Licensing and gambling

Common licensing enquiries

• Taxi licensingFor information on taxi licensing, applications or making a complaint
• HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) Use this form to: find out if your property needs an HMO licence, calculate the licence type and fee, apply for an HMO licence or renew an HMO licence you already have.
• Objects on the Highway - Tables & Chairs, A-Boards Get a licence to display advertising or have tables and chairs outside your business.
• Skips and Scaffolding You need a licence to use a lot of common building aids by a public highway.
• Drones are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority.
• Metal detecting Advice about licensing for metal detecting from the National Council for Metal Detecting.

Licensing Act 2003

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic no one is in the office at the moment, so please apply online for a premises licence. 

• Apply for a premises licence What you need to know when you or someone else applies to licence a premises for alcohol, music, dancing or sports; and how to comment on them
• Make changes to a premises licence If you are taking over a business that already has a licence, or are changing the details of a licence, you need to let us know
• Personal licences The final stage of the process to licence yourself. The requirement to renew personal licences ended on 1 April 2015
• ­Temporary event notices Short-term licensing of your premises for alcohol, music, dancing or sports
• Make a complaint about a licensed premises Help making a representation about a licensing application or requesting a licence review
• Public register of licences and applications Find details for venues that have, or have applied for, licences for alcohol, music, dancing or sports
• Notification of an interest in premises Section 178 of the Licensing Act 2003 allows for a right of freeholder etc. to be notified of licensing matters
• Film classification How to ask us to give an age rating to a film

Other business licences

Non-Licensing Act 2003

• Valley Gardens Christmas market Apply for a licence to operate the Valley Gardens Christmas market

• Street trading Find out what licences you need to sell food or trade in the city. Includes pedlars and static pitches.
• Food business registration
• Sex establishments and sexual entertainment venues Apply to run a sex establishment or sexual entertainment venue.
• Scrap metal dealers Get a licence to deal scrap metal and learn the regulations about selling scrap metal.
• Skin piercing How to license tattoo, piercing, acupuncture, electrolysis or any similar body modification business.
• Lotteries and raffles You can register a lottery or raffle with us if it's for sporting or charity purposes and the value of ticket sales won't be over £20,000.
• Street collections You need to apply for a permit to collect money for charity on the street, 28 days before the collection date..
• House to House collections You need to apply for a permit to collect money for charity from people's houses, which will last for up to one year.

Animal licences

• Commercial boarding and domestic boarding You may need a licence if your business provides accommodation for other people's cats or dogs.
• Dog breeding You need a licence if your business breeds dogs, either at home or in a commercial property.
• Dangerous wild animals You need a licence to keep any animal listed in the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
• Performing animals You may need a licence if your business keeps animals to show to an audience, like at schools or private parties.
• Pet shops You need a licence if your business sells animals as pets, or if they'll be resold as pets in the future.
• Riding establishments You need a riding establishment licence if your business provides horses for riding, like riding schools or donkey rides.
• Zoos Apply for a licence to run a zoo as a business in the city, renew your licence or make a change to an existing licence.

Gambling licences

• Gambling Premises Licences Apply to license your premises for gambling, including bingo clubs, casinos, betting shops, tracks, family entertainment centres, etc
• Gaming machines Licensing of Amusement With Prizes equipment (gambling machines)
• Gambling Public Register and applications received Find details for venues that have, or have applied for, licences for gambling

Premises licences for gambling will be in addition to other licensing.

• Gambling Act 2005: An outline of the Gambling Act 2005 including the Gambling Policy (Statement of Principles) 2019 to 2021 (PDF 415KB)
• Gambling commission guidance

Local risk assessments

From 6 April 2016, it is a requirement of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), under Section 10, for licensees to assess the local risks to the licensing objectives posed by the provision of gambling facilities at their premises and have policies, procedures and control measures to mitigate those risks. In making risk assessments, licensees must take into account relevant matters identified in the gambling policy.

We have updated our gambling policy to include guidance on producing a risk assessment and using the local area profile, including what we would expect as a minimum.

You can download the Local Area Profile (DOCX 486KB) (LAP) from the BHconnected website. The LAP is evidence based and maps local risks to the area.

Environmental Health Service standards

See our Environmental Health Service standards to find out what you can expect from the team.