FAQs

Seasonal and temporary trading refers to short-term business activities operating on specified areas of public land, such as pop-up retail, equipment hire, wellness activities, and mobile food vendors. These activities are designed to activate public spaces, enhance the visitor experience, and provide opportunities for small businesses to trial new ideas in Fremantle.

The updated policy expands the City's existing Seasonal Trading framework to better reflect how public spaces are used in key areas within Fremantle. It introduces a more flexible and inclusive approach that supports a broader range of trading activities, improves consistency in decision-making, and ensures trading continues to align with community expectations, local amenity, and Fremantle’s identity as a destination city.

The updated Seasonal & Temporary Trading Program follows a set of proposed guiding principles which forms the criteria for assessing applications. These guiding principles will deliver the best outcome for the community, visitors, and traders. Traders who wish to apply for a seasonal trading permit must ensure their proposed activity is aligned with the following criteria: 

Expanded scope to include more trading types

The policy moves beyond “seasonal trading” to a broader “seasonal and temporary trading” framework, explicitly including mobile food vendors and a wider range of pop-up and short-term business activities.

More flexible approach to trading opportunities

In addition to the seasonal Expression of Interest (EOI) process, the draft policy allows for occasional trading at vacant locations outside set timeframes, improving responsiveness to demand and opportunities. 

Introduction of trial locations

New provisions enable the City to trial new trading locations for up to 12 months, allowing innovative uses of public space to be tested before being permanently added to the program. 

Stronger, more consistent assessment framework

The policy formalises and reinforces guiding principles (e.g. accessibility, uniqueness, safety, sustainability, suitability), ensuring a more transparent and consistent approach to how applications are assessed. 

Clearer alignment with community benefit and place outcomes

There is an increased emphasis on ensuring trading enhances amenity, supports local vibrancy, and delivers a net community benefit, while continuing to avoid direct competition with existing businesses. 

Improved clarity on where and how trading can occur

The draft policy provides a more detailed and structured framework around approved locations, operator limits, and seasonal use, helping manage impacts on public space and surrounding areas.

Trading is only permitted in approved locations across the City, including beaches, foreshore areas, parks, and other high-activity public spaces. Each location has specific limits on the number and type of operators to ensure activities are appropriate to the setting and do not impact access, safety, or surrounding uses.

To view the Fremantle locations where season trading is permitted, please consult the draft Seasonal & Temporary Trading Policy 2026.

Traders apply through a seasonal Expression of Interest (EOI) process. Applications are competitively assessed based on how well they meet the policy’s criteria, including offering something unique, filling a gap in the market, and contributing positively to the area. Successful applicants then go through an operational approval process to ensure compliance and safety before trading begins.

All applications are assessed against clear guiding principles, including amenity, safety, sustainability, and suitability to the location. A key objective is to ensure traders complement—not compete with—existing local businesses, while minimising noise, congestion, and other potential impacts on residents and public space users.

Yes. The draft policy introduces the ability to trial new trading locations for up to 12 months. This allows the City to test whether a site is suitable and beneficial before making it a permanent approved location, creating opportunities for innovation while managing impacts.