Short answer: A City of Hobart permit is needed to perform at its designated busking locations, and applicants supply a sample of their work rather than auditioning. Salamanca Market has its own temporary licence issued on market day.
Do you need a permit to busk in Hobart?
| Permit needed? | Yes |
| Permit | Busking and Street Performance Program permit (Salamanca Market: temporary busking licence) |
| Cost | Not published. Ask City of Hobart. |
| How to apply | Complete the City of Hobart online application form with a sample of your work and allow ten business days. |
| Regulated by | City of Hobart |
| Official page | hobartcity.com.au |
The rules in Hobart
- Performance hours are 8am to 8pm on weekdays, 10am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.
- Permits are valid for one year from the date of issue.
- Every performer in a group needs their own permit.
- Up to four permit holders may perform together in Elizabeth Street Mall, Wellington Court and city parks, and two elsewhere.
- Amplified instruments are only allowed at Franklin Square, Railway Roundabout, University Rose Gardens, Legacy Park and Morrison Street.
- Amplification must be battery operated.
Where buskers play in Hobart
- Elizabeth Street Mall. Designated location; groups of up to four permit holders.
- Franklin Square. One of five locations where amplified instruments are allowed.
- Morrison Street. Amplification allowed only between 5pm and 8pm, Monday to Saturday.
- Salamanca Market. Separate free licence from the information booth on the Salamanca Lawns from 8am with photo ID; performances 8.30am to 3pm, sets of up to 30 minutes with 30-minute breaks, and premium pitches are allocated by an 8am draw.
Good to know
At Salamanca Market buskers may accept donations but not ask for them, and may only sell recordings of their own music.
Taking card tips on a Hobart pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in Hobart 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 Australian 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 City of Hobart before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Hobart?
A City of Hobart permit is needed to perform at its designated busking locations, and applicants supply a sample of their work rather than auditioning. Salamanca Market has its own temporary licence issued on market day.
Can you use an amplifier when busking in Hobart?
Amplified instruments are only allowed at Franklin Square, Railway Roundabout, University Rose Gardens, Legacy Park and Morrison Street. Amplification must be battery operated.
Can buskers in Hobart take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in Australian dollars by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.