Street Furniture Permits and Pavement Licences
We want to assist businesses in promoting their services where the locations are considered to be suitable. Many pubs, restaurants, cafes and other businesses may wish to have seating and tables or other types of furniture outside their premises.
You will need a Street Furniture Permit or Pavement Licence (depending on the nature of the furniture and business type) if it is part of the public highway. This is to ensure enough space is available for the safe, free movement of all highway users. There also needs to be consideration given to the location to avoid noise disturbance for local residents and nearby shops and offices.
Pavement Licences
Pavement licence process has now been made permanent under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
Businesses that are eligible include:
- public houses
- cafes
- bars
- restaurants
- snack bars
- coffee shops
- ice cream parlours
- supermarkets, entertainment or similar venues which sell food and drink.
Find out more about pavement licences.
There is a 14 day period of consultation before an application can be granted. More information can be found in the Pavement Licence Policy (PDF, 0.5MB, 11 pages).
How to apply for a pavement licence
To ensure that your application can be processed efficiently, include the following:
- application fee - the fee covers the cost of administration, inspection and enforcement activity. If you are placing your tables and chairs on Council owned land you will be subject to a fee for land hire.
- plan/map (preferably to the scale 1:100 or 1:50) showing the area requiring permission, the proposed location of the tables and chairs and/or any other objects. This will need to be a PDF document
- photograph of the proposed street furniture. This will need to be in JPEG format
- public liability insurance and proof of insurance. The minimum value insured will be £10 million
- documented risk assessment (must be site/Covid-19 specific)
- land owner permission - confirmation whether or not permission is required from the land owner.
A notice must be displayed by the applicant during the consultation period. It should inform members of the public of the application details, including how comments in support or against the application can be made.
When you have completed your application, return by either:
- email to licensing@iow.gov.uk. Payment can be taken over the phone via debit/credit card
- post to: The Licensing Department, County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD. Include a cheque for payment.
Street Furniture Permits
Permits are issued under the Highways Act 1980 and relate to businesses and furniture types that are not included within the Pavement Licence Guidance. Each permit has standard terms and conditions. These conditions must be adhered to. Permits are monitored throughout the year to ensure compliance.
A Street Furniture Permit is not required for:
- A – boards
- planters
Our Street Furniture Policy (PDF 172KB, 12 pages), is used by the licensing authority to assist in granting permits.
How to apply for a Street Furniture permit
To ensure that your application can be processed efficiently, include with the application:
- application fee - the fee covers the cost of administration, inspection and enforcement activity. If you are placing your street furniture on Council owned land you will be subject to a fee for land hire.
- plan/map (preferably to the scale 1:100 or 1:50) showing the area requiring permission, the proposed location of the tables and chairs and/or any other objects. This will need to be a PDF document.
- photograph of the proposed street furniture. This will need to be in JPEG format.
- public liability insurance and proof of insurance .The minimum value insured will be ten million.
- planning permission (confirmation whether or not planning permission is needed)
- land owner permission (confirmation whether or not permission is needed from the land owner).
When an application has been accepted as valid, it will be subject to a 28 day consultation period. During which time, notices will be placed at the premises and any adjacent premises affected will be notified. Should there be no valid objections, the Street Furniture Permit will then be issued for 12 months.
It is your responsibility to make sure the permit is renewed annually. We will not send any reminders. Any items placed illegally on the highway may be subject to enforcement procedures.
The public liability insurance (PLI) levels required as part of the applications supporting documentation has increased from five million to ten million. The associated Policies will be updated in due course.
You need to apply online for a street furniture permit.
If you are unable to complete an online form below, you can download a copy (PDF, 79 KB, 2 pages) and post it instead.
Return the completed form by:
- email to licensing@iow.gov.uk. Payment can be taken over the phone via debit/credit card
- post to The Licensing Department, County Hall, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD. Please include a cheque for the payment.