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Car Boot Sales

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 grants a general permission for temporary use of a site - including clay pigeon shooting - for up to 28 days in any calendar year. The period is restricted to 14 days in the case of car boot sales and motor sports. 14 days can cover every Saturday or Sunday from the beginning of June to the end of August. 28 days can cover most Saturdays or Sundays through the entire year. 

A car boot sale is regarded in law as a temporary market and it is required by law to inform the Council and where necessary obtain a temporary licence. There are 4 exceptions to this rule:- 

-           The Car Boot Sale is to be held inside a building; 

-           It is to be held on a public road (where the approval of the County Council may be required);  

-           The proceeds from the sale of articles (not pitch fees) are to be used for charitable, social, sporting or political purposes 

-           Less than 5 vehicles are involved. 

The holding of a Car Boot Sale without having given the requisite notice may render both the operator and occupier of land liable to prosecution under Section 37 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1982. 

From a planning perspective it is often misunderstood that the permitted development rights cannot be applied to each field on a holding, rather it applies to the holding in its entirety.