{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/localism-act-2011/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/localism-act-2011/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2011/20",
  "legislation_title": "Localism Act 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/localism-act-2011",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Limits on doing things for commercial purpose in exercise of general power",
  "text": "(1) The general power confers power on a local authority , combined authority, CCA , or English National Park authority, or the Broads Authority, to do things for a commercial purpose only if they are things which the authority may, in exercise of the general power, do otherwise than for a commercial purpose.\n(2) Where, in exercise of the general power, a local authority , combined authority, CCA , or English National Park authority, or the Broads Authority, does things for a commercial purpose, the authority must do them through a company.\n(3) A local authority , combined authority, CCA , or English National Park authority, or the Broads Authority, may not, in exercise of the general power, do things for a commercial purpose in relation to a person if a statutory provision requires the authority to do those things in relation to the person.\n(4) In this section “company” means—\n(a) a company within the meaning given by section 1(1) of the Companies Act 2006, or\n(b) a registered society within the meaning of the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 or a society registered or deemed to be registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) inserted (29.4.2026 for specified purposes, 29.6.2026 in so far as not already in force) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3)(5), Sch. 6 para. 5(2) (with s. 102)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) inserted (29.6.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(5), Sch. 33 para. 5(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2) inserted (29.4.2026 for specified purposes, 29.6.2026 in so far as not already in force) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3)(5), Sch. 6 para. 5(2) (with s. 102)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2) inserted (29.6.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(5), Sch. 33 para. 5(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(3) inserted (29.4.2026 for specified purposes, 29.6.2026 in so far as not already in force) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(1)(3)(5), Sch. 6 para. 5(2) (with s. 102)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(3) inserted (29.6.2026) by English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 (c. 23), s. 108(5), Sch. 33 para. 5(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(4)(b) substituted (1.8.2014) by Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (c. 14), s. 154, Sch. 4 para. 175 (with Sch. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 4 in force at 18.2.2012 by S.I. 2012/411, art. 2(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:09:15.217969+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}