Legal Definitions - stallage

Definition: Stallage (stawl-ij) is a historical term that refers to two things:

1. The right to set up stalls in public markets.
2. The fee or cost paid for that right.

Examples:

• During medieval times, merchants had to pay stallage to the lord of the manor in order to sell their goods in the market.
• In some modern cities, vendors must pay a fee to the local government for the right to set up a stall or booth at a street fair or festival.

These examples illustrate how stallage was both a right and a cost associated with selling goods in a public market. It was a way for the authorities to regulate and profit from commercial activity in a particular area.