Mobile Traders
Trading in public places
You need a permit to trade from public places within Waipā District. Permits are for three months or 12 months.
You can apply for a permit by clicking here. By submitting an application you are agreeing to pay the new application fee, which includes one site assessment.
If you are applying for multiple sites, additional fees may be charged to assess the extra sites, based on staff time allocated.
Fees for permits, new applications and site assessments are outlined in the annual Fees and Charges schedule.
We only have two pre-approved mobile trading sites:
- Victoria Street, Cambridge (adjacent to Victoria Square)
- Pope Terrace, Cambridge (between Bracken Street and Pengover Avenue).
These are heavily booked most days. You are welcome to apply for these and other locations. A Council officer will assess sites for suitability and availability.
When choosing a 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.
The Waipā District Public Places Bylaw does not allow mobile trading on Council parks and reserves, car parks, or in certain areas in Cambridge and Te Awamutu town centres, except as part of an authorised event. See p35 of the Public Places Bylaw for details. Approval is unlikely for sites on state highways.
Please check the 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, the same as static traders – including signs, tables & chairs in public spaces, and displays of goods.
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.