4. Licence requirements
Licences are required for a range of activities, including the sale of alcohol, the performance of live or recorded music, selling or offering to sell things and charitable street collections. Our event application forms provide information on licence requirements. However if you are unsure, the Council’s Licensing office will be able to advise you what type of licence, if any, are required for your specific event.
If your event requires any of the following activities to take place, then you must apply for a licence as part of a legal requirement for your event.
Temporary Event Notice (TEN):
TENS can be used to allow licensable activities to be carried out on a one-off or occasional basis. These include:
- The sale / supply of alcohol
- The performance of live / recorded music
- The performance of a play / film
- Dance performances
They are appropriate for small-scale events such as community, school, charity and fundraisers where the sale of alcohol, entertainment or the sale of hot food and drink between 11pm - 5am. TENs can only be used for events with no more than 499 people in attendance, including staff and volunteers.
You can only apply for a TEN as an individual, not an organisation. You must also be over the age of 18.
Please note, there is a limit as to how many TENs an individual can apply for, as well as how many each single premises can have in a year.
You need to submit you application for a TENs licence at least one month in advance of your event.
Find out more information on TENs Licences and how to apply.
Time Limited Premises Licence
A Time Limited Premises Licence may be granted in respect of a specific location for a one-off event with more than 500 people in attendance.
You need to submit your application at least three months ahead of your event. This is because, by law, 8 authorities and the public have to be consulted for a 28 day period during which anyone can object.
If relevant objections are raised, your application may have to be referred to a licensing committee. Applying at least 3 months before your event ensures that there is sufficient time to process your application.
Apply for a Time Limited Premises Licence.
Charitable Street Collections
If you want to carry out a charitable street collection during your event, you will need a permit. You’ll need to apply at least 28 days before you want to make the collection.
Before you apply you'll need to email us to make sure that the collection area and date you want is available (licensing@eastdevon.gov.uk) . If it is available we can give you a provisional booking. Once you've carried out the street collection you'll also need to give us a return giving an account of the monies raised.
Apply for a Charitable Street Collection.
Street Trading
Street trading is the selling of or offering to sell things in the street. A street includes:
- Any road, footway, beach or other area to which the public have access without payment
- A service area as defined in section 329 of the Highways Act 1980. This also includes any part of a street.
A consent is needed if you want to sell or to offer to sell things in the street (which can include selling things on East Devon District Council owned land).
If you are unsure whether street trading consent is required, please contact the licensing team.
You need to submit your application at least three months ahead of your event. This is to allow enough time for an application to be checked, a 28-day consultation to take place and if relevant objections are raised, your application may have to be referred to a licensing committee. Applying at least 3 months before your event ensures that there is sufficient time to process your application.
For further information and to apply for street trading, please see the street trading pages of our website - Street Trading.
Music Licences
If you are planning on having either recorded or live music at your event you will usually need to apply for a music licence.
Whether the performance is played live or by such means as CD, radio, DVD, TV, karaoke etc, whether a charge is made for admission or not, or whether the performers are paid or not, a licence is still necessary. If you play CDs, tapes or records you may also need a licence.
Please ensure you purchase the required licence(s) before the event takes place. No event that plans to include performances of licenced live or recorded music can be held on East Devon District Council’s parks or open spaces without a suitable licence.
Further information on music licences.
Please note: you must ensure you have left enough time to apply for your licence, as your event will not be able to go ahead without the correct legal licensing requirements in place.