Mobile Traders
Mobile trading is the activity of offering goods or services for sale from any vehicle that is regularly moved. You need a permit to trade from public places within the Waipā District.
Apply for a mobile trading permit
Anyone wanting to operate as a mobile trader from a public place is required to obtain a mobile trading permit first.
Permits can be issued on a temporary basis for 3 months or for 12 months (annual permit), which can be renewed annually on the anniversary date of the permit.
Fees for annual permits and renewals is outlined in the annual Fees and Charges Schedule.
New applications will also incur a new application fee due to the extra administration involved. This fee will be payable once the application is created and will be sent by email.
To apply for a new mobile trading permit or to renew an existing permit click on the online application form below.
Please ensure you provide detailed information about where you intend to trade as part of your application.
Before you apply for a mobile trading permit
Mobile traders intending on selling ‘ready-to-eat’ foods or beverages for immediate consumption must operate under a registered food control plan or a national programme under the Food Act 2014 - visit Council’s Food Licensing page for more information.
Please note that the registration is required before the permit application can be completed.
Pre- approved sites and other locations
We only have five pre-approved mobile trading sites:
- Victoria Street, Cambridge (adjacent to Victoria Square)
- Victoria Street – near the intersection with Taylor Street
- Pope Terrace, Cambridge (between Bracken Street and Pengover Avenue)
- Mutu Street – opposite Memorial Park
- Lyon Street – layby near Leslie Street
These areas have limited spaces and are in high demand for trader use and may be subject to a booking system. You are welcome to apply for these sites or nominate other locations. The Council Officer will assess sites for safety, suitability, and availability.
When nominating another location, think about road safety as well as business potential. You need to be completely off the road and have enough room for your vehicle and for your customers to safely pull in and out of the space.
The site should be visible from a good distance in both directions so customers can give other road users plenty of warning before pulling in or out.
Be aware of any risks for customers walking between their car and your trading vehicle.
General conditions and trading restrictions
There are some conditions which apply to the issuing of mobile trading permits:
- A permit is not transferrable to any other person/s. If you purchase a Mobile Trading business, you will be required to apply for your own licence to trade.
- Trading is not permitted in the Central Business areas of Te Awamutu and Cambridge as per Schedule 1 - Prohibited Locations for Mobile Traders of the Public Places Bylaw, except as part of a Council approved event.
- Trading is not permitted in any Council reserve or park or carpark, except with the prior written permission of Council.
- Trading is not permitted within 100 metres of any shop selling similar goods (i.e. a coffee cart outside a café).
- The location of mobile trading will not impede or inconvenience the flow of traffic, pedestrians or customers and must not breach any Bylaw or traffic legislation.
- Any sign or stalls must be set back at least two metres from the edge of seal of the road.
- The Mobile Trading Permit shall be carried by the operator when trading and shall be produced on request.
Please check the full list of Standard Terms and Conditions for Mobile Trading before submitting a permit application. Mobile traders are also expected to comply with all aspects of the Public Places Bylaw, when undertaking activities in public places in Waipā.
Council will monitor activities in public places regularly to ensure compliance of permit conditions.
Trading on private property
You can trade from private property, with the owner’s permission, without a permit from Waipā District Council. However, for the safety of all road users, we still ask you to consider the road safety requirements above.
If the site is not zoned for commercial activity, you may need land use consent. Please contact our Planning team for more information about this.