Overview
Businesses selling food or drink need permission to put furniture (including tables and chairs) on the pavement for your customers where it is part of the public highway. (Note: Advertising "A" boards are not covered by the pavement licensing regime)
Previously, Surrey County Council dealt with pavement licensing, but this formal process was suspended to help support businesses. These measures were temporary, lasting until the end of September 2024. Most recently on 31 March 2024 new provisions in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023 were introduced to provide for a permanent pavement licensing regime in England to replace the temporary provisions in the Business and Planning Act 2020 which is undertaken by Waverley Borough Council.
Any business wishing to apply for a new pavement licence will need to make a new application to Waverley. Any business wishing to renew their pavement licence can do this at any time prior to the expiry of their current licence.
You will need to supply a number of supporting documents and provide a copy of a current certificate of insurance that covers third party and public liability risks, to a minimum of £10 million.
New and/or renewal pavement licences may now be granted for a length of Waverley Borough Council's choosing, up to two years.
We publish pavement licence applications so that people can comment or object to your application. They have 7 working days to comment beginning the day after we receive the application electronically.
All licences, including granted licences, are shown on the Public register
The fee for a new pavement licence is £500.
The fee for renewing a pavement licence is £300.