Apply for, renew or vary a tables and chairs licence

To place tables, chairs or other temporary furniture on the pavement in Westminster you must apply for both planning permission and a temporary street trading licence. 

How to apply for a licence

You must have planning permission before you can apply for, renew or vary a licence to place tables and chairs on public highways.

Planning permission

You can only apply for planning permission online. 

Apply online

View planning application fees

For advice on applying, and to view rules and policies used to decide applications, please read our Guidelines for the placing of tables and chairs on the highway

If successful, planning permission normally lasts for 12 months 

Temporary licence

Once you’ve received planning permission, you can apply for your temporary licence. 

Any variations to your planning permission will require a variation on your temporary licence. 

Apply or renew online

View temporary licence fees for tables and chairs:

View Westminster street trading fees

If successful, we will issue a temporary licence valid for 6 months. You can apply for a further 6 month licence in order to run consecutively. You should submit the renewal application and payment online at least 4 weeks prior to the expiry of your current temporary licence.

Additional information

• All holders of tables and chairs licences must to comply with the licence’s applicable conditions.
• To use free standing space heaters, a risk assessment must be submitted for review by an environmental health officer.
• Any use of barriers will need our approval. You must submit photographs, specification details and plans showing their position.
• Read about private forecourts if one is included in the boundary of your property.
• ​If an application is incorrectly completed, thus invalid, we will retain a third of the application fee to cover administration costs.