Licensing FAQs

How do I apply for a licence?

If you go to the licensing webpage and click on the type of licence you are intending to apply for, it will take you to the specific webpage relating to that type of licence. On the page you are redirected to, you will see a section "How Do I Apply?" or "Apply"

Please note that you can apply online for the following types of licences:

• Taxi and Private Hire : Private Hire Car Driver; Private Hire Car; Taxi Driver; Taxi; Substitute a Licensed Vehicle.
• Civic : Short Term Lets
• Liquor : Premises Licence, Provisional Premises, Major Variation, Minor Variation, Personal Licence - New and Renewal, Section 33 or 34 Transfer, Confirmation of Provisional Premises Licence, Extended Hours and Occasional Licence.

Please note that you should seek independent legal advice on whether you require to apply for a licence.

Do I need to pay when I submit my application and what is the application fee?

Yes. Please note that your application will not be processed or officially lodged by the Licensing Authority/Licensing Board until payment has been received. Please read the current application fees and charges which can be viewed here. This document also provides bank account details to which payment should be made.

I have paid too much by BACS transfer, how do I get my money back? 

If you believe you have made an incorrect payment which you require to be refunded please Email with date of payment made, name on account from where payment came from, sort code and account number. Please ensure you put in the email heading - REQUEST FOR REFUND. This will be reviewed by the Licensing Team who will then be in touch with you.

How long can it take for a licence to be processed and determined by the Licensing Authority?

Please see the statutory timescales for the Licensing Authority, detailed below. While the Licensing Authority will aim to determine your application sooner than the timescales detailed below, you should allow for this maximum timescale when lodging your application.

Licensing Authority Applications

If you do not have a receipt for your application payment.

If your application was submitted to the correct email address and payment made to the correct bank account, over 2 weeks ago, please Contact Us.  

If you do have a receipt for your application payment.

• Taxi Licence, Private Hire Car Licence, Taxi Driver or Private Hire Car Driver - The Local Authority has up to 9 months to determine your application.  If you have not heard anything from the Licensing Authority and your application was submitted, paid for and receipt issued over 8 weeks ago please use the Contact Us form.  
• HMO Licence - The Local Authority has up to 12 months to determine your application. If you have not heard anything from the Licensing Section and your application was submitted, paid for and receipt issued over 12 weeks ago, please Contact Us.  
• Skin Piercing and Tattoo Licence - The Licensing Authority has up to 12 months to determine your application. If you have not heard anything from the Licensing Section and your application was submitted, paid for and receipt issued over 12 weeks ago, please Contact Us.  
• All Other Types of Licences - The Licensing Authority has up to 9 months to determine your application. If you have not heard anything from the Licensing Section and your application was submitted, paid for and receipt issued over 6 weeks ago, please Contact Us.  

Licensing Board Applications

• Occasional licence or Extended Hours - the Licensing Board should acknowledge receipt of your application within 1 week of it being submitted and paid for. Please note that given the volume of applications that the Licensing Board receive, you are likely to only hear about the decision of your application a few days before your planned start date/date extended hour is requested for. If your application has been submitted, paid for and receipt issued over 5 weeks ago and  you have not heard anything from the Licensing Board then please Contact Us.  
• Provisional, Premises, Section 33 transfer, Section 34 transfer, Major Variation, Minor Variation and Personal Licence - you will hear from the Licensing Board within 4 weeks of your application being submitted. If you have not heard anything from the Licensing Board and your application was submitted and paid for 4 weeks ago, please Contact Us.
• Gambling Applications - you should hear from the Licensing Board within [insert timescale] of your application being submitted and paid for. If you have not heard anything from the Licensing Board within 3 weeks of your application being submitted and paid for please Contact Us.

The Licensing Section deals with a high volume of applications and enquiries. If you have submitted an email please allow 14 working days for the section to respond to you before submitting a further email of the same topic/nature of enquiry.

How can I find out the number of licences already in place for a certain type of licence?

There are public registers available for the types of licences that can be applied for. The public registers can be found here. The public registers will enable you to do your own analysis.