Fundraising permits allow charities to collect funds on footways or intersections within the City of Melbourne.
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.
Fundraising locations
| Location | Handbill | Fundraising | Highway collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flinders Street Station, Princess Bridge Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Flinders Street Station, Southbank Footbridge | Yes | No | No |
| Parliament Station, Collins Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Parliament Station, Macarthur Place Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Melbourne Central Station, Swanston Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Melbourne Central Station, La Trobe Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Melbourne Central Station, Elizabeth Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Flagstaff Station, La Trobe Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Bourke Street Mall (Royal Arcade) | No | Yes | No |
| Parliament Station, Lonsdale Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Parliament Station, Nicholson Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Bourke & Elizabeth Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & Elizabeth Streets (SE) | Yes | No | No |
| Flinders Street Station, Swanston Street Exit | Yes | No | No |
| Flinders & Swanston Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Victoria & Elizabeth Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Victoria & Elizabeth Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Therry & Queen Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Therry & Queen Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Franklin & Swanston Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Franklin & Swanston Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & Spencer Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & Spencer Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & William Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & Elizabeth Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & Elizabeth Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & Russell Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & Russell Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Lonsdale & Exhibition Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Lonsdale & Exhibition Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Lonsdale & Swanston Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Lonsdale & Swanston Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Lonsdale & King Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Lonsdale & King Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & William Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & William Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & Russell Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & Russell Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & Spring Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Exhibition Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Exhibition Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Swanston Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Swanston Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Elizabeth Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Queen Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Queen Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & King Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & King Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Spencer Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Spencer Streets (SE) | No | Yes | No |
| Flinders & King Streets (SW) | No | Yes | No |
| Flinders & King Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Flinders & Swanston Streets (NE) | No | Yes | No |
| Southbank (Sandridge Rail Bridge) | No | Yes | No |
| Southbank (Pedestrian Bridge) | No | Yes | No |
| Collins & Elizabeth Streets (NW) | No | Yes | No |
| Swanston Street (Outside State Library) | No | Yes | No |
| Bourke & Spring Streets (SE) | Yes | Yes | No |
| La Trobe & William Streets (SW) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Albert & Hoddle Streets (Northbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Victoria Parade & Hoddle Street (Northbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Victoria & Peel Streets (Southbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Victoria & Peel Streets (Westbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Victoria & Peel Streets (Northbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Princes & Lygon Streets (Eastbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Princes & Lygon Streets (Westbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Princes & Nicholson Streets (Northbound Lane) | No | No | Yes |
| Racecourse & Flemington Road (Southbound) | No | No | Yes |
| Racecourse & Flemington Road (Westbound) | No | No | Yes |
| Racecourse & Flemington Road (Northbound) | No | No | Yes |
| Racecourse & Flemington Road (Eastbound) | No | No | Yes |
Methods of fundraising
Some of the methods you can use to fundraise in the City of Melbourne include:
- Highway collections: to conduct a collection at an intersection you must also obtain consent from Victoria PoliceOpens in new tab.
- Footpath stalls: to sell goods on footpaths, please apply for a street trading permit.
- Fun runs and festivals: to hold a public event, see Organising eventsOpens in new tab.
- Doorknocks: City of Melbourne approval is not required for doorknocks. However, consent is still required from Consumer Affairs VictoriaOpens in new tab.
Apply for a fundraising permit
In order to register, your charity will need:
- evidence of registration with Consumer Affairs
- a certificate of currency for public liability insurance, for a value of at least $20 million. Find out more about our public liability insurance requirementsOpens in new tab.
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.
We recommend registering at least 10 days in advance before your event. Some locations are very popular and may be booked up to 12 months in advance.
If you experience any technical difficulties with your permit application, please contact the Permits team on 03 9658 9658.
Apply for a fundraising permit
Regulation
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.Opens in new tab An infringement notice for soliciting/collecting for money, subscription or selling a raffle ticket without a permit may be issued.
Report an issue involving fundraising in a public place
Day of Significance
If your charity has a big event coming up and would like to apply for more than six locations in one day you can apply for a Day of Significance by updating your registration. If successful, the Permits team will create your permit and email it to you directly.
You 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 name of the day
- a web address (if applicable)
- the date of the event
- which of the 26 locations they would like to book
- a short summary of the day.
