Explosives licence - West Midlands Fire Service

What is an explosives licence?

An explosives licence is a document that allows the holder to store and/or manufacture explosives. The holder of an explosives licence is the person that makes sure its conditions are being met.

The easiest way to apply for an explosive licence is to complete online application form on the ‘how to apply’ tab. If you’re applying for the first time for your premises, part of the process includes a site inspection by one of our officers. Our guidance notes answer some of the most frequently asked questions, so please read them thoroughly before you start to apply to ensure you choose the correct licence and give us the details we need.

You should only use our application form if you want to store less than 2000kg of explosives, and it should not be used to store the explosives listed in Note 1 of the guidance notes.

Further information is available from the Health and Safety Executive website.

For queries, e-mail explosives@wmfs.net.

How to apply

You can apply for your explosives licence on our website. To do this, click the ‘Apply for an explosives licence’ button below and complete the online form.

For renewals and year-round fireworks licences, online payment with a credit or debit card is required when you complete the form. For new licences, payment is completed following receipt of your application and the relevant checks or site inspections are carried out.

All fees paid to us for licences and certificates are non-refundable, so please ensure you choose the correct licence and enter your details carefully.

For additional guidance around your application please email explosives@wmfs.net

Apply for an explosives licence

Licence Types and Guidance

There are three main license applications which can be applied for via our website. One for a NEW standard storage license within prescribed periods (periods are detailed in the guidance section), up to 2000kg.

The second is a RENEWAL standard storage license within prescribed periods, up to 2000kg (this applies if you have an existing licence which has not yet expired and your circumstances and premises have not changed).

The third is an additional application required when you wish to sell fireworks all year-round, rather then just within prescribed periods. To apply for this licence, you will require a current standard storage licence, before you apply.

For applications requiring more than 2000kg of storage, this is done through the Health and Safety Executive. More details on licence types and how to apply with them if you need to can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.

For a new or renewal licence, in addition to completing the online application form you will also need to attach the following documents to your form, an upload area is provided within the online form to do this, so have them ready when you complete it -:

You should include a plan to a scale that suitably shows the location of your site in relation to its surroundings. If your site doesn’t have a postal address, the scale should normally be a minimum of 1:25000.
Where stores are identified as needing to maintain separation distances, you should also include an Ordnance Survey site plan (or similar.) This should include the location of the store and distances to any neighbouring buildings. The plan should show any areas where you intend to process or manufacture explosives where a licence for those activities is not required under regulation 6 of ER2014. The scale will depend on the separation distance. For a distance of up to 200 metres, a 1:1250 would normally be required while greater distance would require a 1:2500 or even a SuperPlan. Where this plan clearly identifies the location of the site in relation to its surroundings it can be substituted for the plan referred to in 6 above.
Where applicants are planning to store or display more than 12.5kg of fireworks on a shop floor, you’ll need to include a floor plan of the sales area.
If you intend to store, process or manufacture explosives within a building that is also used for other purposes you should include a floor plan showing the places within the building where you intend storing, processing or manufacturing the explosives.

There are three main license applications which can be applied for via our website. One for a NEW standard storage license within prescribed periods (periods are detailed in the guidance section), up to 2000kg.

The second is a RENEWAL standard storage license within prescribed periods, up to 2000kg (this applies if you have an existing licence which has not yet expired and your circumstances and premises have not changed).

The third is an additional application required when you wish to sell fireworks all year-round, rather then just within prescribed periods. To apply for this licence, you will require a current standard storage licence, before you apply.

For applications requiring more than 2000kg of storage, this is done through the Health and Safety Executive. More details on licence types and how to apply with them if you need to can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.

For a new or renewal licence, in addition to completing the online application form you will also need to attach the following documents to your form, an upload area is provided within the online form to do this, so have them ready when you complete it -:

You should include a plan to a scale that suitably shows the location of your site in relation to its surroundings. If your site doesn’t have a postal address, the scale should normally be a minimum of 1:25000.
Where stores are identified as needing to maintain separation distances, you should also include an Ordnance Survey site plan (or similar.) This should include the location of the store and distances to any neighbouring buildings. The plan should show any areas where you intend to process or manufacture explosives where a licence for those activities is not required under regulation 6 of ER2014. The scale will depend on the separation distance. For a distance of up to 200 metres, a 1:1250 would normally be required while greater distance would require a 1:2500 or even a SuperPlan. Where this plan clearly identifies the location of the site in relation to its surroundings it can be substituted for the plan referred to in 6 above.
Where applicants are planning to store or display more than 12.5kg of fireworks on a shop floor, you’ll need to include a floor plan of the sales area.
If you intend to store, process or manufacture explosives within a building that is also used for other purposes you should include a floor plan showing the places within the building where you intend storing, processing or manufacturing the explosives.

Apply for an explosives licence

Licence Charges

New storage and sales licences (within prescribed periods)

Under 250kg nec	1 year	£113
	2 years	£147
	3 years	£181
	4 years	£215
	5 years	£248

Above £250kg nec	1 year	£193
	2 years	£253
	3 years	£317
	4 years	£390
	5 years	£441

Renewal storage and sales licences (within prescribed periods)

Under 250kg nec	1 year	£56
	2 years	£90
	3 years	£125
	4 years	£158
	5 years	£193

Above £250kg nec	1 year	£90
	2 years	£153
	3 years	£215
	4 years	£278
	5 years	£340

Licence for all-year-round sales

Selling Licence

1 year

£500

All payments for licences are taken electronically by our website. In the case of renewal or year-round licences, these are taken at the point your application is completed online. For new licences, payment is requested from you following a review of your application and a site visit, but you will be directed to pay electronically.

What is an explosives licence?

How to apply

Licence Types and Guidance

Licence Charges

Apply for an explosives licence

Choose your language