FOI & EIR Requests for Cardiff Licensing Records

Business and Consumer Protection Wales 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of Wales

This guide explains how to request licensing records from Cardiff, Wales under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR). It summarizes the council process, likely timescales, common exemptions, and who to contact for premises, taxi or other licensing records. Use the official Cardiff Council guidance to submit a request and the ICO guidance for statutory rights and remedies [1].

Penalties & Enforcement

Cardiff Council publishes procedures for handling information requests and enforces licensing offences via its Licensing and Regulatory services. Specific fine levels for failure to provide information or for licensing breaches are not set out on the Cardiff FOI or Licensing pages and are therefore not specified on the cited page.[2]

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page; amounts for licensing breaches may derive from primary legislation or regulations.
  • Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offences are handled per the relevant licensing regime; specific ranges not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: suspension or revocation of licences, enforcement notices, seizure of goods and prosecution in magistrates courts.
  • Enforcer: Cardiff Council Licensing Team and Environmental Health; complaints and inspection pathways are on the council licensing pages.[2]
  • Appeals and review: licensing decisions usually have appeal routes to the Magistrates Court or via statutory appeal procedures; ICO can review FOI handling for information requests.[3]
If a fee or exemption is claimed, the council must explain the legal basis in its response.

Applications & Forms

Application forms for licences (for example premises licences, taxi licences, gambling permits) and guidance are published on the Cardiff Licensing pages; where a public register or record extract exists you may be directed to that resource.[2]

  • Where to find forms: Cardiff Council licensing pages list application forms and guidance documents.
  • Fees: individual licence fees are listed per licence type on the licensing pages; if a fee for disclosure applies the council will state it.
  • Deadlines: FOI/EIR responses are subject to statutory deadlines (usually 20 working days for FOI; EIR timescales may differ) — see ICO guidance for exact counts.

How to request licensing records

Use a clear written request addressed to Cardiff Council specifying the records, dates, and licence numbers where known. State whether you are making the request under FOI or EIR if you can; otherwise the council will determine the appropriate regime. For legal standards and internal review rights consult the ICO guidance on FOI/EIR.[1]

Be as specific as possible about the licence type and date range to speed up the council search.

Action steps

  • Prepare: note licence holder name, licence number, address and date range.
  • Submit: use the Cardiff Council FOI/EIR request route or the licensing contact form on the council site.[1]
  • Wait: FOI responses are typically within 20 working days unless extended under exemptions.
  • Review: if refused, ask for an internal review, then the ICO can be contacted for a decision if unresolved.[3]

FAQ

Can I request licensing records held by Cardiff Council?
Yes. You can request licensing records under FOI or EIR; sensitive personal data may be redacted in line with data protection rules.
How long will the council take to respond?
FOI responses are normally within 20 working days; EIR timescales can differ and the council will state the applicable deadline in its acknowledgement.
Will I have to pay a fee?
Most FOI requests are free, but the council may charge for reproduction or where a statutory fee for a licensing copy applies; the council must state any charge in advance.

How-To

  1. Identify the licence type, licence number and the records you need.
  2. Complete the Cardiff FOI/EIR request form or send a written request to the council’s information access contact.[1]
  3. Track the deadline and, if necessary, request an internal review within the council.
  4. Escalate to the ICO if the internal review does not resolve the matter.[3]

Key Takeaways

  • Requests for licensing records are handled under FOI or EIR and may be subject to redaction.
  • FOI statutory deadline is typically 20 working days; check ICO guidance for exact rules.

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