Short answer: The police bylaw requires advance notice to the police (and the relevant municipal body) before music or loudspeakers on a public place if it may seriously disturb order. Ordinary busking is not otherwise specifically regulated.
Do you need a permit to busk in Oslo?
| Permit needed? | Only in some areas or for amplifiers |
| Cost | Not published. Ask Oslo politidistrikt and Oslo kommune. |
| Regulated by | Oslo politidistrikt and Oslo kommune |
| Official page | lovdata.no |
The rules in Oslo
- Amplifiers. Loudspeakers and megaphones fall under the same advance-notice rule (para 2-2); night quiet 23:00-06:00.
- Using municipal land for activities needs written permission (para 7-3)
Taking card tips on a Oslo pitch
Plenty of people stop to listen and then find they have no coins on them. A QR code on a sign beside your case lets them tip in Norwegian kroner by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone. 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.
- Playing as a group? One code can split every tip between the members automatically.
The full set-up is in cashless busking: card and phone tips.
Before you play
Read the general advice in busking etiquette and how to choose a busking pitch, and see how Oslo compares with other cities on the world busking map.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Rules and fees change, and enforcement varies from street to street, so confirm with Oslo politidistrikt and Oslo kommune before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Oslo?
The police bylaw requires advance notice to the police (and the relevant municipal body) before music or loudspeakers on a public place if it may seriously disturb order. Ordinary busking is not otherwise specifically regulated.
Can you use an amplifier when busking in Oslo?
Loudspeakers and megaphones fall under the same advance-notice rule (para 2-2); night quiet 23:00-06:00.
Can buskers in Oslo take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in Norwegian kroner by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.
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