Short answer: In the ByWard Market district every street performer needs a Street Performer Permit from the ByWard Market District Authority, and circle show performers must also show liability insurance.
Do you need a permit to busk in Ottawa?
| Permit needed? | It depends on where and how you play |
| Permit | ByWard Market Street Performer Permit |
| Cost | CA$50 for a new permit, CA$25 to renew (annual, plus applicable taxes) |
| How to apply | Apply online at byward-market.com/become-a-performer; after approval you pay an invoice and receive a digital permit to print and display. |
| Regulated by | ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA) within the market district; City of Ottawa By-law Services enforces |
| Official page | byward-market.com |
The rules in Ottawa
- In ByWard Market you may only perform in the designated performance zones and must display your permit.
- A performance may last no longer than 60 minutes including set-up and tear-down, and must end at the top of the hour.
- No amplified sound between 11pm and 7am.
- Musicians may sell recordings of their own original work, but no other sales or promotions are allowed.
- Applicants must be 18, or 15 to 17 with a signed letter of consent from a parent or guardian.
- Circle show performers must hold public liability insurance of at least CA$2 million naming the BMDA and the City of Ottawa.
- Donations must go into a stationary container, and you may not roam to collect them.
Where buskers play in Ottawa
- ByWard Market performance zones. Designated pitches set by the BMDA around York, William, George and ByWard Market Square; the BMDA may restrict amplification, hours or act types at individual zones.
- George Street Plaza. Multi-use pitch where events and pre-booked reservations take priority; reservations are posted daily.
Good to know
ByWard Market permit renewals should be lodged by 25 February to avoid a gap, and new applications take at least 48 hours to process.
Taking card tips on a Ottawa pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in Ottawa 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 Canadian 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 ByWard Market District Authority (BMDA) within the market district; City of Ottawa By-law Services enforces before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Ottawa?
In the ByWard Market district every street performer needs a Street Performer Permit from the ByWard Market District Authority, and circle show performers must also show liability insurance.
How much does it cost to busk in Ottawa?
CA$50 for a new permit, CA$25 to renew (annual, plus applicable taxes).
Can you use an amplifier when busking in Ottawa?
No amplified sound between 11pm and 7am.
Can buskers in Ottawa take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in Canadian dollars by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.