Short answer: No licence is needed to busk in Edinburgh. The council publishes guidance for responsible busking, and police can make you stop if you disturb people.
Do you need a permit to busk in Edinburgh?
| Permit needed? | No |
| Cost | Free |
| Regulated by | City of Edinburgh Council (guidance), enforced by Police Scotland |
| Official page | edinburgh.gov.uk |
The rules in Edinburgh
- Busk only between 9am and 9pm.
- Keep the volume at a level passers-by can hear without disturbing nearby homes and businesses.
- After one hour, move to a new pitch at least 50 metres away.
- Do not set up within 50 metres of another busker.
- Do not busk near doorways or cash machines, and keep equipment out of pedestrians' way.
- Stop if someone complains or the police ask you to; refusing can lead to a report to the Procurator Fiscal and seizure of equipment.
Where buskers play in Edinburgh
- Old Town. Named by the council as a noise complaint hotspot being considered for a possible amplification byelaw.
- Waverley Bridge. Also named as a hotspot in the council's amplification review.
- Portobello Promenade. Also named as a hotspot in the council's amplification review.
Good to know
Police Scotland can order buskers to stop under section 54 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
Taking card tips on a Edinburgh pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in Edinburgh 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 pounds 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 City of Edinburgh Council (guidance), enforced by Police Scotland before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Edinburgh?
No licence is needed to busk in Edinburgh. The council publishes guidance for responsible busking, and police can make you stop if you disturb people.
How much does it cost to busk in Edinburgh?
Free.
Can buskers in Edinburgh take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in pounds by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.