Do I Need Planning Permission for a Mobile Catering Van?

by Liz Price
(Torfaen)

Planning Permission for Mobile Catering

Liz asked: "I own land which has a farm shop and mini industrial site. I want to put a mobile catering van on the land to serve our customers and workers but I'm unsure whether I need planning permission for this."

Hiya Liz, great question — and your situation is actually one of the better ones when it comes to planning permission.

It depends on where you are planning to set up. Here is the simple version:

Trading on a public street?
You don't need planning permission. But you do need a Street Trading Licence or Consent from your local council.

Trading on someone else's private land?
Like a car park, industrial estate, or outside a shop? Usually you don't need planning permission for this. You just need the landowner's written permission to be there. But if it's going to be a permanent spot (every day, long term), the council might argue it's a "change of use" — so it's worth checking.

Trading from your own land (like your farm shop)?
This is your situation, Liz. Because your land already has commercial use (farm shop and industrial site), putting a mobile catering van there is much less likely to need planning permission than if it was residential land. The key word is "mobile" — if the van has wheels and could be moved, most councils treat it differently to a permanent fixed structure.

That said, if the van stays in one spot permanently and becomes a fixture, some councils might see it as a change of use or an additional commercial use that needs permission.

Trading at events, markets, or festivals?
No planning permission needed. The event organiser handles all of that.

Setting up a permanent fixed unit (not mobile)?
If you are putting a shipping container, portacabin, or fixed trailer on a piece of land, you will almost certainly need planning permission.

The golden rule: If you are mobile — you move around, you pack up at the end of the day — you are far less likely to need planning permission. If you are staying put in one place permanently, planning permission is much more likely to be needed.

What I would suggest for your situation:
Since your land already has commercial activity, you are in a strong position. Try contacting your council's planning department in writing (since they said they don't answer over the phone) and ask specifically: "Do I need planning permission to place a mobile catering van on land that already has an established farm shop and commercial use?" Put it in an email so you have a record of their answer.

Best thing to do? Ring your council's planning department and tell them exactly what you want to do. They will give you a straight answer.

Disclaimer: This is general advice for UK mobile catering. Planning rules vary between councils, so always check with your local authority.

Try the free MobCater App — our startup guide covers planning, pitches and licences step by step: https://www.mobcater.co.uk/mobile-catering.html