Sunday trading

Trading on Sundays in Belfast

Shops with a floor space of more than 280 square metres can sell goods on Sunday from 1pm to 6pm. Shops must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, if it falls on a Sunday.

Some larger stores can trade on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, including:

• shops selling motor and cycle supplies and accessories
• registered pharmacies
• petrol stations
• airport, port or railway station shops.

Holiday resort designation

At a council meeting in July 2025, we agreed to consider progressing holiday resort designation for Belfast. This status could allow shops, with floor space over 280 square metres, to open longer on Sundays for 18 weeks during the summer.

We also agreed to consult the public, businesses and stakeholders on holiday resort designation.

Following a public consultation, we agreed to designate the Belfast City Council area as a holiday resort on Sunday 2 August and Sunday 9 August, during Fleadh Cheoil. This means large stores can open at 11am on those days, so everyone can shop earlier and for longer. 

You must notify us if you plan to open on these Sundays.

We also agreed that a working group would be set up with relevant stakeholders and trade unions to further engage on the issues raised during the consultation, including looking at a city centre animation programme, funding options and a review of the pilot by the end of October 2026.

The Shops Sunday Trading (NI) Order

Under this legislation, the occupier of a large shop (more than 280m² retail floor space) located in an area designated as a Holiday Resort may apply to us for permission to open on several Sundays per year outside the usual restricted hours. 

Normally, large shops may only trade between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays. Individual owners can determine their opening hours in response to customer demand.

Fleadh Belfast – Temporary Sunday trading extension

We have extended Sunday trading hours during Fleadh Cheoil in August 2026 (Sunday 2 and Sunday 9 August). On these two dates, eligible large shops within the designated area may open outside normal restricted Sunday hours, subject to notifying us.

Restrictions on the sale of beer, wine and spirits are governed by Liquor Licensing conditions and not by Sunday Trading legislation. Premises should refer to their Liquor Licence for specific requirements.

Exemptions for large shops

Some large shops are exempt from Sunday trading hour restrictions. 

Exemptions apply to:

• off-licences selling only or mainly alcohol
• outlets in airports and railway stations
• service station outlets
• registered pharmacies selling only medicinal products and medical or surgical appliances
• farms selling mainly their own produce
• outlets selling motor or bicycle supplies and accessories
• suppliers of goods to aircraft or sea-going vessels arriving at or departing from ports, harbours or airports
• exhibition stands selling goods

Notify us online

Large shops (over 280 square metres) that want to make use of additional Sunday trading hours during the Fleadh (Sunday 2 and Sunday 9 August), must complete our online form to notify us.

You need to tell us:

• the Sundays that you intend to open
• your proposed opening hours

You need to complete an online form for each of your premises if you have more than one.

Notify us

Public register

We will maintain a register of shops which will be available from:

Place and Economy Department - Belfast City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone number: 028 9032 0202

• Find out more about how to prepare your business for the Fleadh