Regulations
Licensing
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 came into effect on the 26 March 2020.
Whilst we hope that Brentwood residents and business fully comply with these regulations, Brentwood Borough Council alongside colleagues at Essex Police have enforcement responsibilities to ensure compliance.
To report non-compliance around business closure, please email details to licensing@brentwood.gov.uk, for non-compliance around public gatherings and restrictions on movement please refer to Essex Police.
There are a number of licences required for certain establishments, such as food premises, places that provide entertainment or sell alcohol, tattooists, and animal establishments. For details of these licences, please visit the Licensing section.
There are also a number of licences required for other activities, such as banners, hoardings, scaffolding, signs and skips. Please visit Essex County Council Highways website for further information.
Regulations
Information about all aspects of health and safety, food hygiene regulations and pollution can be found on this website.
For information about building regulation applications and site inspections, visit the Building Control pages of the Building and Planning Section.
For fire safety advice visit the Fire Safety Advice Centre website.
Waste
For information about the collection of commercial waste visit the Business Waste page or find out about recycling opportunities.
'A' board policy
Brentwood Borough Council has adopted Essex County Council's A Board Policy pdf which covers the placement of advertising boards on the publicly maintainable highway.
Sunday trading laws
Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994 the limits on shop opening hours are:
- Small shops (under 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) - no restrictions on opening
- Large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) - Monday to Saturday - no restrictions; Sunday - Opening for 6 continual hours only, between 10am and 6pm; Easter Sunday - closed
In addition to regulating opening by large shops on Sunday, the Sunday Trading Act 1994 prohibits large shops from opening on Easter Sunday.
The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 came into force in 2004. The Act prohibits large shops (over 280 sq m/3,000 sq ft) from opening on Christmas Day.
Large shops in England and Wales are no longer required to give prior written notification to the local authority of their Sunday opening hours or change in these hours.
What goods can be sold on a Sunday?
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates shop opening hours. It does not regulate the sale of particular goods. The 1994 Act removed a number of anomalies which existed under the Sunday trading provisions of the Shops Act 1950, which prohibited the sale of some goods but not other, often similar, goods. Sale of certain goods, such as alcohol, is subject to separate legislation.
What are the rules governing alcohol sales on a Sunday?
Neither the sale of alcohol nor shops whose trade or business consists wholly or mainly of the sale of alcohol are regulated by the Sunday Trading Act 1994. They are regulated by separate legislation under the Licensing Act 2003.
How does Sunday Trading Act affect street markets, car boot sales etc?
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 regulates shop opening hours. It does not regulate street markets or car boot sales. These are subject to separate local planning legislation.
Why are large garden centres not able to open on Easter Sunday?
This was considered by Parliament in 1994 during the passage of the Sunday Trading Bill. An amendment proposing that large garden centres should be exempt from closing on Easter Sunday was defeated on a free vote in both Houses.
Why is there special protection for Sunday working in shops?
The protections in the Sunday Trading Act 1994 reflected the fact that the conditions of shop workers were being changed by legislation. The law had created new circumstances for employees which were contrary to their previous expectations. These Provisions were consolidated into the Employment Rights Act 1996, whereby shop workers (other than those employed to work solely on Sundays) have the right to refuse to work on Sundays.
For more information, please see Trading Hours for Retailers: The Law