • planning consent; or
      • agreement to use the premises
    • the market is to be held on private or public premises, either indoors or outdoors
    • the proceeds are solely or principally for the benefit of a charity or other beneficiary
    • the market is part of a wider event.

    You must apply for a Market Rights Licence at least 21 days before the date of your market.

  2. Important information

  3. Fees

  4. Application and guidance notes

  5. Attachments required

    You'll need to upload a clearly labelled layout plan of the market and trading spaces. This can be hand drawn and doesn't need to be to scale

  6. Processing and timescales

    We will consider your application and let you know the outcome as soon as possible. This is normally within 14 days. If the application is not complete we'll tell you as soon as possible of any actions you need to do. But the 14 day timescale will only start once your application is complete.

    We may contact you for further information to:

    • support your application; and
    • enable us to make a more informed decision - especially if you're applying for a permanent market.

    This might mean that the consideration period is more than 14 days.

    Applications must be submitted at least 21 days before the market date. Late applications may not be considered, and any approved late applications will incur an additional administration fee.

  7. Legislation

  8. Complaints

    Contact us in the first instance at marketrights@manchester.gov.uk