Businesses can now apply online for a licence or permit to trade.
As part of the implementation of the European Services Directive on 28 December 2009, St Albans City and District Council has updated its processes so that businesses are able to apply for licences and permits to operate electronically.
Market traders, cafes and animal boarding houses are among the businesses that are now able to apply online for a licence, permit or approval to operate in St Albans City and District.
Residents organising charitable collections in the District can also apply electronically for a licence to collect money, either house to house or on the street.
The Directive is aimed at breaking down barriers to trade and specifies that businesses in the European Union must be able to apply electronically for any licences they might need to operate in their own country or other countries within the EU.
At present the Directive in the UK only applies to the following procedures:
• Animal boarding establishment licence
• Caravan & Camping site licence
• Club premises certificates and associated applications
• Cooling tower notification
• Charitable Collections – House to House & Street Collections
• Environmental permitting
• Food premises registration
• Food premises approval
• Licences for houses in multiple occupation
• Market Stall application
• Pet Shop licence
• Premises licences and associated applications
• Riding establishment licence
• Safety certificates for sports grounds
• Sex shop & cinema licence
• Tattooists piercing & electrolysis
• Temporary Events Notices
The Directive does not apply to planning applications (or other applications relating to planning matters), building regulations applications or hackney carriage/private hire applications.
Licensing authorities across the European Economic Area, which includes EU member states and Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, are responsible for making the relevant application forms available online.
Businesses and residents interested in applying for a licence or permit can do so online through Business Link.