Short answer: Busking on 16th Street in downtown Denver requires a free busking permit from the Downtown Denver Partnership.
Do you need a permit to busk in Denver?
| Permit needed? | It depends on where and how you play |
| Permit | Downtown Denver Partnership busking permit (16th Street) |
| Cost | Free |
| How to apply | Apply online via the Downtown Denver Partnership permits page or in person at 1515 Arapahoe Street on weekdays, with photo ID and a photo of your setup. |
| Regulated by | Downtown Denver Partnership (16th Street); City and County of Denver noise ordinance |
| Official page | downtowndenver.com |
The rules in Denver
- Busking on 16th Street is only allowed between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.
- You must move to a new location every hour.
- Groups can have at most five members, and every member needs their own permit.
- A solo act may take up 6 by 4 feet and a group no more than 10 by 10 feet.
- Leave at least five feet of clear walkway and do not block entrances, transit lanes, loading zones or bike lanes.
- Do not use or block benches, tables or chairs, and keep your permit on display.
- Permits expire at the end of the calendar year (current ones run to 31 December 2026).
Where buskers play in Denver
- 16th Street (formerly 16th Street Mall). Free Downtown Denver Partnership permit required.
- 16th and Welton busker stage. Reported by local press as a first-come, first-served stage for buskers.
- 16th Street Performers Network. A separate programme run through Denver Arts and Venues that soloists and small groups can apply to join.
Good to know
Amplified sound is allowed with the permit but sources disagree on the decibel cap (65 dB in press reports), so confirm the current limit when you apply.
Taking card tips on a Denver pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in Denver has the same problem as everywhere else: they liked it, and they have no coins. A QR code on a sign beside your case lets them tip in US dollars by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Visitors can pay with a card from home, and nobody needs an app.
- Print it large. A phone reads a code from about ten times its width, so a 10 cm code works from a metre and an A3 sign from about three.
- Stand it upright at knee to waist height, with your name and one line saying what it is for.
- Check the rules above on signs and selling. A tip sign is not a sale, but some cities restrict signs, and most treat CDs and merchandise separately.
- Playing as a group? One code can split every tip between the members automatically.
The full set-up, with sign sizes and pitch advice, is in how to set up a digital tip jar for busking.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Rules and fees change, and enforcement varies from street to street, so confirm with Downtown Denver Partnership (16th Street); City and County of Denver noise ordinance before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Denver?
Busking on 16th Street in downtown Denver requires a free busking permit from the Downtown Denver Partnership.
How much does it cost to busk in Denver?
Free.
Can buskers in Denver take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in US dollars by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.