Short answer: A City of Perth busking permit is needed to perform in its designated public areas, and the application must include a recent video of the act in place of a live audition. Risky acts such as fire twirling or knife juggling are not accepted as busking.
Do you need a permit to busk in Perth?
| Permit needed? | Yes |
| Permit | Busking permit (Street Entertainer's Permit) |
| Cost | Free |
| How to apply | Submit the City of Perth busker permit application form online with ID, a passport-style photo and a link to a video filmed in the last six months. |
| Regulated by | City of Perth |
| Official page | perth.wa.gov.au |
The rules in Perth
- You may stay in one location for up to an hour, including set-up and pack-down.
- You cannot perform at the same location twice within four hours.
- Amplifiers are allowed at all locations except Hay Street Mall.
- Permits can run for 12 months and cover acts of up to six people.
- Under-16s may only busk outside school hours and in daylight, and under-12s must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
- Karaoke-style acts, selling merchandise and performances staged mainly to film social media content are not treated as busking.
Where buskers play in Perth
- Hay Street Mall. Busking allowed but no amplifiers.
- Murray Street Mall / Forrest Place. A temporary busking exclusion zone covers 50 m around the Murray Street and Forrest Place intersection (in place since 16 October 2024).
Good to know
Approved buskers are sent a map of the designated areas, and processing can take up to 10 working days. You do not need to live in Perth to apply.
Taking card tips on a Perth pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in Perth 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 Perth before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in Perth?
A City of Perth busking permit is needed to perform in its designated public areas, and the application must include a recent video of the act in place of a live audition. Risky acts such as fire twirling or knife juggling are not accepted as busking.
How much does it cost to busk in Perth?
Free.
Can you use an amplifier when busking in Perth?
Amplifiers are allowed at all locations except Hay Street Mall.
Can buskers in Perth 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.