Short answer: A busking permit is written permission from a council or land manager to perform for tips in public. Most are cheap or free, last from two weeks to two years, and need photo ID; some also need an audition, a video of your act or public liability insurance. Add-on permits often cover amplifiers, selling CDs or transit stations.
What a busking permit is
A busking permit (called a licence in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand) is permission from whoever manages a public space to perform there and accept tips. It usually comes with conditions: hours, how long you may stay at one pitch, how far apart buskers must be and how loud you can play.
Not every city has one. Some need no permit at all, some only need one in busy zones. If you are not sure which applies, start with do you need a permit to busk? or look the city up on the world busking map.
The main types of permit
- General street permit. The standard council permit for public streets, such as the City of Sydney busking permit or the Chicago street performer licence.
- Short-term or visitor permit. A cheaper, shorter version for travellers. Dublin has a 2-week visitor permit for €10, Westminster offers 1 month for £10, and Melbourne has a 3-month premium permit for interstate and international buskers.
- Premium or special-site permit. A separate permit for the busiest spot, often won by audition. Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall needs a premium permit, and San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf has its own Port licence with booked time slots.
- Add-on permits. Extra permission on top of the basic one: Dublin and Cork charge separately for amplification, New York needs an NYPD sound device permit for any amplifier, and Melbourne charges extra to sell CDs or artwork.
- Transit permits. Run by the transit agency, not the city. Examples include Boston's MBTA permit, the Calgary Transit Busker ID and Toronto's TTC subway programme.
- Private estate permission. Shopping precincts and markets, such as the Covent Garden Market Building or Liverpool ONE, make their own decisions.
What permits cost
Fees are usually low. Here are real examples from the city data behind our guides; always check the current fee on the council's page.
| City | Permit | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Perth, Adelaide, Auckland | Council permit or licence | Free |
| Sydney | City of Sydney permit | A$15 for 3 months, A$52 for a year |
| Melbourne | General area permit | A$42.30 for 12 months |
| Dublin | Street performance permit | €30 a year, plus €60 for amplification |
| Santa Monica | Performance permit | $37 per calendar year |
| Chicago | Street performer licence | $100 for two years ($50 for over-65s, veterans and people with a certified disability) |
| Toronto | Busker permit | CA$55.91 a year |
| Vancouver | Street entertainment permit | CA$53.59 + GST for 4 months, CA$159.03 + GST for a year |
Watch the expiry rules as well as the price. Santa Monica permits always expire on 31 December with no pro-rating, Toronto's on 31 March and Gold Coast permits on 31 August, so a permit bought late in the cycle can be poor value.
Auditions and video samples
Some cities want to see your act before they let you play. There are three common approaches.
- Live audition. Brisbane's city malls need a 3 to 5 minute audition, held on set Saturdays a few times a year. Gold Coast asks for an audition if you have not held a permit there in the last 12 months. Barcelona's Música al Carrer programme asks for a two-hour repertoire and a technical audition.
- Video or sample instead. Perth wants a link to a video filmed in the last six months, Hobart asks for a sample of your work, and Melbourne asks for a link or video of your act.
- No audition at all. Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington issue permits without one, and San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf licence has no audition.
Audition-based programmes are often the hardest for visitors. Brisbane's mall auditions only happen a few times a year, and Barcelona requires residence in the province, so plan well ahead. Our guide to busking auditions covers how to prepare.
Insurance requirements
Public liability insurance covers you if someone is hurt or property is damaged because of your act. Whether you need it varies a lot:
- Gold Coast requires at least A$20 million of cover if your act involves equipment, instruments, props or audience participation.
- Westminster asks for more than £2 million of cover with a licence application.
- In Ottawa's ByWard Market, circle show performers need at least CA$2 million naming the market authority and the City.
- San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf performers need insurance naming the City and the Port as additional insured.
- Sydney's permit holders who follow their conditions are covered by the City's own policy, up to A$10 million with a A$500 excess.
- Auckland Council's insurance does not cover street performers, and the council advises having your own.
This is general information, not advice. Check the policy wording with an insurer before you rely on it.
Age limits and group permits
Chicago only issues licences to people aged 18 or over, while Toronto accepts 16 and 17 year olds with a signed consent letter. Sydney asks under-18 applicants for a parent or guardian's signature, and Melbourne needs parental consent for under-16s.
Bands should check whether each member needs a permit. In Santa Monica, Hobart, Denver, Chicago, Toronto and Dublin every performer needs their own. Cork offers a group leader permit for groups of six or more, capped at €180 a year.
How to apply
- Find the right authority. Usually the city council, but it may be a borough, a business district body (such as the Downtown Denver Partnership) or a transit agency.
- Gather documents. Most want photo ID and a photo of you. Dublin also asks for proof of address, Montreal for proof of professional assessment, and Toronto for government ID.
- Check how to lodge it. Sydney only accepts applications in person, Vancouver works by emailed form and then an appointment, and Perth and Melbourne take online applications.
- Allow processing time. Perth can take up to 10 working days, Hobart asks for ten business days, Gold Coast wants applications at least 20 business days before you start, and Calgary usually takes about three business days.
- Read the conditions. They are part of the permit, and breaking them can cost you it. Dublin's annual permit starts with a six-week probation.
Once your permit arrives
Carry the permit and photo ID whenever you play, and display any badge you are given. Keep a copy of the conditions on your phone so you can show you are following them if someone asks. When you are ready to take tips, a QR code sign lets people pay by card or phone; TipIns exports print-ready signs from A5 to A3 and is free for performers. See the tip sign generator.
World busking map: Permit rules for 131 cities on one map.
Common questions
How much does a busking permit cost?
Often nothing. Perth, Adelaide and Auckland issue free permits, while others charge a small fee, such as A$52 a year in Sydney or $100 for two years in Chicago. Add-ons for amplifiers or selling CDs can cost extra.
Do you have to audition for a busking permit?
Only in some places. Brisbane's city malls, Gold Coast first-time applicants and Barcelona's Música al Carrer programme use auditions, while Perth and Melbourne ask for a video instead.
Do buskers need public liability insurance?
Some councils require it, such as Gold Coast for acts with equipment or props, and Westminster for licence applications. Others, like Sydney, extend their own cover to permit holders. Check with the council and an insurer.
How long does it take to get a busking permit?
From a few days to several weeks. Calgary usually takes about three business days, Perth up to 10 working days, and Gold Coast asks for at least 20 business days' notice.
Can tourists get a busking permit?
Often, yes. Dublin has a 2-week visitor permit, Westminster a 1-month licence, and Perth says you do not need to live there to apply. Some programmes, like Barcelona's, require local residence.
App Store
Google Play