Regulations · 3 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Do you need planning permission or a licence for a marquee?
Planning permission: the short answer
Planning permission is about building works and changes of use of land. A marquee that goes up for a weekend event and comes down again is temporary, and for a private party in a residential garden it is normally treated as part of the ordinary use of the home.
Things change when land is used commercially. In England, permitted development rights allow land to be used temporarily for other purposes for up to 28 days in a calendar year, with moveable structures such as marquees allowed for that use. That right does not apply within the curtilage of a building, and other conditions apply, so a farm field or estate hosting regular weddings beyond those limits may need planning permission. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Building regulations
In England and Wales, a building that is not intended to remain where it is erected for more than 28 days is exempt from building regulations. Most event marquees fall within that exemption. A marquee left up for a whole season, or used as a semi-permanent function room, is a different matter and should be discussed with the council's building control team.
Being exempt from building regulations does not mean anything goes. The structure still has to be designed and installed safely, and the hire company's own calculations and checks cover that.
Temporary Event Notices for alcohol
A Temporary Event Notice, known as a TEN, lets you carry out licensable activities, such as selling alcohol, providing regulated entertainment to the public, or late-night refreshment, without a full premises licence. Giving free drinks to guests at a private wedding does not usually need one. Selling drinks, even at cost through a cash bar, usually does.
| TEN rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Maximum people at any one time | 499, including staff |
| Maximum length of each event | 168 hours, which is 7 days |
| Standard notice to the council | At least 10 working days before |
| Late notice | 5 to 9 working days before, with no appeal if police or environmental health object |
| Fee | £21 per notice |
| Per premises each year | 15 notices, covering no more than 21 days in total |
| Per person each year | 5, or 50 for personal licence holders |
Many caterers and mobile bars apply for the TEN themselves. Ask who is responsible when you book.
A TEN is given to the council's licensing team, and copies go to the police and environmental health, who can object on licensing grounds. Most councils let you apply online. Give it as early as you can, because working days exclude weekends and bank holidays, the day you submit and the day of the event.
Music and entertainment
Music at a private party that is not open to the public and not run to make a profit does not usually need a licence. For public events, live and recorded music can be licensable, although there are exemptions for smaller audiences at certain times of day. If you are selling tickets, check with the council's licensing team.
Whatever the licensing position, noise nuisance law still applies, so keep music at a sensible level, especially late at night.
Public and larger events
Larger public events, such as festivals, shows and fun days, often go through the council's Safety Advisory Group, which may ask for an event management plan, site plan, risk assessment and details of temporary structures, including the marquee supplier's calculations and installation sign-off.
Martyn's Law, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, will also bring new duties for qualifying public events where 800 or more people are expected at the same time. The Act became law in April 2025 with an implementation period expected to last at least 24 months, so the duties are not yet in force.
A quick checklist
- Private party in your own garden, free drinks: usually no planning, no building regulations, no TEN
- Cash bar or ticketed event: likely needs a TEN or premises licence
- Public event in a park or on council land: contact the events team early, often months ahead
- Field used for repeated commercial events: check permitted development limits and planning
- Marquee staying up longer than 28 days: speak to building control
- Listed building or conservation area: check with the council if anything is fixed to the building
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell the council about a marquee in my garden?
For a private party or wedding where the marquee is up for a few days, there is usually no need to notify the council. If you are selling alcohol, holding a public or ticketed event, or the marquee will stay up for weeks, check with the council's planning, licensing or building control team first.
Can a hire company put a marquee on a public park?
Yes, with the landowner's permission, which for parks usually means the council's events or parks team. Expect to provide a site plan, risk assessment, public liability insurance details and the marquee supplier's safety information, and to book well in advance. Some councils also charge a site fee.
Does a wedding in a marquee need a licence to be legal?
The ceremony itself is different from the reception. In England and Wales, a legal marriage ceremony must currently take place at an approved venue, a register office or a place of worship, so many couples hold a short legal ceremony elsewhere and a celebration in the marquee. Rules differ in Scotland, so check with your registrar.
planning permission temporary event notice licensing rules
