Temporary Event Notice

Temporary Events Notices (TENs) limits revert to 2022 allowances

With effect from 1^st January 2024, TENs allowances will revert back to pre-pandemic levels.  Locations will now be limited to 15 events per calendar year totalling a maximum number of 21 days on which temporary events may be held.  Personal allowances remain unchanged.

Serving of TENs over the Christmas and New Year Period 2024-2025

The council offices will close at 12:00 on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will not reopen until 09:00 on Thursday 2 January 2025.  We strongly recommend that notices are submitted at the earliest opportunity.

For those wishing to give a Temporary Event Notice for an event taking place between 12 December 2024 and 17 January 2025, we have produced the table below which provides the latest service dates for both standard and late notices.

Last service dates of TENs 2024/25 (Word doc, 15 KB)

What is a TEN?

A Temporary Event Notice (the 'TEN') is given by a person, referred to as a 'premises user', who proposes to undertake licensable activities for a limited period. This can be at a premises that does not have an existing authorisation under the Licensing Act 2003 (the 'Act'), or indeed from a premises that does where the intention is to offer additional licensable activities and/or alter the existing licensed hours.

Where a TEN is being submitted in relation to a specific area of a large premises or piece of land and it is not clear from the TEN exactly where this area is, we would ask that a suitable plan is provided which clearly shows the exact area.

A 'standard' TEN must ordinarily be given with at least 10 clear working days notice before the date on which the event is to commence. However in some cases a 'late' TEN may be given where the notice period is between 5 and 9 clear working days.  Please note that 'clear working days' does not include the day the TEN is given, the first day of the event or statutory Bank Holidays.  We strongly recommend that TENs are given at the earliest opportunity.

For both 'standard' and 'late' TENs, the following requirements must be met:

• A person who does not hold a Personal Licence may only give five TENs in a calendar year, of which only two can be 'late' TENs; 
• A person who holds a Personal Licence may only give 50 TENs in a calendar year, of which only 10 can be 'late' TENs;
• No premises may be the subject of TENs on more than 15 occasions per calendar year; 
• No premises may be the subject of TENs for more than 21 days per calendar year in total; 
• A maximum of 168 hours can be licensed by way of a single TEN, and there must be at least 24 hours between TENs when submitted by the same person, associate or business colleague in relation to the same premises; and
• No more than 499 people including any staff, organisers, stewards and performers may be in the licensed area at any one time.

Should any of the above requirements not be met we would be unable to acknowledge receipt of the TEN and the proposed licensable activities would not be permitted to take place. The fee for a TEN is non-refundable.  Once a valid TEN has been given, we will acknowledge receipt by returning a copy with an acknowledgement letter.

Sussex Police and the Environmental Protection Team may submit an objection to any TEN on the grounds of any of the four licensing objectives. The purpose of this would be to prevent the licensable activities taking place or in the case of a 'standard' TEN to possibly modify it or attach conditions. In respect of a 'late' TEN there is no ability to modify a TEN and therefore the licensable activities would simply not be permitted to take place.

Recent amendments to the Act have resulted in a number of activities that used to constitute regulated entertainment no longer being licensable. In particular, if you are submitting a TEN for regulated entertainment only, please check whether your proposed activity is licensable by visiting Entertainment Licensing (opens new window).

Giving a TEN

Via the one stop Government website - submit the TEN and make payment:

Apply for a temporary event notice (TEN) licence (opens new window)

Alternatively you can either:

(a) Email a TEN form (L29) to: licensing@chichester.gov.uk (we serve a copy on the other Responsible Authorities) and make the necessary payment. A TEN cannot be processed without both a completed application and the fee having been received.  

A TEN costs £21 and paid online by using the link:

Pay a Temporary Event Notice fee

or by card via our Customer Services Team when visiting the council offices or by telephone on 01243 785166.  From 1 November 2022 cheques will no longer be accepted by Chichester District Council.

(b) Post a TEN form (L29) to:

(i) Licensing Team, Growth and Places, Chichester District Council, East Pallant House, 1 East Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TY.

(ii) Chief Officer of Sussex Police, c/o Licensing Officer, Sussex Police, Centenary House, Durrington Lane, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2PQ (Sussex Police have specifically asked that this address is used, however it is permissible to give a copy at any other Sussex Police station).

(iii) Environmental Protection Team, Planning and the Environment, Chichester District Council, East Pallant House, 1 East Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 1TY.

(c) Submit a TEN form electronically (please remember to download and save a blank form which must then be completed and saved again by you prior to uploading and submission):

L29 Temporary Event Notice Form (v10) (Word doc, 290 KB)

Acknowledgement of notices

Your notice will be acknowledged by email.  This acknowledgement is subject to the statutory consultation period  in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, details of which is contained in the acknowledgement letter attached within the email.

Contact us

For further information and advice email licensing@chichester.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can phone us on 01243 534740.