Each charity may apply to fundraise within the central city at six of the 26 specified locations per day, for a maximum of 40 days per year.
There is no fee for a fundraising permit.
On this page:
Some of the methods you can use to fundraise in the City of Melbourne include:
In order to register, your charity will need:
All documentation for registrations must be in the name of the charity (including instances where charities are represented by agents).
The charity’s public liability insurance must be maintained for the life of the permit. To keep your insurance up to date, upload a new certificate of currency to your registration.
Once your charity’s registration has been approved, you can log in and apply for permits to fundraise at any of the 26 locations across the City of Melbourne. Your permits will be issued immediately by email and a copy stored in your registration online.
If you experience any technical difficulties with your permit application, please contact the Permits team on 03 9658 9658.
The City of Melbourne monitors any illegal fundraising activity by requesting proof of permit. Bogus organisations or people masquerading as charitable collectors are liable for prosecution.
City of Melbourne Street Compliance Officers and certain Victoria Police Officers are authorised to enforce part 8.1 of the Activities Local Law. An infringement notice for soliciting/collecting for money, subscription or selling a raffle ticket without a permit may be issued.
The registration process allows the City of Melbourne to confirm that charities applying for fundraising permits are registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria and have appropriate insurance.
As permits are issued in the name of the charity, agents will not be able to create a registration in their own name.
Charities may opt to provide their agents with access to their registration, but are responsible for the activities and permits issued in their name.
Each permit is issued in the charity’s name, so public liability insurance must be in the name of the permit holder. Charities must be satisfied that companies fundraising on their behalf also have current and adequate public liability insurance.
All charities must have public liability insurance to fundraise on footpaths in the City of Melbourne. Their insurance must be current at the date of application, as well as for the life of the permit.
All permit applications must be submitted online. If you do not have a computer, we suggest that you use a computer at the Melbourne Town Hall or a library in order to apply.
We recommend charities register at least 10 days before their intended activity date. However, some locations are very popular with other charities and may be booked up to 12 months in advance.
All charities must be registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria in order to fundraise on footpaths in the City of Melbourne. Some charities are exempt from registration with Consumer Affairs Victoria. For a summary of those organisations exempt from registration, please visit Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Charities can apply for a Day of Significance by updating their registration. If successful, the Permits team will create their permit for the Day of Significance and email it directly.
Charities can apply up to two years in advance for a Day of Significance.
Charities need to provide the following information in their registration when applying for a Day of Significance:
The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.
We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.