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
• to stage a family-friendly animation programme in the city centre if holiday resort designation is approved

When more information is available, we'll publish an update on this page.