Renew or apply for a pavement licence

Pavement Licences allow businesses to place removable furniture on the pavement on certain types of public Highway outside their premises for the sales and consumption of food and drink. These licences can not be granted for private land.

Before making an application, read the following information:

• After submitting your application, details from the form will be published on our website so that the public and specific consultees, such as Ward Councillors and the emergency services, will have 14 days to make representations regarding your application.
• After this consultation period, the council will then have a further 14 days to determine whether or not to grant the licence.
  • If a decision is not made in time, the licence will be automatically granted subject to the standard conditions.
• If you wish to allow your customers to smoke in your licensed area, you must also include a non-smoking area in your plans.
• On the day you submit your application, you will be sent a site notice which must be printed and displayed on the premises on the same calendar day.
  • The notice must be displayed where it can be easily read by those not on the premises, and it must remain displayed for 15 consecutive days (the day of application and the 14 days following).
• You must then take a photo of your correctly displayed notice and add it to your application using either your Brum Account or the link we will send to you. This must also be done on the day of application.
  • Failure to take evidence of the timely and correct display of your notice may lead to your application being considered as incomplete and returned to you undetermined.

Note: application fees are not refundable if the application is refused or invalid, or if the licence is subsequently surrendered or revoked.

Detailed information about the process including the standard conditions can be found in the policy document.

Special events

All Pavement Licences will be subject to a standard condition requiring their businesses to cease operating their licensed area for street maintenance and highways works and special events, such as parades, marathons and Christmas attractions. Be mindful of this when considering making an application.

Make an application

If you want to track progress on your application, you can log in to, or register for a BRUM account.

If you are renewing or amending an existing licence you will need the reference number for the existing application.

1. Start your application

Look at the map to begin.

The map will show a 2-mile area around Birmingham city centre by default.

2. Find and plot the location

There are 2 ways to find the location.

1. Use the "Search for a place" box
   Type a postcode or road name in the search box.
   If you know the property number, include it too.
2. Manual search
   Explore the map and zoom in to mark the location.
   On the left side of the map, you will find the tools:
   • Zoom buttons. Use the plus and minus buttons to zoom in and out.
     Mobile users can also pinch to zoom.
   • Find my location circle. Use this to zoom to where you are right now
   To move around the map, click or tap and drag.

Click or tap the map to plot the location. A marker will appear.

3. Submit your application

Once you have plotted the location on the map, select "Submit new enquiry" to start the form.

If you're using an older browser such as Internet Explorer 10 or earlier, the map might not appear. Try using a newer browser for the best experience.

If you have any enquiries, email citycentre@birmingham.gov.uk

Page last updated: 4 October 2024