Short answer: A permit is needed to busk anywhere in the City of Melbourne. Most acts use a general area permit, while circle acts with dangerous goods need a safety assessment and Bourke Street Mall needs a premium permit won by live audition.
Do you need a permit to busk in Melbourne?
| Permit needed? | Yes |
| Permit | General area busking permit (also pavement art, circle act, premium and street entertainment permits) |
| Cost | A$42.30 for 12 months (general area, pavement art, circle act); premium A$105.60 for 12 months or A$58.10 for a 3-month interstate/international permit; A$112 extra to sell CDs, DVDs or artworks |
| How to apply | Apply online through the City of Melbourne busking permits page with a link or video of your act; new applicants may be asked to attend a seminar, audition or safety assessment. |
| Regulated by | City of Melbourne |
| Official page | melbourne.vic.gov.au |
The rules in Melbourne
- General area permit holders may play for up to two hours a day at each location, then must move at least 50 m and not return that day.
- A general area pitch is limited to 2 square metres and acts may have up to five members.
- Amplification must be battery powered, and in most areas is allowed 8am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 8am to 11pm Friday and Saturday.
- Maximum sound level for general area acts is 72 dB measured at 3 metres (79 dB in Bourke Street Mall).
- Selling CDs, DVDs or original artworks while busking needs the additional selling fee.
- Applicants under 16 need consent from a parent or legal guardian.
- Busking is not allowed within 5 metres of intersections or pedestrian crossings, in most parks and gardens, or in residential zones.
Where buskers play in Melbourne
- Bourke Street Mall. Premium permit only, with five musical sites and one non-musical site drawn by weekly ballot; sets alternate 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off.
- Southbank Promenade. Designated circle act pitches at Queensbridge Square and near 12 Riverside Quay; amplified busking between Evan Walker Bridge and Queens Bridge is limited to 8am to 10pm daily.
- Swanston Street. No busking between Flinders Street and Flinders Lane or directly in front of the Town Hall.
- Docklands. Waterfront City, New Quay and Victoria Harbour are listed as circle act locations.
Stations and public transport
Train stations are not covered by City of Melbourne busking permits, and amplified busking is not allowed outside Flinders Street or Southern Cross stations.
Good to know
Federation Square, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Central and the Crown riverside promenade are privately or separately managed and not covered by the council permit. A premium permit normally requires six months of busking on a general area permit first.
Taking card tips on a Melbourne pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in Melbourne 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 Melbourne before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Melbourne?
A permit is needed to busk anywhere in the City of Melbourne. Most acts use a general area permit, while circle acts with dangerous goods need a safety assessment and Bourke Street Mall needs a premium permit won by live audition.
How much does it cost to busk in Melbourne?
A$42.30 for 12 months (general area, pavement art, circle act); premium A$105.60 for 12 months or A$58.10 for a 3-month interstate/international permit; A$112 extra to sell CDs, DVDs or artworks.
Can you use an amplifier when busking in Melbourne?
Amplification must be battery powered, and in most areas is allowed 8am to 10pm Sunday to Thursday and 8am to 11pm Friday and Saturday.
Can buskers in Melbourne 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.