Apply for busking approval

To busk on Council-owned sites, approval from Manningham Council is required and the following conditions apply:

1. A Council approved and current approval is to be carried at all times when busking and produced when requested by a Council Local Laws Officer.
2. Applicants are limited to request a maximum of 4 sites per month.
3. Buskers under the age of 14 years must be accompanied at all times during their public performance by a parent/guardian.
4. Busking applications submitted by performers under the age of 18 years must have parent/guardian consent and provide contact details to confirm consent. Manningham Council reserves the right to request a hardcopy parental consent.
5. Busking is only to be conducted between 9.00am and 9.00pm, or otherwise as requested by the relevant Traders Association
6. No busker may obstruct any footpath, carriageway, shop entrance and/or exit, or other public or private thoroughfare. Performers and their equipment must be a minimum of 2.5 metres from the shop front to allow for unobstructed pedestrian movement along the footpath. Please refer to Council’s Footpath Trading Guidelines for further details. No electrical cords into shops are to be used to power equipment
7. Prior to performing, the busker must obtain the verbal permission of the shopkeeper(s)/ trader(s) located directly adjacent to the performance area in order to agree to the location and length of time the busker will perform in that space (limited to a maximum of two hours in one location). The busker must cease performing immediately if requested to do so by any trader adjacent to the performance area.
8. A performance location must not be within 100 metres of another busker or shopkeeper(s)/trader(s) public performance/activity. A Street Stall or fundraising activity will take precedent over a Busking approvals.
9. No collection of personal information from the public is allowed. Performers may only distribute their own details using a professional card or flier.
10. A suitable receptacle for the receipt of public donations or relevant sale items can be placed within the performance area. No active soliciting of money or active selling of audio visual or printed material is permitted.
11. Buskers must have enough performance content such that they are presenting entertaining and non-repetitive material.
12. Electronic amplification is not permitted unless otherwise agreed directly with the relevant Traders Association or body corporate. If a music track is required (e.g. to accompany a dance item) the music must be kept at a reasonable level and not require electrical cords or outlets. Music volume must be turned off or reduced if requested by any centre/shopkeeper.
13. Buskers are required to perform in a manner that is safe for the public realm, undertaking no activities that may present as a risk (or perceived risk) to the public, themselves, property or traders. No fire or other dangerous materials or equipment are to be used in any busking performance.