Bristol City Council to introduce new park business license - here's everything you need to know
Bristol City Council introduces a new fee structure for park business licenses starting this spring.
Bristol City Council has confirmed it will be introducing a Parks Business License fee from April 1 for organisations who use parks and green spaces managed by Bristol City Council.
The license will help ensure that businesses running paid-for activities meet required standards, including appropriate insurance.
The council paused the introduction of the scheme in 2025 following feedback from small businesses.
Following a review, a new revised structure has been designed to be fairer, clearer, and more reflective of the different types of businesses operating across the city’s green spaces.
The updated annual licence fee structure is as follows:
The Downs (Set independently by The Downs Committee):
No license required for commercial dog walking
Paid fitness classes or personal training sessions require an annual Downs licence, charged at:
- £900 for sessions with fewer than 19 participants
- £2,600 for sessions with 20 or more participants
All other parks and green spaces:
For outdoor commercial activities (excluding commercial dog walking):
- Single park: £400 + VAT, reduced by 50 per cent for eligible Bristol‑based small businesses
- Up to seven parks: £600 + VAT, reduced by 50 per cent for eligible Bristol‑based small businesses
- Eight to 15 parks: £800 + VAT
For commercial dog walking:
- Up to seven parks: £300 + VAT, reduced by 50 per cent for eligible Bristol‑based small businesses
- Eight to 15 parks: £500 + VAT
Bristol-based small businesses with an annual turnover under £25,000 who operate in seven or less Bristol parks and green spaces will be offered a 50% discount.
If there are no changes to the licence the following year, the cost will be lower as the one‑off application fee (£50 plus VAT) will not be charged again.
Licensing at The Downs will be determined by maximum capacity of the session, regardless of attendance levels, and will be issued to the business rather than to individual trainers.
Businesses operating on both The Downs and in other Bristol parks will need to pay both sets of fees.
As part of the license, commercial walkers will be limited to walking up to four dogs per license at any one time to ensure dogs can be safely managed, protect other park users, and reduce the risk of incidents in busy public spaces.
Councillor Stephen Williams, Chair of the Public Health and Communities Committee said: “We are grateful to the businesses who completed their application forms for Parks Business Licensing.
“The information they shared gave us a much clearer picture of where our original fee structure needed adjusting. We’ve listened closely to the businesses that rely on our parks to deliver their services, and these updates reflect what they told us.
“Importantly, the new 50 per cent discount for smaller Bristol‑based businesses is a constructive and supportive change that acknowledges the realities many smaller organisations experience.
“I believe that this revised approach strikes the right balance; supporting smaller local businesses while continuing to protect the quality, safety, and accessibility of our much‑loved green spaces.”
For more information about the new Parks Business License and to apply, visit bristol.gov.uk/parks-business-licence